How to Dress a Dog for Winter

Just because your dog has fur doesn't mean she's necessarily prepared for winter. Cold weather, snow, rain and sleet can be damaging to dog's skin, coat and health. Small dogs, short-haired breeds as well as puppies, older and sick dogs need extra protection in cold environments. Follow these steps to dress a dog for winter.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Guard against paw injury by using dog paw protectors or boots when walking your dog in winter. The salt and sand used on icy sidewalks can be highly abrasive and damaging to a dog's paws.

2. Outfit the dog in a raincoat during winter rain, hail or snow storms. Especially during harsh storms, your dog's coat and skin can easily be cut and damaged.

3. Dress the dog in a soft, warm sweater for everyday outdoor activities. The sweater will raise her body temperature and keep her warm. Many small breeds do not have the necessary natural insulation for cold weather protection.

4. Use an insulated dog coat for long exposure to cold conditions. They are specially designed to fit around the chest and stomach area to keep the vital organs warm and protected. Short-haired breeds such as boxers, great danes, bull terriers and chihuahuas are especially susceptible to the cold as are puppies and senior dog.

Tips & Warnings

• Measure your dog's body length (top of shoulder to base of tail) and chest girth (the fullest part behind her front legs) to ensure accurate sizing of winter apparel.
• You can find a wealth of winter dog clothes online and popular pet stores such as Petco and Petsmart carry a large variety as well.
• Never leave your dog outside for long periods of time in cold weather regardless of clothing.