| How To Choose A Perfect Dog Coat |
| Written by Dylan Brodderick |
| Saturday, 12 December 2009 08:21 |
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Dog coats have evolved greatly from a single design option available in three sizes, small, medium, large. Our family dog had a tight little red and grey plaid coat. It always looked a bit dingy. The fabric was ugly. In addition it was a struggle to put on. Accordingly, the poor dog only wore the coat on a handful of occasions and mostly went cold on her very brief ventures into the backyard to relieve herself.
Dog coats have evolved greatly from a single design option available in three sizes, small, medium, large. Our family dog had a tight little red and grey plaid coat. It always looked a bit dingy. The fabric was ugly. In addition it was a struggle to put on. Accordingly, the poor dog only wore the coat on a handful of occasions and mostly went cold on her very brief ventures into the backyard to relieve herself. These days responsible pet owners know that it is important to protect your dogs from the elements. Accordingly, there are many, many different types of dog coats on the market. You can choose from the strictly functional to the flashy-splashy, from the moderately priced to the less-moderately priced. There are coat styles more suitable to short haired dogs and coat styles more suitable to longer haired dogs. Some dog coats are water-proof, while other coats are insulated. Some people like to have a lighter weight dog coat for the milder days. There are coats that your dog can step into, coats that wrap around with Velcro fasteners, and coats that are similar to capes with a waist band. Some coats designed for larger dogs have pockets for owners to carry items such as dog toys or gloves. A nice feature to look for in a coat is some sort of reflective strip to add to the safety of your pet. Dog coats come in a wide range of designs and colours. Some dog coats include safety features such as bells and reflective stripes. There are so many options that it can be difficult to choose the right dog coat for your dog. Below are the four most important considerations in choosing a coat for your dog. 1. Regional weather. Is the coat needed to protect your dog from the elements or is it a style thing? If you live in a temperate climate and the temperature rarely goes below freezing then you needn't worry too much about the insulation factor of the coat and, in fact, should be careful that the coat doesn't make your dog overheat. If you live in an area that has severe winters then you should look for a coat that is both insulated and wind proof and uses fabrics such as gortex. You may also want to look for a coat that is water proof especially if you live in an area that experiences freezing rain. 2. Washable. Dog coats can get awfully dirty during the course of a winter and especially during the spring thaw. I would only consider getting a dog coat that is machine washable. The amount of washing will depend on your dog and the areas in which you allow your dog to play and exercise. On average you should expect to wash her coat in the mid-season and again before you put it away for the summer. 3. How will you dog behave while being dressed? Is he or she a wiggler? If the coat is tricky to put on then your dog will likely have a cold winter. Look for a coat with easy to handle closures such as good quality zippers or Velcro strip fasteners 4. Size. Before shopping for your dog coat make sure you measure your dog. Measure the dog from the base of his neck to the start of his tail. Measure again the circumference if his neck and add 1 inch. Measure again around the broadest part of his chest and add one inch. With these measurements in hand you should be able to to choose a coat that will fit your dog appropriately. |