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Does your dog need a coat in winter?
Maci Paucek
2025-10-12 05:39:11
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Although dogs come equipped with their own fur coat, during the winter they may need a little extra insulation. If there’s snow and ice on the ground, or persistent chilly winds, then a winter jacket for your dog is a good idea. Small or thin-furred breeds, puppies, and senior dogs will generally need a winter coat when the temperature outside feels at or below 32°F (0°C). Once the temperature drops below 20°F (-6.6°C), keep a close eye on your dog, regardless of breed, for signs that they are uncomfortably cold. If you’re putting on a coat to go outside, odds are good that it’s cold enough for your dog to need a coat as well. A good rule of thumb, no matter what the breed, is that if your dog seems cold—shivering, whining, or slowing down—a coat can’t hurt. Dogs get cold just like people do. Intense cold can cause hypothermia, which occurs when a dog’s body temperature falls to dangerously low levels. A good dog coat will cover your dog’s neck, belly, and back.
Elton Anderson
2025-10-08 12:20:59
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A winter jacket for your dog may be a good idea if there are persistent chilly winds or ice and snow on the ground. Thin-furred, small breeds, senior dogs, and puppies will typically benefit from winter coats when outdoor temperatures get below 32°F (0°C). You must pay close attention to your dog, no matter what breed they are, for signs that they’re cold, when outdoor temperatures drop below 20°F (-6.6°C). If you need to put a winter jacket on, that may be a good sign that your dog should wear one too. As a general rule of thumb, larger breeds with dense, thick coats are already protected fairly well from the cold. However, other types of dogs will require extra protection in extreme weather, including: Dogs with bellies that sit low to the ground. Small, miniature, and toy-short-haired breeds. Lean-bodied, short-haired breeds. Breeds that have short or clipped hair. Senior dogs.
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Jaycee Kling
2025-09-24 12:47:00
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The question of whether your dog should wear a jacket in winter depends on its size and breed and how cold and wet it gets where you live.
University of Adelaide associate professor Susan Hazel, who specialises in research into animal welfare, behaviour and ethics, says larger dogs are generally well-equipped to handle the cold.
However, Dr Hazel says smaller breeds of dogs that weigh less than 10 kilograms have a higher body surface area to mass ratio than their larger counterparts, which makes them more sensitive to colder weather.
For them, functionally, probably if you're going out — particularly if it's raining and they might lose more heat if they get wet — then a coat can be helpful, especially if it's an older dog that's a little bit arthritic, as those symptoms get worse if they get cold.
Although larger dogs generally fare OK without a jacket or jumper, if your dog suffers from hair loss, you may want to consider putting a jacket on them if you're walking them on a cold, wet day.
Greyhounds are one breed of larger dog that can benefit from wearing a jacket or jumper.
They are probably an exception in that they've got very low body fat, so they won't generate as much heat and they don't have as much insulation as other dogs.