Doggy Raincoats/ Body suits

[Alana McGee]

There are definitely a lot of options and a lot of considerations. The first thing I think of is “will my dog be pulling on this harness?” If so, look for a harness that is designed for safe pulling and avoid ones that are designed to prevent pulling.

If my dog isn’t going to be pulling much (ex. hunting off leash or dragging a line) I might look at harnesses that have other features I like but maybe aren’t idea for pulling.

[Alana McGee]

Hi,

Any suggestions for good doggie raincoats or what to look for?

Both lightweight and a heavier insulated ones.

How about some of the bodysuits?

We can be out in 30-40 degree weather for hours – sometimes in heavy rain.

They need to be comfy and warm also. 🙂

[Alana McGee]

We look for low profile jackets. Here in the Pacific Northwest the Ruff Wear Cloud Chaser works well for our dogs. While they are fine for the light rain in our area, they will become saturated in heavy downpours or when the brush is very wet.

Avoid fleece jackets.

We do prefer soft shell fitted jackets over the cape styles to minimize getting caught on branches and bushes. Nothing we have found is snag resistant so we budget for new jackets each year.

That said, it still boils down to fit and the environment you are hunting in. The form fitting Cloud Chaser doesn’t fill all of our dogs so we recommend selecting a few styles and try them on. Consider where you will be hunting. If there is thick brush, you will want a low profile option. If you will mainly be in open areas like orchards, most coats designed for active dogs will work just fine.

We often have a dry comfortable jacket in the car along with towels to dry the dogs off. In this situation, whatever is comfy and warm is fine. Fleece capes are nice for this. I have Back On Track blankets for the dogs post-hunting. I have also used the OBTRACK dog coats and like them for my Belgian Tervuren. Hurta makes some nice quality jackets for cold climates but we wouldn’t recommend using them in heavy brush.

[Alana McGee]

I have a K9 TopCoat Lycra body suite for Monza.

It has saved me from some major cleanup a few times (her motto is live to be dirty, stinky, and wet), but it can mat her curls if she doesn’t have a short cut. I have only used it a few times. I bought the suit the year we had a horrendous time with ticks and she had to be treated for ehrlichia.

I must say the design and fit is excellent. It’s very easy to put on and as you can see it fits well. They have waterproof, windproof, insulated products. http://www.k9topcoat.com/

Monza felt like a dork at first, then she decided it made her faster so we started calling it her Missile Suit. They need to make one out of kevlar, it has a lot of holes in it.

missile_suit.jpg

[Alana McGee]

Lois makes a very good point- and I urge anyone in Tick areas/ burr areas with long grass to get one. This applies to those of you in Nor California. Ease of movement being key as well.

I speak from one terrible experience last year on a set or orchards there. I can only imagine what it would have been like if we don’t have the coat on. Here’s a shot of what the Ruffwear Cloudchaser looks like on Lolo. We’ve found the ruff wear holds up pretty well, but kristin is right, nothing is completely snag proof, but it has protected the dogs from some unexpected hazards/ branches and things.

We also recommend a bright color if that is an option, especially if your dog is dark in color. It can be dark in the forest!
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lolocartwrightTruffiere.jpg lolocartwr…iere.jpg (147KB)

[Alana McGee]

This will probably seem like a strange question – what would be the weather conditions you’d put a coat on your dog? Do you have your dogs wear coats anytime they are in the woods to protect them from sticks/snags?

Our older dog, Socks, is a husky/malamute/other cross and he has zero problems with cold weather. When he was younger he was happy to be out for hours in -5C to -10C (23-14F) weather; coats have never been something we’ve thought of.

Cricket doesn’t have the same insane double coat he does, and she is much slimmer – so this topic is making me think it would probably be worth considering getting her a jacket.

(I do understand for tick protection, years ago we went for a hike in Saskatchewan in late June and spent the rest of our trip picking over 150 ticks off of Socks – a coat would have been super useful)

Thanks guys!

[Alana McGee]

For your husky I would say you do not need to, but do have something in the car and be sensitive to how he responds, especially his joints as he gets older.

I do not use a coat for my large double coated lab mix as he would over heat extremely quickly. I do however have towels and warm blankets etc in the car for afterwards.

While coats do protect against weather (for us it is mostly wet, wet ferns) they do also protect against snags and the occasional barb wire we come across. Those catch the coat and not the dog, so they are recommended.

We would suggest that you do get a coat for Cricket and something for afterwards as your jacket or coat will likely be wet, and you don?t want her muscles to cool down in that on the car ride home!

[Alana McGee]

The other thing to consider is any protection your hunting harness might provide. This is one of the reasons we like the Julius K9 harness. It is a thick, sturdy harness that provides a bit of protection for dogs who aren’t wearing a jacket/ bodysuit.

I don’t use a coat while hunting with my Belgian Turvuren or Sheltie but they do get some protection from branches and barbed wire from the harness itself. My Border Collie, who is similar to Cricket, wears a Ruff Wear Cloudchaser and the Julius K9 harness. That combo has prevented some twigs, branches and barbed wire from cutting into her. Spring gets a bit tricky and we exercise caution so she doesn’t overheat.

Having something dry in the car is valuable, whether or not you choose a coat with therapeutic benefits. Keep in mind, on occasion you will bring your dogs out to hunt an area, then put them in the car for a bit before hunting again. A coat is never a replacement for warming up but it can help.

[Alana McGee]

I have the Julius k9 harness and will try that first with warmies in the car. I also have a nice water harness from Hurta. And a hiking harness.. Tippet has more outer wear than I do!

[Alana McGee]

Thanks for the info guys! I’ll look into getting crick a coat. We got her a ruffwear webmaster harness, so it has lots of coverage. We just have to convince her that it is super fun to wear 🙂

I wonder if a coat + that particular harness will be too bulky. I think I’ll have to play around with options.

Kristin- what is a coat with therapeutic values?

[Alana McGee]

Question. I have the Hurtta life vest. Would that work for thick brush?

hurtta.com/EN/Products/Reflector%20products/Life%20jacket/

What I like about the Ruff Wear Cloud is that the entire front is protected.

What about head and eyes?

[Alana McGee]

Only thing about the life jacket I would be concerned with is bulk. I haven’t seen this one in person so it is hard to tell, and yes, you are correct, it does not protect the chest.

As for head/ eyes. Doggles are overkill I think generally for this, depending on where you are working. It isn’t worth being in places where branches are constantly at doggy (or human) eye level. For some speedier type dogs, yes it is a concern. I keep Lolo & Lucs hair longer on their faces during winter for this reason as it offers some protection from debris. Mostly we come back with wet faces and ferns stuck to their hair.

But if Tippet will work with Doggles on, great!

I’ll find some photos of heavy brush areas that just aren’t worth it so you can see the difference.

[Alana McGee]

Tippet will come back adorned with needles and such. I ended up with the Cloud because it protects the chest area. I don’t see him as a frenzied, gotta get it type. He will go around rather thru. No Doggles for him either.

[Alana McGee]

Another trick I have learned for dogs with coats like Tippet & Lo (aka curly waterdog hair):

*The courser curly hair kind it’s not as much an issue (I don’t have to use this on Luc who has thick hair that doesn’t mat/ gather debris…which I don’t know, but my guess Is Tippet has thicker hair- but Lolo has downy curls where tiny pieces of leaf/dirt cause matts)

Cornstarch. Sounds hilarious, but man does it work to prevent needles from sticking to her and matting. Kristin can tell you I have a big vat of it in my car and Lolo gets ‘starched’ each time before we go out- especially if it is wet. I put it on under her Cloud chaser. Mostly on joint areas/ exposed areas depending. It really does work wonders. When you “pet” her like that you may get a puff of white powder, but it keeps debris to a minimum.

[Alana McGee]

Hey Guys. Anyone know what is up with obTrack? Turns out my amazing big brother is more than a worker/helper without peer, but generous, too. For my birthday, he says he will get Tippet a coat. The cost of a size 11 OBtrack coat is frightening! But website won’t let me order and they have yet to respond to my emails. I am leery now.

I would be most apt to use a coat if he were to get really wet and cold running around and we had to walk back to the car a longish ways. I ordered fleece jammies to put on him once we get to the car.

Tippet is a wavy PWD in a lion cut. Rear half is cut to the skin, front half is about 2″ long. I keep it that short length because it is easier to comb out..very fine, mats quickly. Letting front half grow to 5 or 6 or more inches would be a nightmare to comb out. Corn starch!! What a great idea! I will get some.

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