Sizing up winter gear for your dogs

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/11/2020 (1848 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dogs do not come in convenient sizes or proportions for off-the-rack fitting. Ordering online is even more difficult.  

Here are some tips to make outfitting your pup for our winter a little easier:

• Boots — Boots come in all manner of forms, from thin, rubber balloon-like boots to insulated mukluks with many styles in between. Some have long attached socks, some have Velcro bands, others actually have zippers or Velcro laces like human shoes.  

Dog’s feet, however, are not shaped like human feet nor are they the same from breed to breed. It can be tough to find a style that suits your dog but generally the less structured it is, the more likely it is fit. The balloon and fleece booties are pretty universal and easiest to put on. More structured boots need to be matched to the dog and its walking style.

There are socks that have been dipped in rubber or that have rubber grippers on them, usually in smaller sizes. These can work for some harder-to-fit dogs that still need some structure.

When trying to size boots, most companies use a combination of the width of the dog’s paw and its length. At minimum, if you are shopping without the pet, these are the numbers you need to bring.

Some brands just use S, M, L, XL sizing, which will require either bringing in the dog or multiple trips if you get the wrong size. Like regular shoes, do not let your pet wear its winter boots outside until you are 100 per cent sure they fit properly, as once they are used, they are generally not returnable.

• Coats — Dog’s body sizes and shapes are even more varied than their feet, so sizing coats is harder than sizing shoes.

The general measurement most companies use is length, usually from where the collar would sit on the neck to the base of the tail. Most companies’ sizes range in even-numbered increments of inches for this measurement, with six or eight inches being the smallest and 36 inches the largest I have seen. Unfortunately dogs vary greatly in proportion. Some are long, some short, some slender, some thick. In my experience, very few dogs fit a coat perfectly, especially if they are not adjustable.

Some coats are like horse blankets, basically a blanket that goes over the back of the dog, with straps that go around the neck and belly. These are very adjustable, and most likely to fit a wide variety of dogs.

Others utilize elastic closures or have a set neck opening with adjustable, Velcro belly straps. These offer a broader range of fit, and can sometimes fit the deep-chested dogs such as boxers or Danes
Many of the stylish coats that look like mini people-parkas will fit normal-shaped dogs, such as poodles or schnauzers and even some short-legged dogs, like Maltese and some terriers. Fitting these coats is very individual and, like human clothing a small from one manufacturer may not be the same as a small from a different one, so it’s always best to bring your pets in for a fitting.

Keep in mind that in our winters you may have to abandon style for function and always remember to take into account what winter clothing may do to the dog’s coat. Some will need extra attention due to the tangling that can occur or moisture that might build up under the fur. Make sure outerwear doesn’t cause more harm than good, and it’s worth remembering that most dogs have perfectly good fur coats already, if groomed properly.

Contact Jeff with your questions or ideas at thrivepetfoodmarket@shaw.ca or visit www.thrivepetfoodmarket.com