Wet Dogs and Dog Coats
It’s wet here today. ‘Light Rain’ the weather forecast map said, until about 1pm. Well that was right. So I took the dogs for a shorter walk this morning so we could have a longer one this evening when things fine up a bit.
Look , even for me who’s out with the dogs twice a day every day, walking in the rain and wind holds very little attraction!
It holds even less attraction for the dogs I can tell you. It might come as a surprise but not all dogs like the idea of getting wet, let alone the reality. My greyhounds hate it. Though they have their waterproofs, Blue makes me look like I’m the cruellest owner in the world even when it’s only his head that’s wet. His head hangs so low sometimes I think he’ll graze his nose on the ground!
But there is a serious point to this. I used to think coats for dogs were silly until I got the greyhounds.
Last week Robin and I went for walk along the Coniston lakeshore with the dogs and we got soaked. It was ok when we started but we probably spent about 2 hours in heavy rain. It went through the dogs’ waterproofs. Blue and Vinnie were shivering with cold, and the air temperature was warm – about 17 degrees centigrade. The point is that Greyhounds have so little fur and fat that without coats they can get hypothermia in heavy rain at even moderate temperatures. In cold weather – less than about 5 degress centigrade – Greyhounds need a fleece lined waterproof coat to keep out the chill (and the wind).
There are lots of dogs which thrive in all conditions and seem inpervious to the cold and wet. Examples of this include the Newfoundland with its heavy coat, The Portuguese Water Dog, the Border Terrier and the Labrador Retriever with its good fat insulation layer.
However, there are many breeds of dog not well equipped for unpleasant or cold weather. Many of the toy breeds have fur which doesn’t protect them very well from the rain or wind – such as Yorkshire Terriers. The hairless breeds need protection from the sun as well as from the cold. Some of the larger breeds which don’t carry much fat or were ‘desert dogs’ such as the Saluki also need protection from the elements.
So if you thought coats for dogs were silly – think again. For some breeds coats are essential.
Consider this….
An adult male can get hypothermia in heavy rain at 8 degrees centigrade. And you don’t give a second thought to putting a coat on yourself when it’s cold, windy or raining. So do consider whether your dog would also benefit. Whatever breed you choose, read up on how well it does in different weather conditions and kit it out appropriately. Your dog will love you for it.
Also if like me you end up with 4 largish dogs in the house, using lightweight rainmacs keeps the smell of wet dog to a minimum!
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