Winter Sweater/Coats for Short Hair Dog

[danielle9]

Hello there,

New to this website...

Looking for suggestions or recomendations for a functional winter jacket/sweater type garmet for my 20 lbs short hair dog (mixed breed). I live in Alberta and our winters can definitely get very chilly! I would like to find a garmet for our dog that will be good to minus 40 ... just in case!

I don't at all care about "fashion" just functionality.

Anyone have any suggestions of a good place to start looking? I don't think that any of the petstores that I have been to have winter garmets right now... seeing as how its only August but knowing our Canadian weather (and I am not sure that the average pet store would sell what I am looking for..)... I want to be prepared when it gets cold!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Danielle

[Marty11]

I like the on-line store "Gear 4 Dogs" based in BC, they sell good coats. You may want to consider booties too. I lived in Alberta..........it's soooooo cold. I too never found good stuff in pet stores.

[Loki Love]

Loki has a great coat from Chilly Dogs! www.chillydogs.ca

[danielle9]

Both sites look great, thanks for the suggestions! Any ideas of how to "introduce" a jacket or booties to a dog so that they are tolerated? I have a feeling that my dog, Kinga, would try to find anyway out of wearing a jacket but her hair is so short I think she would freeze otherwise!

[breeze]

I would put them on in the house for a few min each day, when she does well praise praise or treat which ever you prefer
then a little longer as the days goes on..
then go outside for a bit and don't forget to praise

[hazelrunpack]

Our springer wanted nothing to do with her coat until the first -20° day...and then she suddenly developed a new-found appreciation for coats!

[cell]

If you will be walking any salted roads you should also look into booties. I know it seems ridiculous but if you have ever seen a dog burning its feet in salt it is really terrible.

Try putting the coat on in the house and giving a few treats then putting it on for dinner or play time. Your dog will love it in no time. (although my dog still hates his coat...but forgets about it when he gets outside )

[Marty11]

My dogs get excited when they see their coats come out, and I must say they are better at getting their coats on then their leashes............another topic on another thread.

[danielle9]

Thanks everyone! I think a good jacket and some warm booties are defintiely in store for Kinga. We lived overseas for this past year so Kinga has yet to exprience a freezing Alberta winter! I think that most of you are probably right.. she'll probably be begging me to wear her jacket!

Marty... perhaps I should attach the leash to her new jacket and see how that works hehe

[Rgeurts]

danielle9, living in AB myself (Edmonton area), I feel your pain!! Luckily, both of mine are built for this weather... except their feet (and the ocassional, random shaved patches they have both become accustomed to!). I have tried quite a few pet stores here, myself. I find the stock they carry very slim. I think I will try one of the online places for their booties as well
And welcome to the board

[binkybuff]

I also live in Alberta, and when I had my dogs, I knitted them coats, and they accepted them very well.

While doing the pattern I used the dog as a model, so they were well used to my putting it on and off by the time they really needed it. It seemed to keep them quite warm.

take care
binky

[danielle9]

I will surely post some pictures of little Kinga with her winter gear as soon as it arrives. Thanks all!

[Marty11]

This could be a photo challenge for September "Fall Fashion"