We all love our pets. We take care of our pets and strive really hard to make their lives as comforting as we can. One of the things that every pet owner is concerned about is giving his or her pet appropriate winter protection. Defining ‘appropriate winter protection’ can be a little tricky. The protection needs to be adequate at the same time the dog should feel comfortable in it while walking, running or even sleeping. The type of winter coat also depends on where you live. The winter coat that will work in slightly chilly San Francisco weather will not be sufficient in the harsh winter of Minneapolis. There are however certain things that should be there in every winter coat.
The thing that is of paramount importance is total belly coverage. Dogs can fall sick if the there is exposure during harsh weather. Even though, technically a winter coat is supposed to protect the dog from cold, ideally speaking, it should protect the dog in all seasons. So a winter coat can be used for protection against the rain or wind as well. A winter coat needs to be waterproof for two reasons. If the coat is not waterproof, the water will go through the coat and the dog’s belly might completely get soaked. Also, during the winter if any snow is stuck inside a dog’s coat, it might melt later on at warmer temperatures making the belly wet and the dog vulnerable to diseases. Ideally dog’s winter coats are available in two layers. The inner layer is made of quilt which gives the dog much needed comfort and it also allows the dog to breathe easily.
There are many materials in which winter coats are available, but winter coats made with cotton lining with a hint of nylon work the best. Many winter coats come with standard features like attached and adjustable belt, a proper leash opening, back leg straps etc. Back leg straps play a key role in fastening the coat around the dog’s body. Majority of the coats come have very easy washing instructions with most of them being machine washable and can dried in a regular dryer. The coats are also available in many different colors.
The thing that should always be kept in mind is to choose the right size of the coat. For that it is very essential to measure the dog’s size and accordingly select the coat that will be a best fit for the dog. Generally, one needs to measure the length starting from the base of the neck till the beginning of this tail. Also, one needs to realize that there are many pedigrees of dogs and shapes and sizes of dogs vary across all aspects. For example a Doberman pinscher is a deep- chested dog while a bulldog has a very thick and muscular neck. So the winter coat requirement will also depend on the pedigree of the dog.
We always want to give the best to our dog. A durable winter coat might just be the gift your dog might be expecting!
