Last Updated on May 29, 2024 by Dogster Team
Unless you own a Siberian Husky, Saint Bernard, Samoyed, or another breed tolerant of cold weather, your pup will enjoy its walks and outdoor playtime much more with a winter jacket. Short and medium hair dogs require heavier outerwear than long-haired breeds with dense coats, and you can find hundreds of winter jackets for dogs of all sizes from online distributors. Dog Clothes Distributor
Choosing the perfect garment for your pet may seem daunting, but we’ve researched the 10 best brands and compiled detailed reviews so you can make an informed decision.
The Pet Life Sporty Vintage Aspen Dog Ski Jacket protects your dog from the cold weather in style. The Aspen jacket won our top prize for the best overall winter jacket for dogs, and it’s a bit hit with canines and their owners. It has a leash slit-holder on the backside of the jacket and uses Thinsulate thermal insulation to keep your pet toasty in frigid weather. The exterior surface is premium water-resistant sponge polyester and has a fleece inner lining. If your dog is bothered by the hood, you can easily remove it from the snap-off attachment. The coat is easy to attach and remove with two snaps that fasten on the dog’s belly. Unlike many of its competitors, Pet Life has an accurate sizing chart that reduces the possibility of returns.
We like the coat’s easy-to-remove design and its attractive appearance that makes your canine seem at home in a ski lodge setting. Customers were delighted with the Pet Life jacket, and some were surprised how affordable the coat was compared to other brands. Our only issue with the product is the size limitations. It’s available in three sizes, but the largest is too small for larger breeds. For small to medium breeds, the coat is an excellent option.
The Frisco Chevron Insulated Dog & Cat Parka won the award for the best winter jacket for the money. It features a soft fleece lining and waterproof polyester shell that keeps your pet warm in the cold. It has a leash hole and a handy pocket for keeping treats. It’s only available in one color scheme, but its chevron design with blue and white stripes gives it a 1980s retro style that’s attractive and adorable. The fluffy hood protects canine necks in the cold, and the hook and loop fasteners make removing and attaching trouble-free.
Similar jackets are available for big bucks, but the Frisco Chevron is very inexpensive and durable. You have seven sizes to choose, from X-small to XXX-large. Most dog owners and their pups love the Chevron jacket, but a few customers mentioned that the fit was a bit tight.
For the ultimate winter weather jacket for dogs, you can try the Hurtta Expedition Insulated Dog Parka. Hurtta designed the jacket with short-haired dogs in mind, but it fits canines with long or short coats. The nylon material is windproof and weatherproof, and unlike similar models, the Expedition has adjustable cords in the neckline, collar, and back length. It’s available in four colors and five sizes that range from 8 inches to 14 inches (extra-large). The jacket is easy to attach and remove; a single buckle strap fastens to the side of the dog’s belly.
Some jackets are only made for temporary cold weather protection, but the Expedition is a product that your canine can wear on a wintery hike or camping trip. It’s durable and fully adjustable, but some pet parents had issues with the company’s sizing chart. Some jackets were either too large or too small for their dogs, but if you have a problem with the fit, you can return it and choose another.
If you’re searching for a warm coat for your puppy or small dog, you can try the Frisco Manhattan Tweed Dog & Cat Coat. It features a soft faux fur lining and durable tweed outer shell to keep your canine protected in chilly weather. Plus, the thick fluffy collar shields your pet’s neck from the harsh wind. The Manhattan is a handsome jacket that makes your pet appear studious and ready to grade college term papers. The leash hole on the backside of the jacket allows you to attach the collar and leash under the coat.
Unlike most winter jackets for dogs, the Manhattan has two Velcro straps for easy removal. Although it’s one of the simplest coats to attach and remove from your dog, the ripping sound may scare timid animals.
If you want your canine decked out in a stylish plaid jacket, you can try the PetRageous Designs Kodiak Insulated Dog Coat. It features a durable nylon outer shell with reflective stitching and a cozy poly-cotton liner. The insulated jacket is windproof and waterproof, and it’s easy to clean because it’s machine washable. The adjustable strap allows you to tighten or loosen the fit around the belly and back. Most customers were happy with the Kodiak jacket, but some experienced problems with the sizing instructions. Large and small breed owners had fewer issues with the coat, but owners of medium-sized dogs could not find a size that was not too small or too large.
Does your pup enjoy going on winter hikes in the snow? If so, you can use the Canada Pooch Everest Explorer Premium Faux Down Insulated Dog Jacket. It has a fleece, faux-down lining to keep your pet warm and a retractable hood lined with faux fur. The outer shell is windproof, waterproof, and designed with a lease hole on the backside. Unlike its competitors, the Everest Explorer has four large pockets for carrying supplies and treats.
Although the jacket is sturdy and stylish, it only fits small dogs. There are 11 different sizes, but the manufacturer only recommends using the coat on toy breeds and small dogs. The other issue with the jacket is the problematic Velcro strap. With hairy dogs, the strap tugged at the fur when it was adjusted.
The Frisco Portland Insulated Dog & Cat Parka has a water-resistant polyester outer shell and a cozy, plush interior lining to keep your canine warm in rain and light snow. The detachable faux-fur hood resembles the artic hoods on high-end human jackets, and it’s available in three trendy colors. It has two exterior pockets and a leash opening for dogs wearing collars.
If your dog uses a harness, you may have issues with the leash pulling the jacket too tight against your pet. Although the hood is removable, it’s too large for dogs with tiny heads. Several customers mentioned that the hood covered their dogs’ eyes, and they had to remove it. Velcro does not bother all dogs, but the Portland has a massive strap that emits a ripping sound when you take the jacket off.
The Dog Helios Thunder Full-Body Dog Jacket uses an innovative Blackshark fabric to protect dogs from wind, snow, and rain. The 3M reflective piping keeps animals safe on night walks. The inner lining is plush fleece, and the polyester outer shell is breathable and weatherproof. Unlike the other coats we reviewed, the Helios Thunder provides total coverage with separate drawstring ties on each leg. The manufacturer recommends using the coat on smaller dogs, and customers with mid-size pups had problems with the tight fit.
Dogs who dislike the feel of fabric around their legs may be more comfortable in a coat that only covers the top and sides of the animal. The drawstring fasteners make the coat challenging to attach and remove. Hopefully, your pet is patient enough to endure the lengthy process.
The PetBoBo Cat Dog Doggie Down Jacket Hoodie is a cute, cotton-lined jacket that attaches to your pet with three button snaps on the underside. It has a large hood with faux fur, and it’s available in multiple sizes and colors. PetBoBo is one of the few companies on our list that makes jackets for multiple breed sizes.
Although there are eight sizes, several owners with large breeds complained the coat was too tight. The jacket’s most significant issue is the lack of a leash hole. Leash laws prevent most dog owners from walking untethered animals, and without a hole or leash fastener, a leash cannot be used without disrupting the PetBoBo jacket’s position. Also, some complained that the fabric ripped too easily when a branch or bush grazed their pups.
If you have a feisty pet that likes to get and trouble and ignore the rules, you can use the lesypet Leather Dog Coat. Lesypet’s bomber-style jacket is ideal for animals with the “rebel without a cause” attitude. The jacket’s outer shell is faux leather that’s resistant to rain and snow. The fluffy, faux-fur collar protects short-haired necks, and the soft inner lining keeps your pet warm.
It’s an attractive jacket, and it’s perfect for photoshoots and walks in chilly weather, but it does not offer much protection to the belly or hindquarters. Although it does not include a leash hole, you can use a collar and leash without disturbing the jacket’s fit. However, you cannot use a leash harness with the coat without making your dog uncomfortable.
Before choosing a winter jacket for your furry friend, you can look at these suggestions for finding the ideal product.
Finding a jacket that fits correctly is the most challenging issue for dog owners. Even if you carefully measure your pet with a fabric tape measurer and scrutinize the company’s sizing chart, you may receive an ill-fitting product. Sizing charts are helpful, but they do not account for thick hair, broad chests, or unique body types. Before ordering a jacket, check the manufacturer’s policy on returns. PetSmart and Chewy have professional customer service members that work with customers to ensure their satisfaction, but you may have to wait longer if you have to talk to the manufacturer directly.
If you read several complaints about sizing problems in the product’s review section, try not to be discouraged. Some customers missed the manufacturer’s recommendations about appropriate breeds and ordered unfit jackets for their massive pets. When you try to fit a Tibetan Mastiff with a coat designed for a Boston Terrier, you’re unlikely to be successful. Although there are plenty of large dogs with light coats that need jackets in the winter, fewer companies make jackets for larger breeds. Since the demand for medium and small-breed products is higher, there are numerous winter garments for little dogs.
Most of the jackets reviewed are designed for temporarily protecting your dog from cold weather, but they are not meant to be worn all day or as an alternative to a shelter or heated room. If the jacket is water-resistant, it provides less protection than a waterproof coat rated for arctic conditions.
If your dog continues to shiver in its jacket, the insulation is inadequate. Look for jackets with thick stuffing and durable outer shells to provide the most protection from the elements.
Several of the featured jackets included reflective material on the outer shell to keep pets safer in dim light. When you walk your dog around at night or let your pet roam outdoors without a leash, reflective panels are a practical safety feature that can prevent an accident.
Some of the dogs that model jackets for online product descriptions look cheerful and ready to explore the outdoors, but others look despondent and incredibly humiliated. A premium-quality coat that makes your dog whimper may offer protection from the cold, but your pet is unlikely to walk for very long if the garment is uncomfortable. When you use a new coat, observe your canine’s movements to ensure the jacket is not hindering its mobility.
Each manufacturer uses a different apparatus for keeping the jacket secure around your pet, and some dogs may prefer a specific fastener. Snaps are easy to remove, but they can be difficult to fasten if your pet has problems standing still during the process. Velcro offers the quickest way to attach the jacket, but parkas with large Velcro fasteners can scare timid dogs when you unfasten the flaps. Plastic clips and drawstrings are ideal for anxious pups, but they tend to limit mobility in the jacket more than the other fasteners. If your pet is calm and patient, it may be able to tolerate wearing a coat that takes several minutes to attach correctly.
After examining the guide and reviews, we hope you better understand which jacket is perfect for your pup. Although we found many excellent brands, our top pick was Pet Life’s Vintage Aspen Ski Coat. The Pet Life has features usually seen only in expensive jackets with thick insulation and a removable hood. It also had fewer complaints about sizing problems than its competitors. Our best value pick was the Frisco Chevron Insulated Dog & Cat Parka. Frisco’s trendy jacket has large reflective strips to keep your dog safe in dim light, and it’s easy to remove and attach.
Featured Image Credit to: Chewy
Luxury Dog Beds Wholesale Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it's no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.