I've talked a little bit about dressing the dogs for winter but I wanted to talk specifics. I get questions from friends and co-workers about what my dogs wear and where to find it. As shorthaired dogs both Ares and Chaos have a tendency to want to stay inside once it gets below 40 degrees. That can be a problem when we need to go on walks, especially since this winter has brought some very cold temperatures.
My favorite site to shop is Baxter Boo. It's basically like Amazon for dogs. They have all sorts of pets supplies from countless brands at discounted prices. There are also always additional sales going on for even better bargains. This is where I found a staple in the boys' wardrobes, Zack and Zoey basic dog hoodies. They come is several colors and the sizing chart is pretty accurate. Chaos wears a size large and Ares wears a size medium. The dogs actually like having them on and will pop their heads through the neck holes and help with putting their legs through the leg holes.
The hoodies are great for walks and outdoor training until temperatures start to dip further and the snow and ice arrive. That's where the coats come in. They can be layered over the hoodies when it's really cold or worn by themselves if it's just cold but not polar vortex cold. After a long search I decided on the Ruffwear K-9 overcoat for both boys. The outer material is thick, durable and waterproof while the inside is a soft, warm fleece. Adjustable straps clip on each side of the belly to easily put them on and take them off. Even with the discounts, the coats were still a little pricey but even after the polar vortex this winter and all the snow they still look brand new and I expect we should have them for while a while so I highly recommend them. Ares wears a size extra small but we had a little trouble getting it over his head so I cut the seams on each side of the chest panel and it fits perfectly now. It didn't affect the rest of the coat and no one is the wiser. The small fits Chaos exactly. This coat only comes in two colors so we got one of each.
The third piece of clothing we use for cold day walks is the snood: the dog version of a scarf. We joke that they are infinity scarves likes mommy's since the concept is the same. I ordered each dog a custom designed double line fleece snood from Sirius Republic. These snoods are also water repellant so they keep the boys' necks nice and warm. They can also be pulled up over the head and ears for added warmth on really cold days. Sometimes we just slip a snood on with a hoodie. It really just depends on the temperature and the wind at walk time.
Do your dogs have winter gear? What brands and options do you prefer?
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