{"title":"Dog Raincoats and Winter Coats","description":"\u003cp\u003eCoats for dogs that have to go out in weather, whether that is a cold snap down south or a wet fortnight on the coast.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDoes my dog actually need a coat?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlenty do not. A husky in a jacket is uncomfortable, not cosy. The dogs that genuinely feel it are the thin coated ones, greyhounds and whippets and staffies and most of the toy breeds, along with puppies under six months, dogs the far side of ten, and anything just clipped or home from surgery. If your dog shivers on a still morning at eight degrees, that is your answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDouble coated breeds are a different case. A kelpie does not need insulation. What it needs on a long wet day is something that stops the undercoat soaking through, because once that happens it stays damp for hours and the dog loses heat the whole time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eRaincoat or winter coat?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eA raincoat is a shell\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThin, unlined, waterproof. It sheds rain, cuts wind, and packs down small enough to live in the boot. This is the one for a wet walk in mild weather, and it is what most Australian dogs need for most of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eA winter coat is lined\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePadding or fleece under the outer, built for cold rather than wet. Plenty are only water resistant, which means they handle drizzle and give up in real rain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe combination is what most people should buy\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA taped waterproof outer over a lining. Costs a little more, covers both problems, saves owning two.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGetting the fit right\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeasure along the spine from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, then measure the chest at its widest point behind the front legs. Sitting between sizes? Take the larger.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo mistakes come up again and again. A coat running past the tail rubs the hindquarters raw inside a few walks. A coat stopping short leaves the loin bare, and the loin is the part you were trying to keep warm in the first place. Check the leg openings too. A coat that binds at the armpit has your dog walking like it borrowed the thing off a bigger friend.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat to look for\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflective piping or panels, because half of winter walking happens in the dark\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA harness opening on the back so the lead clips through rather than over the top\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdjustable belly straps, since chest depth varies enormously between breeds of the same length\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA collar that sits up over the throat on a short haired dog\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMachine washable. A coat that needs hand washing stops being worn by July\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eA note for breeders\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhelping bitches and girls recovering from a caesarean lose heat quickly, and a light coat indoors is often more practical than heating the whole room. Puppies leaving in winter do well with a coat in the go home pack, and it is the sort of thing new owners remember you for.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/shop.responsiblepetbreeders.com.au\/collections\/dog-raincoats.oembed","provider":"RPBA Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}