We live in Ohio and don't use dog coats. It gets cold but not super (as in way below zero) cold often. I generally find that although I'm bundled up and they are naked, I'm still ready to go in before they are.

I wouldn't worry about a coat unless you have extreme lows and/or are out for very long periods of time. They have their fur for a reason. I try to remind myself of that come shedding season.

These are very warm:


Oops, this is the one I had for my senior large breed dog, the all fleece one (of course, in the proper size):
There is another manufacturer that makes these, can't recall the name, but the fleece is a bit lighter weight.

Dogs that spend a majority amount of time in the house, will be more likely to need a coat, as will older dogs, and dogs with lighter coats, dogs that tend to run low thyroid, etc.

We have been having extremely cold weather - minus 40 Celsius, minus 50 with the windchill. Seger doesn't go out without a coat and boots. On recommendations from this site I purchased a Greenhawk Shedrow fleece blanket coat for him and we just love it! It is excellent quality, very warm, long enough to cover his hips (which I was looking for in particular) and I love the collar that flips up and frames his face and covers his ears. The only suggestion I have made to them is that they add some reflective detailing which would make it easier to see Seger outside. He has this on his other coat and I really like that. Although our property is completely fenced in and Seger is rarely out alone, I like to be able to see where he is in the trees. I would highly recommend Greenhawk.
Carol

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Carol, Seger and our Angel, Oakley

Terry

My hubby always says we are NOT DRESSING up the dogs.
Ken promises them that he'll never let me do that! In all seriousness, I don't think Tonka or Tucker need one!

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[IMG]http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii215

Tonka & Tucker

SNOBEAR at the Bridge
Dec. 23, 1999-March 27, 2010


SMOOCH at the Bridge.
Feb. 14, 1999-Dec. 7, 2010

Karen - my DH feels somewhat the same way your's does but the boys get coats anyway I never dressed up my previous furchild, Chinook, who was a Siberian Husky. He was happy outside and it seemed the colder it got, the thicker his coat got and the happier he was! We have always put coats and boots on Oakley and Seger due to the frigid temps and windchills we get here in the North and all the salt and sand they pour on our roads. Now I notice, particularly with Seger, that he actually shivers outside when it is cold and he doesn't have his coat. It might have something to do with his thyroid, or the fact that he has lost all of his undercoat for reasons we have yet to determine He also has lost sensation in his paws due to his neuropathy so he does not know to lift his paws and tell us they are cold. And....I think he looks pretty spiffy in his shedrow and boots
Carol

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Carol, Seger and our Angel, Oakley

Harley had two that I got from Lands End. One was a lightweight fleece and the other was a flannel lined sort of nylon slicker. both had reflective all around. He probably didn't need the fleece one, but the nylon one was water repellent and kept him dry when I walked him in light rain or snow. He like the attention of having a coat on -- seriously. What he really needed was something to protect the pads of his feet which froze up quickly for him but I never found anything that worked.

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Harley
It was always about you -
Found his forever home on 3/18/07
Returned to his eternal home on 1/09/13