[Ambesi]

I see lots of people are purchasing coats for their dogs now that the weather is getting colder. Do GRs really need coats? How about booties for their feet? I guess my real question is should I be getting winter gear? How much is really necessary?

 

[esSJay]

I was wondering the same thing. Even if he doesn't need it, I kind of want to buy Molson a coat for the winter for fashion purposes anyway .

Some strong arguments about GRs needing one will help me convince Jay that it's necessary to spend money on the dog

 

[jwemt81]

We bought Tucker a coat just because we got one for our German Shepherd, who is a senior with arthritis, to keep her warm since she doesn't tolerate the cold as well as she used to. I never really thought that Tucker would NEED a coat, but I will admit that it can get VERY cold here in Maine during the middle of the winter and we are very active and take long walks and hikes in the woods, so I guess it might be beneficial just to keep him extra warm. He's only 15 months old and doesn't have his full adult coat yet, so this should provide some extra protection from the extreme cold and windchills while we're on our walks. I'm not the type of person to dress up my dogs at all, but he actually looks kind of good in his coat! It's simple and not flashy at all.

 

[Pointgold]

I livein Northern Michigan. Our winters are brutal. My dogs do not wear clothes. Simple common sense dictates when it is too cold to be safely outside for any length of time, although generally, my dogs would disagree as the when that might be - they LOVE the snow. Mine will even swim during the winter if the opportunity presents itself.

 

[The_Artful_Dodger]

Dodger has a fur coat he will wear all winter

Seriously, I've never bought a jacket for Dodger or the lab I had in the past, but we weren't outside for super long periods of time. You have to watch out for ice chunks in thier feet and the salt on the roads and sidewalks. My roommate's little dog has a very cute plaid jacket but he gets his hair shaved off every so often and is 12 years old and cant regulate his temperature as well as he used to.

 

[Ambesi]

I agree with Steph! I think they look adorable in the jackets. It seems though that booties would make more sense than a coat. Of course, fashion would dictate I get a coat with matching booties! LOL

 

[Willow52]

I live in Ohio, we get cold but not the brutal cold in other parts of the US. Maybe in the low teens. I've never had any type of clothes for my dogs.

 

[Abbydabbydo]

It gets prety darn cold here and we do not use coats or booties. Any temp below zero F is questionable for us going out. It depends on the wind.

My dogs do not like to wear stuff, although they will tolerate (with lots of treats) for a photo op.

I, on the other hand, know how to bundle up!

 

[AmberSunrise]

The only time my dogs wore coats was following swim therapy in the winter months; until they were either completely dry or inside where it is warm

Booties though would be useful if you had to walk them on salted roads - I never have gotton past the hysterical laughter when you put them on the dogs though LOL

 

[Finn's Fan]

We can answer the question right this moment, as there is 17 inches of snow on the ground and the forecast is for 6-10 more overnight. Finn naps in it, plays hide the tennis ball and would stay outside for hours if I let him. He has on the coat Mother Nature gave him, and no other clothing items. I had booties for my old angel boy because he had degenerative myelopathy and dragged his feet, making the tops of his hind feet bloody without the boots.

 

[Florabora22]

I wish I had gotten little boots for Flora when she was a puppy because it was -20 or colder outside when she was 7 weeks old and we were trying to potty train her. Now she has white marks on the bottoms of her pawpads where I think she got burned by the cold. I may use some protective wear for her feet this winter, but not for her body. Goldens have a perfectly good coat for that.

 

[Jennifer]

I think we may get booties for Teddy. Our last golden would get snow/ice caught in between his feet when going outside for potty breaks and he would start limping. He was never outside more than a few minutes at a time either when it was really cold.

 

[Mindy72183]

I'm definitely goin' for the booties! Not only are they too darned cute but I think it's a good idea as well to protect their feet.

 

[MillysMom]

When in Vermont Milly wears a mini horse blanket looking coat for potty breaks. She gets very stiff when she goes out for just a quick pee, but she is fine if she has time to adjust to the cold and doesn't wear it on our walks or when she's playing. It gets to down to the -30's at my folks place up there, so it's pretty darn cold.