How to choose a winter coat for your dog and get the size right

If your dog is small, short or thin coated, lean, very young or getting on in years, a winter coat helps keep them comfortable on cold walks. Thick double-coated breeds usually do not need one. Measure the chest, back and neck first, then choose the style that suits your dog's shape and your weather.

Does your dog need a winter coat?

A coat earns its place on dogs that lose heat quickly:

• Small and toy breeds such as Chihuahuas and Yorkies, with little body mass to hold warmth.
• Short or thin coats such as Whippets, Greyhounds, Boxers and French Bulldogs.
• Lean dogs with very little body fat.
• Puppies and senior dogs, who find it harder to stay warm.
• Short-legged dogs like Dachshunds, whose bellies sit close to snow and wet ground.

Thick double-coated breeds, like Huskies, Malamutes and Bernese Mountain Dogs, are built for the cold and usually do not need a coat. One can even make them too warm. If your dog has a health condition, or you are not sure, ask your vet.

Your dog will also tell you. Shivering, lifting paws, slowing right down or turning for home early are all signs they are cold.

How to measure your dog for a coat

Use a soft tape measure with your dog standing square. Keep the tape snug but not tight, and measure twice.

1. Chest: around the widest part of the ribcage, just behind the front legs.
2. Back length: from the base of the neck, where the collar sits, to the base of the tail.
3. Neck: around the neck where the collar sits. Not every coat lists a neck size, but our dachshund coat does.

Check both against the size chart. Weight is a rough guide; the tape decides. If either measurement lands between two sizes, take the larger one.

The coats we stock, and who each one suits

We stock six winter styles, each built for a different dog or day.

Everyday cold, small dogs. The Padded Winter Dog Jacket has three padded layers under a Terylene shell, a button front (no zipper to catch fur) and a leash D-ring through the back. Sizes XS to XXL suit small and medium dogs.

Small breeds who like it soft. The Shearling-Trim Winter Dog Jacket has a suede-look outer with faux shearling lining, collar and cuffs, a press-stud (snap) front that does up quickly on a wriggly dog, and a bow on the back. It is sized by weight, from 1 to 8 kg (2 to 18 lb), in Khaki or Pink.

Windy, exposed walks. The Windproof Padded Dog Coat pairs a wind-resistant quilted nylon shell with cotton padding and a stand-up collar that covers the throat. There is a reflective triangle patch for low light. The XXL is listed for Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Boxers. It is not listed as waterproof.

Snow, slush and salty sidewalks. The Winter Dog Snowsuit covers all four legs and the belly, which is where cold and road salt get in. A windproof nylon shell and cotton padding make it a strong match for slim, short-coated dogs such as Greyhounds. It fastens along the back with a zipper or press studs, so it comes off in one go, and goes up to 4XL. Treat it as a cold and wind layer, not a raincoat.

Dachshunds and other short-legged breeds. The Quilted Winter Coat for Dachshunds is cut long in the body for a long, low dog, not scaled down from a regular coat. Elastic leg cuffs and a stretchy bust stop it riding up over the shoulders, hook-and-loop closes it at the neck and chest, and the diamond-quilted nylon shell is water-resistant. A standard Dachshund is usually an L: a 45 cm (18 in) back, a 45 to 57 cm (18 to 22 in) chest and a 32 to 40 cm (13 to 16 in) neck.

Wet days rather than cold ones. The Hooded Dog Raincoat is a waterproof and windproof polyester shell with an attached hood and reflective stripes on the back and both sides. No padding is listed, so it is for rain, not deep cold. It comes in yellow, in sizes M to XXL for dogs of about 5 to 20 kg (11 to 44 lb), and it wipes clean, ready for the next walk. The largest size will not fit a Labrador.

Leashes, harnesses and car restraints

Each coat handles the leash a little differently:

• D-ring on the coat: the Padded Winter Dog Jacket and the Shearling-Trim jacket both have a D-ring on the back, so the leash clips straight on without taking the coat off or wrestling a harness over the top.
• An opening for a harness: the Windproof coat has a leash slot through the back and the Dachshund coat has a buttonhole opening, so the leash reaches a harness worn underneath.
• Snowsuit and raincoat: no leash opening is listed. If you plan to use a harness with either, email us before you order.

Whatever the coat, attach a car restraint or tether to a harness, never to a collar.

Fit check before the first walk

• You can slide two fingers under the coat at the chest and the neck.
• Your dog can walk, sit and lie down without the coat pulling or bunching.
• Nothing rubs under the front legs.
• The coat stays centered on the back instead of twisting to one side or riding up over the shoulders.
• Your dog can go to the bathroom without the coat getting in the way.

Try the coat on indoors a couple of times, with plenty of praise, before a short walk. Take it off once you are home so your dog does not overheat, and check for rubbing or damp fur underneath.

Still not sure?

Send your dog's chest, back and neck measurements, plus their breed if you like, to contact@honeyandpaw.com and we will help you pick the right style and size.