Do dogs need coats in winter? Experts on different breeds’ needs

A waterproof coat to protect against a downpour, a fleece jacket to warm against the cold, a dressing gown for comfort after being out in the elements: we are not talking about what people are wearing, but what some people are putting on their pet dogs.

But is all this really necessary?

“As a rule, it is not,” says Thomas Steidl, a veterinarian specialising in small animals and domestic pets.

A dog has a similar sensitivity to the cold as humans do – but it also has fur. This protects it not only against warmth in the summer, but also against the wet and cold in the winter.

Nordic dog breeds such as the husky and the Alaskan malamute, as well as the Border collie, the German shepherd and the Labrador retriever, have a woolly undercoat that thickens in the autumn months and provides them with additional protection.

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