The RSPCA has issued a warning about putting coats on dogs. You can see an article in the Telegraph newspaper about it here. The charity suggests that putting a coat on a dog could cause it to overheat, and amount to cruelty. This caught my eye as I had recently sat in a training class, next to an older Labrador. When it was time to go back out into the bitter cold, the owner produced a warm and waterproof coat, which the dog did not object to having put on at all. I've never really liked dog coats, probably because I've never had cause to use one for our dogs, but suddenly I realized what an act of kindness it could be to an older dog, who might have some joint pain in the cold.
I posted the link to the above article on a forum I use, and the response I got was overwhelmingly in favour of using coats in the right situation and for the right dog. We're not talking fashion coats here, more coats to protect elderly dogs, or those with a thin coat, or those who like to swim even in the coldest weather, but may be chilly afterwards. Again, since my Lab only paddles, and doesn't seem to feel cold afterwards, I hadn't considered getting him a coat. But maybe one day it might be necessary. Who is in the best position to know if a dog needs a coat? - a charity or the owner?
Of course, dog "clothing" is big business, and I was appalled to learn that Vivienne Westwood mad a dog coat that cost £2,500! Not only does it look most uncomfortable, I couldn't contemplate spending an amount that would buy you a small car on a coat for me, never mind my dog! If anyone was contemplating buying a dog coat costing that much, wouldn't they do much more good buying an ordinary dog coat and donating the remainder to a dog charity?
Of course, everyone has their own opinion on the subject, and here's a discussion of dog coats on Radio 4 between Dogs Today editor Beverley Cuddy and
Lilly Shahravesh, owner of Lovemydog.biz.
Possibly one of the reasons dog coats could be a problem in the UK is that you never know when you step out of your front door what the weather is going to be doing. We have had several days of very cold weather recently, so yesterday I set forth on our dog walk, in my usual outfit topped off with warm coat, scarf and hat. By the time I'd gone ten minutes, I was loosening off my coat, pushing my hat up, and mopping my brow. It was a beautifully mild day, and a lovely remainder that winter will eventually yield to warmer weather.
Today, however, I set off, having dared to leave my gloves at home, confident after yesterday that the weather had turned milder. Silly me! - it was bitterly cold, and I even had to resort to putting two (clean) poo bags over my hands to prevent frostbite setting in. Okay, not actual frostbite, but that feeling when your hand goes numb and your fingers won't work. Anyway it was cold. So in the UK you need to pop outside for a few minutes to see what the temperature is like before you know what you will need to protect you from it. This is why British people bang on about the weather so much, we never know what it will be doing next.
But back to dog coats - in the British unpredictable climate, how would you know whether to put the coat on your dog or not? That's the crux of the matter, really. So I suppose the answer is if you do put a coat on your dog, be prepared to carry it if necessary.
To end on a positive note, both our dogs are back top full health after their brief bout of being "under the weather".
Take care,
Julie x