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Many dogs dislike the rain, which can make things difficult when they need a walk. In my decade of experience as a professional dog trainer, I've found that dressing a pup in one of the best dog raincoats can make it easier to get them outside for daily exercise and potty breaks on wet days. Dog Clothes Wholesale
To find out what features to look for in a dog raincoat, we went straight to professional dog walkers who spend their days in all types of weather. Then we came up with a list of 11 rain jackets to test. We looked for coats that were comfortable, could withstand heavy rain, and were easy to clean. The Ruffwear Sun Shower Dog Raincoat is the best overall option for most dogs. It provides excellent belly coverage, and while it's uninsulated, you can layer it with a sweater in cold weather. But if you want even more protection from snow and sleet, you can find more picks in our guide to the best dog winter coats.
Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.
Best overall: Ruffwear Sun Shower Dog Raincoat - See at Amazon
Best budget: Blueberry Pet Two-Legged Reflective Dog Raincoat - See at Amazon
Best for wet outdoor adventures: Hurtta Monsoon Coat - See at Amazon
Best for small breeds: Canada Pooch Torrential Tracker Raincoat - See at Amazon
Best for freezing rain: Teckelklub The Trench Coat - See at Teckelklub
The Ruffwear Sun Shower Dog Raincoat provides waterproof coverage for the whole body, and its nylon exterior helps prevent mud from collecting on its surface.
Our top pick for the best dog raincoats, the vest-style Ruffwear Sun Shower jacke keeps dogs dry during summer showers and winter storms. Two professional dog walkers we consulted — Fern De Santos, former owner of A Dog's Life HTX, and Matthew Condrin, owner of Urban Canines — love Ruffwear's canine apparel. Our testing confirmed its quality.
The Sun Shower has several elements De Santos looks for in a dog rain jacket. First off, the lightweight jacket is unlined and uninsulated, so your dog can wear it in warm weather, and you can layer it with a sweater in colder temperatures. The vest-style raincoat slips over the head and buckles on either side of the belly, providing good protection from puddle splashes and mud.
It also has a wide collar and reflective piping to keep pups visible in low light. If you want to give your dog added visibility, we recommend one of the best dog collars with reflective materials. We like that there is a hole at the back where you can attach a leash to your dog's harness worn underneath the coat.
In our cleaning test, the Sun Shower did better than most in preventing mud from clinging to the exterior fabric. When machine-washed and hung to dry, it came out completely clean.
The affordable Blueberry Pet Two-Legged Reflective Dog Raincoat has significant belly coverage and reflective piping to keep your pup dry and visible in wet weather.
The Blueberry Pet Reflective Dog Raincoat is proof that the best dog raincoats don't have to cost a fortune. The lightweight polyester jacket repelled mud better than all but one of the other raincoats we tested. It protects a dog's undercarriage, including the front legs and chest, a feature most walkers look for.
The raincoat fastens from neck to ribs with a Velcro closure and has four points of drawstring adjustment. It also has reflective piping and accents, a hole at the back for attaching a leash to a harness, and elastic straps that you can use to keep the end of the jacket in place while walking. For extremely wet climates or dogs who need extra warmth, there's a four-legged version, but we haven't tested it.
Although the jacket's hood may seem functional, it's something our experts avoid. "They annoy the dogs by sometimes covering their eyes and interfere with leashing — plus they rarely stay up," says Condrin.
We found the coat wiped completely clean just using a dry cloth. After handwashing, it dried quickly and looked brand new. You can pack it into its drawstring stuff sack and stash it away until rainy days.
The Hurtta Monsoon Coat provides full coverage and freedom of movement for all-day adventures in the rain.
Hurtta is an expert in producing jackets that won't compromise a dog's movement or weigh down an athletic pup. With far more coverage than our overall best pick, the Ruffwear Sun Shower, the Monsoon Coat will keep a dog's entire torso dry even after multiple hours of hiking in the rain without restricting movement.
The coat has the most coverage of all the raincoats we tested, with the exception of the brand's Rain Blocker, and the collar has a flexible rain trap that prevents water from seeping in. Drawstrings adjust the fit at the collar, shoulders, and hips. The wraparound buckle design allows adjustment around the belly, and elastic leg loops at the back end hold the jacket in place. While getting the jacket properly fitted can be a bit of a hassle, De Santos says it's worth it for the great coverage.
This jacket has reflective accents from head to tail and a covered loop for attaching a leash to a harness worn underneath. It repelled mud and cleaned up well with machine washing and air-drying. It also comes in four colors, including an ECO version made from soft recycled material.
The Torrential Tracker's size range, combined with a slim fit and a soft lining, make this the ideal rain jacket to keep little dogs from getting soaked.
Finding a raincoat that fits a small dog without overwhelming them with too much fabric can be a challenge. But the science of canine apparel is an art at Canada Pooch, where the Torrential Tracker Raincoat is made in sizes as short as 8 inches long.
The jacket's slick waterproof polyester material is reminiscent of classic yellow children's rain gear. It has holes for the front legs and a Velcro double closure that runs from chest to ribs, a feature that Leah King, a professional dog walker and owner of Happy Tramps, prefers. "Velcro closures at the neck and chest make it easy to get a custom fit and to take the jacket on and off without sliding anything over their head," she says.
You can use the expandable collar to provide extra coverage for the back of your dog's neck. Inside, the jacket's soft fabric lining helps keep them toasty in cold weather. The material is less breathable than some raincoats we considered and might be a bit warm for summer storms.
The jacket also has a hole at the back for connecting a leash to a harness and two small pockets at the hind end for stashing poop bags. The lower portion has reflective piping along its trim. Mud easily sticks to this jacket, but you can just toss it in the washing machine for quick cleanup.
While the length of the jacket we tested is as advertised, it has a tighter fit than other jackets of the same size. If you have a dog with a broad chest or who's packing some extra pounds, definitely size up.
With its highly functional design, the fleece-lined Teckelklub Winter Trench Waterproof Dog Coat will protect dogs of all shapes and sizes from cold, wind, and rain.
When the rain comes with a healthy dose of wind and cold, the fleece-lined Teckelklub Trench Coat keeps dogs dry and warm. King is a fan of this coat, which has a simple wraparound design with a broad collar.
The jacket fastens with Velcro at the neck and a wide strap under the belly. While that's the only belly coverage the jacket provides, it is a good option for sensitive dogs because you don't need to slip it over the head or legs. "Some jackets have a pullover design and many dogs are not comfortable putting them on," says Jeff Chebul, a professional dog walker and owner of Ranger's Squadron Dogwalking Services.
The outer shell is 100% waterproof nylon, and 3M reflective piping lines the edges. It lacks a hole at the back for attaching a leash to a harness, but its slim fit allows a harness to be worn over top.
Although this raincoat collected a significant amount of mud, it was easy to wipe clean, and after machine washing and hanging it to dry, it came out looking brand new. It will also stand up to a low-heat cycle in the dryer.
For an extra $15, you can get custom embroidery on the coat, including a monogram, your dog's name, or your phone number.
To determine the best dog raincoats, we tested 11 different jackets based on recommendations from professional dog walkers. The jackets were provided as review samples by their manufacturers, with the exception of the Blueberry Pet, Canada Pooch, Pepper Pet, Wildebeest, and Teckelclub coats, which Business Insider purchased.
Due to dry weather and coronavirus pandemic restrictions, I could not test these jackets on dogs of multiple shapes and sizes in real rainy weather. Instead, I came up with a few tests to simulate rainy conditions.
Fit test: I verified the measurements of each by assessing their length from shoulder to tail and their girth, the width of the jacket at the chest's widest point. I took note of any jackets that differed from their advertised size or appeared to fit more tightly than expected.
Soak test: The soak test illustrated how each raincoat would stand up under heavy rain. Using leftover two-by-fours, we constructed a wooden dog with a belly 13 inches off the ground and a length of 20 inches. When Woody was ready, I wrapped a dry towel around its belly and dressed it in each jacket. I sprinkled the dog and raincoat with water from a hose for two minutes, then carefully removed the jacket to look for any spots where the water had seeped through. I also checked the interior lining of the jacket to see if moisture had penetrated without wetting the towel.
Cleaning test: The cleaning test had three parts. First, I wiped a handful of mud on the exterior of each jacket and let it dry overnight. Next, I attempted to wipe off the mud using a clean, dry cloth. Finally, I washed the raincoat according to the manufacturer's instructions, looking for any stains or other changes in the material.
Dogs come in so many different shapes and sizes that fitting one for a raincoat can be a lengthy process of trial and error. Since there's no universal sizing, what one brand considers small could easily be considered large by a competitor. To get the right fit, you'll need to grab a measuring tape and follow our instructions.
Length: The primary dimension used to determine the size of a raincoat is the length of a dog's back. Measure your dog from the top of their tail to their shoulder blades while they are standing in a relaxed position. If your measurement falls between sizes, size up. Some brands may recommend a specific size for certain breeds. This may be helpful, but don't follow their suggestions alone, as sizes can vary among a single breed.
Chest girth: Dog raincoats are also commonly measured by chest girth. This is an important figure to get right because many jackets are not adjustable around the chest. That's doubly true if you have a broad- or barrel-chested pup. To get this figure, measure the circumference of your dog's chest while they are standing in a relaxed position, wrapping the tape right behind the legs at the chest's widest point. If your dog's chest girth falls between sizes, choose the larger option, especially if your dog does a lot of running and jumping. A highly active dog may benefit from a jacket that is an inch or two wider than their actual measurement because it will allow their front legs more freedom of movement.
Neck girth: To make sure your jacket won't be too tight around the neck, measure around the thickest part right below the collar. This is particularly important if the coat's neck lacks an adjustable opening. When in doubt, size up.
Drop: Occasionally, brands offer a drop measurement to help you get the right fit. The drop is how low a jacket hangs on a dog's body and legs. Too long and it may restrict movement; too short, and your pup may get wet by the end of a walk. Your dog's raincoat should extend at most halfway down the leg. To figure out how a jacket will lay on your dog, compare half its width to the distance between the top of your dog's tail to the ankle of their hind leg just above the paw.
If your dog hates leaving the house when the rain starts to fall, in addition to fitting them with one of the best dog raincoats, these tips for wet-weather walking will make sure you get their most important daily needs met.
Get the right gear: Make rainy day walks more enjoyable by getting your pup one of the best dog raincoats. A properly fitted coat that covers both the chest and belly will prevent your dog from splashing water against the most sensitive parts of their body. If your dog has sensitive paws, you may also want to consider getting a set of the best dog boots.
Plan ahead: Unless the forecast calls for extreme weather, most rainy days have at least a couple of periods in which showers slow to a sprinkle. Use a weather tracking app or website to help you predict when a storm will lighten up.
Encourage, don't force: Even if you have the proper rain gear for your pup, your dog may still avoid the rain at all costs. These dogs will likely require an extra incentive. Before getting ready to go, stuff your pockets full of treats and offer them before you step out the door. If putting on rain gear predicts that treats will follow, your dog will be more likely to allow you to get them dressed. Use your treats to entice your dog out the door instead of forcing them to go out into the rain, which will only make them more frightened and stressed out.
Play the "Find It" game: Keep the treats flowing once outside. Try encouraging your dog to walk with the Find It game. Throw a treat a few feet in front of your dog and say, "find it," in a happy tone. Let them gobble up the treat, then throw your next one, repeating the phrase. Play the game as much as necessary during the walk to get your pup's mind off the water falling from the sky.
Don't expect a regular walk: Even with plenty of treats and encouragement, dogs who really hate the rain aren't likely to want to stay outdoors for long. If they go potty and then refuse to go any farther, that's OK. Bring them back inside and make up the missed exercise with play or indoor training. Read more on backup plans below.
Stick to quiet streets: On rainy days, when cars zoom through puddles, the busier the street, the louder it will be. And the more noise, the more frightened your dog is likely to feel — not to mention all that potential for being splashed by passing vehicles. When it's raining, stick to quieter streets where there is less noise and where it is less likely you and your dog will get soaked.
Avoid walking at night: It can be a huge challenge for drivers to see dogs on dark, wet nights. When it's raining, stay safe by taking your daily walks before the sun sets. If you must go out in the rain at night, stick to well-lit areas and avoid busy streets.
Have a backup plan: If your dog refuses to walk in the rain, you'll need a backup plan to meet their daily exercise and potty needs. Both training and play inside the home are good alternatives and can include multiple 5- to 10-minute training sessions, games of hide-and-seek, indoor fetch with a soft toy, and mental stimulation via the best dog toys. For the latter, you may have to get creative. Try a fresh grass indoor potty or select a sheltered location immediately outside your home where your dog can quickly do their business, then come back inside.
Be gentle with post-walk drying: Whether you've managed to get your dog out on a long walk or a short one, their paws, head, and belly will likely need some toweling off. Unfortunately, these are also some of the most sensitive parts of a dog's body. Unless you have a dog that loves to be wrapped in a towel, be gentle and slow when wiping them down. It may help to ask them to lie down so you can easily access their paws without knocking them off balance. Reward them for each body part you towel off. Each foot earns one treat, each ear earns another, and the belly gets two. Don't be surprised if your dog gets the zoomies after you've dried them off. It's a natural release of pent-up energy that commonly occurs after a stressful experience.
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