dog coats

[BaBaaHMonica]

OK it is like -15`F windchill. I am cold in my coat and i am concerned about the dogs. They have the same fur year round and barefeet no doubt. I have some dog coats on order, but at some point I know they absolutely don't need them. What can you tell me about using coats, getting them to stay on, should they be on only at night and take them off during the day when we have a heatwave of say 0`F. I knew this cold snap was coming so I bought 2 ladies vests, but I have some real dog coats ordered.

 

[BaBaaHMonica]

The coats just arrive! Wow That was Quick! I order them yesterday & ups just deliver. i will put them on and report back. The 2x size was available only in the orange and black. They are made by Derby, so I think they must be pretty good if people buy them for their horses.

 

[Alaskan]

OK it is like -15`F windchill. I am cold in my coat and i am concerned about the dogs. They have the same fur year round and barefeet no doubt. I have some dog coats on order, but at some point I know they absolutely don't need them. What can you tell me about using coats, getting them to stay on, should they be on only at night and take them off during the day when we have a heatwave of say 0`F. I knew this cold snap was coming so I bought 2 ladies vests, but I have some real dog coats ordered.

Eh... what kind of dogs?

I don't see why they would need coats if it is only -15F.

It can be a problem if they get wet... but as long as they are dry, have a place out of the wind, and fed and watered, they should be fine, even at much colder temps.

The other issue... besides them getting wet... is if the snow balls up in their fur... that can be an issue, but is usually only an issue in wetter/warmer snow, or just the kind of hair the dog has.

 

[BaBaaHMonica]

they are pyrenees. They both have a run in type shelter for the goats that they can go in as well as their own dog house. They can fit in one if they really want to snuggle. One of them wants to go out and stand in the snow and wind, so I know it is cold. The other one stays in her house unless i come out to visit, but only if I have treats and food.
I spread straw around over the snow so they can have a place to walk around without necessarily walking on the snow.

 

[Alaskan]

Feel them up, make sure that they are in good flesh... being in good condition is important.

You can tell they are right if they are NOT fat, but when snow falls on their back it doesn't melt, as that means their coat is insulating and keeping in their body heat.

Does the snow ball up On their coat? I am trying to remember if the neighborhood pyr ever had snow balls.... I don't think he did... mats on occasion... but I don't think the snow balled up.

 

[BaBaaHMonica]

The snow the other night started as rain, as it often does in Ohio. Then it switch to snow. Their fur looked like icicles and broke when I ran my glove over their back. I can't imagine what that feels like when it starts to melt.

We get a little bit of everything here in Ohio. I guess maybe i am more concerned because we get hot humid summer and bitter cold winter. And even in a month, we can go from 50's to the teens and then switch back to nearly the 50's. We have to adjust, just not sure the dogs ready for all that, thus the need for a coat..

 

[Alaskan]

The dogs will be fine with those temp swings

BUT, they will not be fine with the rain followed by snow and icicles in the coat.

So yes, that needs to be "fixed" but hard to do when your weather is wacko.

Just the concern with coats is that

1. those things don't like to stay on. I never tried one on our pyr. But our house dog... one winter we tried to use one on him, he would race out the door, spin in the snow, and that coat was off. But we only tried the 1 kind of coat, and that only on the one dog.

2. From what I have read coats will press down on the animal's hair, which means that their hair is no longer working as well as it was. I would guess that can be fixed with using a much warmer coat. I also read that using a coat for most of the time might cause the animal to shed out their winter coat.

I dunno... I don't have 24/7 outside dogs or LGDS (But we used to have a pyr, and there are 2 neighborhood pyrs), but we never used coats on our goats or our horses, even the one Thoroughbred cross that had super thin skin and a pathetic winter coat. We did coat kids if they were born in super cold.

 

[BaBaaHMonica]

Thanks for your tips. I will report back tomorrow night.

 

[Ridgetop]

I would be leery of putting coats on your Pyrs. They have a double coat. The top sheds mud and rain and the under coat insulates. If it is very cold they will dig a hole in the snow and stay warm. Since they have a house but prefer to remain outside, they are not feeling the cold like you do. Putting a coat on them will cause them to overheat and possibly start to shed that winter coat. Then you are letting yourself in for a lot of problems.

 

[BaBaaHMonica]

Tonight the temp is going to be 26`F and fall to the mid teens about 4 am. I took the jackets off and they did not seem sweaty or uncomfortable. They were both wagging their tails and had a couple good stretches and shakes.

I am glad I got the coats as I don't think they have the best condition of their fur. My Hubby spent many an evening brushing to get rid of many matted fur clumps since the people that had them had not been able to take care of them the last couple months. We have had them only since october so i don't think the fur has had a chance to really get established on the belly and backs of the legs...next year will be a better year to have no coats on, At least I feel better LOL. I have got them to a nice body weight, and they seem happy and love having chickens and goats to watch.