Hi All I am thinking about getting a coat for my 5 month old pup because when she meets a lot of other dogs she goes into submission. She’s constantly covered in rain/mud/dirt etc....and therefore often smells doggy. I don’t want to bath her too often. Can anyone recommend a good coat/brand for a lab puppy. I use a harness so would ideally need either a harness hole or a coat that has a harness attached to it. Thank you....
A container (I use a large plastic measuring jug) with warm water, puppy shampoo and a sponge is sufficient rather than a bath each time - and easier! It will get better in the dry weather
I think coats look really uncomfortable. The synthetic chamois cloths are really effective at getting off dirt and mud, and for drying your pup too. There’s a brand called Aquasorb, but cheaper ones seem just as good. It saves having to wash and dry towels -these just get a quick rinse and are squeezed out and stored damp in their tube.
I have an old baby bath outside for Nelly , if she is really filthy , otherwise she goes in the sink ( one advantage of a very small dog ! ) x She will not wear a coat , refuses to move , Sam never had one either x
We occasionally use a Ruffwear coat, if the dogs are going to be out a long time in rain or snow. Also sometimes for for more visibility off lead at night. We usually just towel them off if they are wet or muddy. I think it would be more work to clean the coat than the dog.
If mine are really filthy they go in the stream, or in the pond in the wood, if it isn't frozen (which it is right now). Then it's an old towel, and hey presto, clean labradors!!! I would never have long-haired dogs, it is just too much work...
It really is! When it’s been freezing I haven’t hosed Keir down, as the pipe is frozen, then getting the mud off takes ages even with Aquasorb towels. I have to let some dry and just brush it off. My Cavaliers were fine - I just popped them in the sink when I got home. Tatze - a quick towel down and she’s clean and dry .
Back to the coat question... I have coats for both my dogs, but they are for cold, wet weather when they have to wait their turn in training or at competitions. They really would not be great for playing, rolling around, wrestling with other dogs, etc. I would seriously rather have the dogs play and get filthy, then clean them up, than have to deal with cleaning the coat, AND the dog (the legs etc) - and in particular the danger of another dog catching a paw or their jaw in the coat while playing...
I'm going to be the outlier and say my dogs ALWAYS wore coats - rain coats and thicker winter coats. My pittie even wore one indoors from November through February and in California no less. She LOVED her coats. I've been a big Ruffwear fan for years, otherwise I've just picked up different brands here and there. Companies that make horse blankets often make dog coats too, for reasonable prices and out of sturdier materials (for example Cordura nylon). For a growing puppy, I'd just buy cheap and comfy!
At the moment I am faced with two very wet muddy dogs every day. I have got cleaning and drying down to a fine art. Microfibre towel gets the worst off, then they both have towelling robes to put on. Leave them on for about an hour - hey presto two dry and clean dogs . I wouldn’t consider a coat - don’t think they are necessary on Labs.
Gun dogs don't even wear collars, due to the danger of getting caught up, so we certainly wouldn't have our dogs working or playing while wearing coats. But as I say, during rest periods between tasks I have coats for both of them. I don't very often need them, but particularly if they get wet and it is cold and windy, then a coat can really help. I have toweling robes too - but honestly, I find I hardly ever use them. Personally I find they are more work than just drying the dog...
W use a coat at agility whilst Harley is waiting her turn if it’s cold or wet. Apart from this, she never wears one. She does have a few dressing gowns that we chuck on when she’s wet to help dry her. If she’s really muddy she goes in the shower (she runs away from a cold hose, but loves a warm shower!) to be rinsed off.
We often come back via a pond or stream. A game of swimmy-fetch is great for getting the mud off her coat.
We don't really have the option of a stream on our everyday walks. Lilly picks up a lot of muck from the traffic film/mud on our country roads. I bought her a Hotterdog fleece - the cheaper "off the peg" version of Equafleece - which I thought would be a help to reduce morning cleaning. I must admit, I didn't use it that often, I just ended up with a wet muddy fleece. Heating usually off during the day, and mostly out, so couldn't even pop it in the wash after use (it would be a quick wash and dry). I mostly find it useful if she has a roll and I wash her down in the shower, then towel dry her and pop on the fleece, all whilst still in our enclosed shower cabinet. Save a lot of mess after a shower, but not that useful on daily walks. Our issue is mainly her undercarriage, so most of the "doggy jackets" would probably not be so helpful
