Diamonds in the Ruff: Does Your Dog Need to Wear Winter Wear?

Does Your Dog Need to Wear Winter Wear?

BarkPost- Winter is finally upon us, and if you live in Texas, you understand. It is after all the beginning of December, and most of us are still wearing flip-flops. But when it comes to our furry family members, those long days at the lake are over, and cuddles by the fire are a necessity. You may ask yourself, “Does my dog need to wear a sweater?” Some of use may hesitate to put clothing on our dogs, could be they think dogs don’t get cold because they have fur or they are afraid they may look silly. But if you are concerned about your pet being cold this winter, then, by all means, put a sweater on them.

It’s easy to see that dogs are equipped with their own layering system, but some dogs have a lighter/thinner layer of fur than others. Also, some dogs are not genetically suited to the environments they are planted in. So it is possible your dog may be uncomfortable with the current temperatures, just as we would be wearing a light sweater in Colorado at the beginning of December.

It All Depends on the Dog Breed

According to dog trainer Shelby Semel, it all depends on the dog on whether they need extra layering during the winter. Note: You should always consult with your vet or your dog breeder about anything your pup may need for their health! Breeds like Ridgeback Terriers have short-haired coats and are less protected from the cold. So it’s a good idea to cover them with a coat in the dead of winter. Similarly, dogs who have hair and not fur like Maltese and Havanese also tend to get chilly during the colder seasons. Semel also points out that the size of your dog won’t protect them from the weather. “You can have a large dog—it can be a Great Dane—but they don’t have a ton of hair and sometimes you may notice at certain weather points that they do get a little bit shaky, in which case they are likely cold and it would be helpful for them to have a sweater or a coat,” Semel said.

Winter may not be the only time to put a sweater on your dog. Dogs that have skin allergies, more commonly Boston Terriers or Pugs, may benefit wearing a cotton shirt to keep them from breaking their skin from scratching.

How to Tell If Your Pup Needs Protection

If you can’t decide if your dog needs a sweater during the cold months, Semel said there are visible signs to look for. “The most obvious [sign] that you would notice that is correlated with being cold is [your dog] being a little bit shaky,” Semel said. If it turns out your dog needs clothing to protect them from the elements, try to pick something that won’t cause emotional trauma when they wear it. “Figure out what works best for your dog and what they are and aren’t comfortable with,” Semel said. Dogs who don’t like having a harness over their head would be better off with a sweater that fastens around the waist. Your dog might need to get used to wearing their sweater in the house before you can take them outside in it. Overall, Semel recommends just “knowing your dog in general” and paying attention to the signs. For the most part, our dogs are accustomed to all sorts of weather conditions, and they’re happy to frolic in the snow for hours at a time without a care in the world!