Thursday, October 22, 2009

Keep Your Dog Warm During the Winter Months.

By Joanne Gallagher

Cold winter day are swiftly approaching. So pull out those coats, sweaters and heaters! Even though dogs have their own coats, they can always the additional warmth presented by a dog coat or jacket.

Dog lovers enjoy playing dress up with their small dogs. Smaller breeds of dogs have hair rather than fur and are susceptible to cold weather. They require the warmth that dog clothes offer if they are outdoors for any amount of time. Breeds such as: Silky Terriers, Chinese Crested Dogs, Yorkshire Terriers, Dachshunds and Maltese in fact benefit from sporting a dog sweater or coat. Tiny dogs prefer not to be exposed to the cold or rain and are most content warm and dry.

Mid-sized dogs such as Welsh Corgis or Pugs are very muscular yet have very short hair. But a Welsh Corgi would look superb in a classy coat or jacket? Sometimes it is all about looking good! Boxers are another type of dog that does not do well in intense temperatures even with their muscular physique. And a Corduroy Dog Jacket would look great on any Boxer?

Short haired breeds, like a Basenji, Greyhound, Italian Greyhound, Weimaraner and Vizsla have a slender build and require exercise outdoors. They do not handle severe cold weather very well. During cold days a barn jacket is effortless to Velcro around an active dog and helps to keep outdoor dogs toasty in colder weather. The Polyester helps ward off wind and water to maintain dryness and safety from the elements, while the fleece side captures body heat to supply warm comfort.

Some dog breeds don't require the warmth of a coat. For instance, the Alaskan Malamute has a thick and wooly base-coat that allows them to be exposed to the extreme cold weather without wearing protection. The Samoyed has a dual coat that contains a soft, thick undercoat with a harsh outer layer. In addition, cold temperature breeds have a tuft of hair around their neck for extra warmth.

Aging dogs need extra warmth in their old age. A fleece lined dog coat will maintain an older dogs warmth effectively. Especially for arthritic dogs, a dog jacket or coat will present relief to their cold bodies. Dogs not in good health can profit from a therapeutic dog coat. By using heat, cold and magnetic therapy, these dog coats offer rehabilitation for pain relief.

The right fit is important for comfort and warmth. Using a tape measure to figure out what size coat your dog will need can be accomplished in 3 easy steps.

Step 1: Measure your dog's girth. The girth is the dog's chest behind the front legs.

Step 2: Determine your dog's neckline. This is very important for hooded dog apparel.

Step 3: Measure the length of your dog from the base of their neck to the base of their tail.

Even though dogs are born with their own coats, they always could use extra warmth for cold and rainy days.

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