Does My Dog Need a Coat or Jumper? What Every Dog Owner Should Know

Every autumn, once the York mornings turn crisp, I get the same question over the salon table: does my dog actually need a coat, or is it just a fashion thing? It is a fair question, because a thick-coated Husky in a padded jacket is as daft as a shivering Whippet without one. The honest answer is that some dogs genuinely need the extra warmth and others really do not. It comes down to coat type, size, age and health, so let me help you work out which camp your dog is in.

Which dogs feel the cold

Not every dog is built for a British winter. The ones most likely to benefit from a coat are:

• Thin, single-coated breeds: Whippets, Greyhounds, Italian Greyhounds and other sighthounds have almost no undercoat and very little body fat to insulate them.
• Small and toy breeds: Chihuahuas, Yorkies and the like lose heat quickly because they are small and close to the cold ground.
• Short, fine coats: Staffies and other smooth-coated dogs have no fluffy layer to trap warmth.
• Very young or very old dogs: puppies and senior dogs regulate their temperature less well.
• Poorly or recently clipped dogs: a dog recovering from illness, or one who has just had a short summer clip, feels the chill more.

Which dogs usually do not

At the other end, plenty of dogs come with a coat built in. Double-coated and thick-coated breeds such as Huskies, Malamutes, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands and most Spitz types are made for the cold. Piling a jacket on top can leave them overheated and can flatten and matt that lovely insulating coat. As a rule, if your dog has a dense, fluffy double coat, they almost certainly do not need a jumper.

Groomer's tip: Please do not clip a healthy double coat short to keep your dog cool in summer or tidy in winter. That coat insulates against both heat and cold, and clipping it can change the texture forever. If your double-coated dog is struggling in the heat, deshedding is the answer, not a shave.

Coats, jumpers, and when each helps

A dog coat or jumper is not about looking cute, it is about comfort and safety for the dogs that need it. A waterproof, insulated coat is worth its weight for a Whippet on a wet January walk. A soft knitted jumper suits a small dog pottering about on a chilly day. Signs your dog is genuinely cold include shivering, tucking the tail and body in, reluctance to walk, and lifting the paws off cold ground. If you see those, a coat will help.

Do not forget the reverse: a dog that is panting, seeking cool floors or trying to wriggle out of a garment is too warm and should have it off.

Getting the sizing right

A badly fitting coat is worse than none at all, because it can rub, restrict movement, or slip and become a hazard. To size a coat:

• Measure the back length from the base of the neck (where the collar sits) to the base of the tail. This is the key measurement.
• Measure the chest girth around the widest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs.
• Check the neck so it is snug but not tight.

The coat should cover the back without pressing on the neck or gathering under the tummy, and your dog should be able to walk, sit and wee freely. Check for rubbing at the armpits and chest, and take it off indoors so they do not overheat and so the coat does not matt the fur underneath.

Coats and coat care

Anything your dog wears regularly rubs the fur, and friction plus a little damp is exactly how mats form, especially around the chest, armpits and neck. If your dog is a daily coat-wearer through winter, keep those areas well brushed, and mention it at their groom so we can check the contact points. A well-maintained coat sits far more comfortably under a jacket.

Frequently asked questions

Do all dogs need a coat in winter? No. Thin, small, short-coated, young, old or poorly dogs often benefit, but thick double-coated breeds like Huskies and Retrievers are built for the cold and usually do not need one.

How do I know if my dog is cold? Look for shivering, a tucked-in body and tail, reluctance to walk, or lifting paws off the cold ground. Those are signs a coat would help.

How do I measure my dog for a coat? Measure the back length from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, plus the chest girth behind the front legs. The back length is the main sizing figure.

Can a coat cause any problems? A poorly fitting one can rub or restrict movement, and leaving a coat on indoors can cause overheating and matting. Get the fit right, take it off inside, and keep the fur underneath brushed.

Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. If winter coat-wearing has left your dog's fur matting at the chest, we will put it right gently. Book a groom with us.