03/11/2025
Wearing winter well...
The cold creeps in quietly, doesn’t it?
One morning you notice the first frost on the grass, see your breath hanging in the air, and your dog giving you that “Do we really have to?” look before stepping outside.
Around this time each year, I start seeing more questions about coats for dogs;
which ones are best, when to use them, and how to help dogs actually enjoy wearing them.
The truth is, not every dog needs a coat, but for many, it makes a real difference.
Puppies who can’t yet regulate their temperature, older dogs with arthritis, any dogs with medical conditions, and those with short or fine coats often benefit from a bit of extra warmth. For some, a coverall can even help soothe stiff joints by keeping the cold from settling in.
What matters most isn’t just the coat itself, it’s how we introduce it.
Putting a coat straight on and heading out can feel strange or uncomfortable, even for confident dogs. The fabric moves differently, it smells new, it changes how their body feels.
That’s why it helps to take time to let them explore it first. Lay it out on the floor at home, let them sniff, pair it with treats, and build up to wearing it in short bursts at home before stepping outside.
Fit is everything: no pinching, rubbing, or restricted movement.
A good coat should feel like a second skin, not a costume.
The goal isn’t just to keep dogs warm, it’s to help them feel good in what they wear, so they can move freely and enjoy their walks, whatever the weather brings.
As the frost returns, those little acts of care; a coat, a gentle introduction, a slower start, remind us that comfort and confidence always go hand in hand.
Woody had a new coat before we headed off on our break. He's used to wearing fleece coats, but this one is a different fabric and style to the ones he's worn most recently, with the addition of straps around hind legs. We introduced it at home and then on short outings until he was completely comfortable.
He gets a choice to wear a coat or not, and which type before we go out. The new coat is a definite hit and he's already choosing to wear it with the cooler days we've had recently.
Does your dog wear a coat in the cooler months?
Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠
