Owners turn to 'Godsend' dog coat to keep pooches warm in bad weather
When it comes to putting coats on dogs as the weather turns cold, there tends to be a two camp split among owners. Many insist that a dog's natural coat is sufficient to battle the chill, while others wrap their pooches up to keep them nice and cosy over the winter months.
Of course, some breeds are far more susceptible to the cold and need assistance in the form of a coat to help with heat retention and keep them dry. Regardless of the breed or size, no dog should generally be out for a walk if the temperature is below - 6°C. Smaller or medium-sized dogs are at risk of hypothermia and frostbite when it’s colder than -4°C. For bigger breeds or ones that have a thick coat, the temperature is less of concern until it falls to around -9°C.
No matter the breed, if you see your dog struggling during a cold-weather walk, this means its too chilly for them. Take note of their behaviour as they may shiver, slow down or stop, or whine and bark if they are feeling any form of discomfort.
If your furry friend could do with a bit of extra protection then this Zip Up Dog Coat from Amazon has an average of 4.6 stars out of 5, with a happy dog owner saying it left their pet "cosy and warm". One said: "We have a Chihuahua that owns us. This coat is a Godsend in the cold and wet.
"Our senior lady loves it, she's snug as a bug in the proverbial rug. It really does keep her dry and she is always toasty warm when we take the coat off her."
Girl, 4, mauled to death in dog attack pictured as neighbours hear mum's screamsAnother said: "This is a lovely fitting warm coat for my dog, highly recommend." One reviewer didn't have as good an experience: "The fit was brilliant, cosy and warm but zip broke very quickly. I can fix it back on with a struggle but it does not stay on."
It comes in range of sizes, with the price varying from £12.99 for the smallest option, to £22.99 for the biggest. There are several colours too choose from too, including dark green, pink and purple.
If you're fortunate enough to have more budget to play with then John Lewis has a lovely looking Barbour 2 in 1 Wax Dog Coat for £59.95. It has two layers, including a detachable faux fur liner, cord collar and keyhole to attach the dog lead.
One impressed shopper said: "Lovely and warm, detachable fur lining and useful pocket for poop bags!"
Another added: "It's a really great product, my dog loves it. Only issue is the strap that goes round could be improved as the coat can slide sideways when the dog is running around."
There are some cheaper options out there, like the Woiil Dog Coat which is £10.99 on Amazon, but be mindful that it has a lower average rating of 3.4 stars out of 5, although almost half of reviewers did give it the full 5 stars, so plenty did like it.
The less impressive reviews struggled with the sizing and longevity of the product.