sweaters on cold doodles?

[Lucy's Mom~ Liz]

Lucy came back from the groomer with much less hair than expected. She LOVES to be outside, especially in the snow like this am. It is cold ( balmy here in RI at 30-34 compared to the midwest and up north!) It has snowed 2 x this week, which is very unusual. Kids want to put sweaters on her. She didn't mind a vest that didn't tug on her shoulders that they tried.
Question is: at what point would she NEED to be given a sweater? She's a big doodle (70 lbs) but her new cut is super super short like for summer! If she's out, we're walking and/or playing, so I'm guessing she'd be fine. However, she likes to SIT in the SNOW for a long time and watch the squirrels.... usually I just let her out and she comes back when she wants.

[Lucy's Mom~ Liz]

she's been acting a little weird since the cut. happened last summer too.
Hopefully the new xmas tree with lights in "her" yard isn't bothering my sensitive girl! I'll post a picture soon. She's under blankets on the couch practically purring right now!

[Karen & Lucy]

This is your foster????? How cute.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

I have these really great Shearling Coats I got a few years ago from The Harriet Carter Catalog http://www.harrietcarter.com/pets/shearling-dog-coat/. They are inexpensive, velcro on and off easy and go right into the washing machine. They also come in sizes large enough for a 90# dood and a 20# dood. When it's really windy, soon after grooming or bitter cold I put the on my doggies and they don't seem to mind as much as some that have to go on their underarms or are too constricting. I keep mine on hooks right by the door and all my doggies wait to get their coats on before they go out.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Lynne, On my way to check this out. I keep cutting up my sweaters and shirts! They do not really look that good on her either. :)

[Lucy's Mom~ Liz]

Good idea!
Thanks!

[Lucy's Mom~ Liz]

Looks like a great option. By January, she'll have an inch of hair back, but it's shorter than her first winter. She doesn't like her legs covered so this might work. Great price too!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

I know and even my big bubba, Jack doesn't mind it. It isn't too constricting and when I take them off them their coats are still dry. I think that is the most important thing.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

These are the best ones - I have one for Taquito and they are soooo easy to get on and off like you say Lynne.
I am ordering one for LadyP

[Joyce & Wilson]

Ok..today in South Dakota..its 7 degree..windy..which makes the wind chill -17..Wilson has longer hair right now..he will sit outside today for over 20 mins..I have to drag him in..he doesnt even seem affected by it..but I am!!! I brushed him out this a.m. really well..I think his fur is soooo warm and wooly..and he must too! lol

[Missi]

Lizzie is the same way! It was 16 degrees in wichita today (the high temp), but sunny. Lizzie usually spends the days outside anyway (because she wants to) and she stayed out for almost 2 hours. We had to drag her in!! She didn't shiver once and just wanted to go back out. I was in the house in 13 layers of clothes and shivering though! So I don't really think the big doodles need a coat unless they act cold. But Lynne, I really like those jackets! I kinda wish I had a dog who would wear one!

[shelly]

I don't know if it's an old wives tale, or not, but I heard that if you put a sweater on a dog then they can't regulate their own body temperatures, and will always need a sweater?????

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

My big doods didn't want any part of the jacket at first and still won't let me put on any other coat but this one. It is 2 easy velcro straps and goes on and off so easy that they don't seem to mind this coat. I only put it on them if it's really bitter cold out. The smaller dogs love them also because they seem to get cold faster. I had a foster last week who had to be shaved down to the skin because he was so matted and he didn't mind this coat, either and I'll bet he never was given enough thought to put a coat on him. It was so cold here last week that I sent him to his new home with one of the jackets. They are inexpensive enough that I have a few of them for all the dogs and I just throw them into the washing machine. And like I said, the best part is their fur coat stays dry and just their feet and legs need to be dried off. Especially in a freezing rain, it's great not to have 4 (or 5 with a foster) wet dogs.

I just remembered...in this video from last winter, it was about 16 degrees out at the dog park and you can see all three of my dogs wearing the coat. The vid is a little shaky b/c my son was filming. Jack and Cody come in toward the end but Ginger is in most of the video. I think they look adorable in their shearling coats.