Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Dog Gear: On Winter Dog Coats

Living in Chicago, without a backyard, we are always consumed with weather and how to keep all of us warm on our numerous daily walks. We had written previously about keeping dogs warm with Dog Sweaters, Snoods, and Hoodies, and gear to make daily dog walks easier for us humans. So this post will cover dog coats for inclement weather.
Being short-haired dogs, our pooches get really cold in the winter, and diva Miss M hates the rain. As we searched for dog coats, we found it was harder to find coats in larger sizes, and since pitbull-type dogs are so 'chesty', it also makes it hard to find coats that fit. Our go-to has become Ruffwear coats where we picked up the Sunshower Rain Jackets (now discontinued) and K-9 Overcoat.
The pooches' Ruffwear coats have served us well lasting for the past several years and even through a Blizzaster. And while we do have Miss M's fun pink puffy coat for a good laugh, we do find these Ruffwear coats are the dog equivalent of the basic black wool coat: you keep returning to for its quality, reliability and classic fit.

Since we have been fostering Sweet Bessie-Belle during the winter, we knew we needed to find a big coat for our 90+ pound gal. I started a conversation with the people over at Ruffwear who not only helped us decide on a good fit, but offered to donate coats to foster dog Bessie-Belle and adoptable Ferris AND they are giving away 2 brand new coats to readers (read to the bottom for info!). Here is what we found out about the newest Ruffwear offerings.
Bessie-Belle decided to go classic and try out the newly redesigned Ruffwear K-9 Overcoat.
 We like it has a fleece lining for warmth to stay warm through even a Blizzaster, but since the shell is also water-resistant it can double as a raincoat. In Chicago, it would be a 3-season coat. The buckles on the side make it easy to take on/off (no lifting legs through armholes and working with snaps) and you can adjust the straps for specific sizing. We also like it has the reflective strip since our winters here tend to be especially dark.
Compared with the earlier versions of the Ruffwear K-9 overcoat (as modeled by Miss M), the overall length is a bit longer and roomier. We do like that it has a higher, almost cuffed neckline, to eliminate snow and rain. This coat also comes in green; Sweet Bessie-Belle wears a size large.
We had been eyeing Ruffwear's new Quinzee coat which seems like a dog version of a puffy coat. Of course we knew this would be perfect for adoptable Ferris to call his own as all the urban youth in the city are going puffy.
 We like that this coat is the perfect combination of functionality and city cool. It repels the elements by being water-resistant and is the equivalent of being wrapped up in a warm blanket. The higher neckline works to keep snow and rain out, but also has a zipper on the neck...for that urban-chic look.
 On the practical side, this coat is very light-weight and it even has it's own stuff-sack on the inside to fold into itself. And it also has the reflective lining.
Mr. B (ok..me) is actually eyeing this coat which would be perfect for his city strolls..and his urban-dog image. This coat also comes in red. Ferris and Mr. B (modeling Ferris's coat) wear size Medium.
 We were beyond excited that Ruffwear donated coats to help adoptables Bessie-Belle and Ferris stay warm this winter. And we were completely floored when they offered to give away coats to two(!) lucky readers.
There are two ways to enter, but please only enter 1 time.
We love spending time with our pooches, plus we know how important it is for their socialization, to always take them new places. With her new coat Miss Bessie-Belle is looking forward to longer walks in different neighborhoods (hoping to meet "the one"!) and Ferris is excited about more SociaBulls walks and  urban neighborhood strolls.
What new thing would you be able to do with your pooch if you won a new Ruffwear coat? 
GIVEAWAY CLOSED
 1) Let us know by commenting on our blog post here. (Or comment here if the comment section is being fussy: http://www.twopittiesinthecity.com/)
OR
2) Post a photo on our Facebook page of your pooch letting us know what you'd be able to do with a new coat. (We do love seeing photos of your pooches!)

Details:
-Please only enter once by commenting on the blog OR posting a photo on the facebook page.
-We will use a random number generator to randomly choose a winner from
1) Overall blog comments
2) Facebook photos
-You have until Friday at Midnight (EST) to post your comment or photo
-Winners will be able to choose your own style and size and have your coat shipped to you from Ruffwear
-Winners must live within the contiguous United States

61 comments:

Two Grad Students and a Pittie said...

Well be the first blog comment! Havi wuld LOVE a Ruffwear coat! She is working with a trainer on not growling and running with human runners when on a Big Apple Pittie Pack walk, and knows that a new coat would help reinforce all the hard work shes been doing...

Tiffany said...

I work with a Pit Bull rescue in Houston, TX, Treat 'Em Right Rescue and one of our dogs, Bianca, has found her forever home up north and will be needing a coat as Texas Girls are just not use to the all that snow!

In Black and White said...

I love the idea of a three season coat. Billy hates getting rained on but his winter coat is very puffy and warm and really only useful on the very coldest days. Maybe he'd have fewer tantrums on rainy days if he didn't have to get so wet!

HoundDogMom said...

Oh, this could not come at a better time. Our newest addition Bella loves to wear coats and stuffs. She would treasure a Ruffwear coat to keep her warm on her walks and play time in the backyard. She is one of my leaner hounds and needs some extra padding to keep her warm. Sniffs, The HoundDogs

P.S..Thanks to Ruffwear for offering you this Give away.

MurphyDog said...

Wowza! Those are some nice coats! And what's even nicer is...both of them look like they have a size that would fit my ginormous body!!

Mom is always sad that its so hard to find (stylish) coats that fit a big guy like me. With my short hair...even here in Sandy Eggo, I get super chilly during the winter.

It would be paw'some if I won!!

Corbin said...

Mom and I want to venture down to the big city to join in on one of Havi's Big Apple Pittie Pack walks! It's a 3 hours ride from where we live, but we know it would be fun and how stylin' would I be in a new coat?! My current one hasn't held up very well and is a bit embarrassing to wear anywhere but in my back yard!
-Corbin

Jenna said...

I think this would make travel for my dog, Zoe, so much easier! We do get quite chilly in St. Louis, but we also travel to Chicago frequently to visit family and this would sure help with the super cold wind!

Heather said...

I live in Pittsburgh and it seems to rain all the time here. It would be fabulous to own a doggie raincoat and spare myself the look of misery when heading out the door for a walk.

How Sam Sees It said...

Here in AZ we've never had to worry about coats - although I do have a rain jacket for both the boys!

Sam

anita.joe said...

It does get cold here in Northern California and Nina, who just passed her CGC this weekend, would LOVE to stay warm and show off a Ruffwear Coat on her daily walks and the HikeABull hikes. We've been admiring the beautiful Ruffwear coats for some time and one of them would be a wonderful reward for Nina whose been working hard in Bad Rap classes for 3 years to become an anbassadog (she used to be quite a naughty dog, shhhhh - don't tell anyone).

Laura said...

We got some snide comments from friends and family about why our big dog would need a winter coat, but after moving her from mild Oklahoma winters to colder PA weather, she was not having it! We would love to have our pittie sport such a sleek looking coat!

kathrynannew said...

Our girl Athena would love the poofy coat! She is always cold outside in the winter and her current jacket has velcro enclosures that are always coming un-done on walks. When she's outside by herself we can't put her jacket on because it just comes right off... she'd love to be warm outside when she's on yard patrol!

Debra@Peaceabull said...

This is such a great giveaway! Sweet baby Ray has already outgrown his first coat after only 2 weeks at home. What would we be able to do differently? At almost 10 weeks old, Ray has not left the confines of our yard and we would begin taking walks around the neighborhood.

Sarah said...

I just wanted to share my favorite thing about the Ruffwear coat - the elastic straps! It enables you to get a nice snug fit so that the mud, rain and snow doesn't get under the coat.

PS - I carry Ruffwear in my store so no need to enter me into the contest.

Unknown said...

Annie would love a new coat because she would be able to sport it at her first SociaBulls walk on 2/19 (hopefully). See you guys on Sunday!!

Fiacha said...

Our little pittie Juno would be able to come running with me in rainy, cool weather with a new coat! We have one, but it's too warm for most runs. She's also a difficult fit for most of the coats and sweaters we've found (too big in the chest for a medium, swimming in a large), so our other pittie ends up with most of the cute and more versatile clothes.

Kim said...

I would love to use the new coat to let Kenai frolic in the snow longer! :)

SherBear said...

While Nala already has the Ruffwear Overcoat (in red) she would LOVE the new Quinzee coat for extra cold days. We have been luckly with the mild Chicago winter this year, but when the temperature dips into the single digits my babygirl will need an extra warm coat!

Karen and Pearl said...

We would love a Ruffwear coat because Pearl gets SO cold that we always have to cut our walks short in the winter, which means she is bouncing off the walls inside and the coat she has right now always falls off!

Antoinette Errante said...

I love everything Ruffwear. I have gotten both the fleece jackets, their coats, their boots (for when Lola had her dew claws removed last winter and we had the three weks from hell keeping her incision dry), raincoats, leashes, collars. Well worth the money because they are made well and last a long time. Ruffwear also seems to have paid careful attention to a dogs anatomy, especially a wriggling dogs anatomy because all their coats are really made to easily slip on WHILE LOLA IS WRIGGLING EVERY WHICH way. Wonderful of them to donate to fosters!!!

Christine said...

Our guys have built-in Ruffwear in the form of thick double coats and never seem cold, but they'd love to win and donate a coat to a short-furred adoptable dog in need!

Rachel said...

What beautiful coats and how nice of Ruffwear to offer this awesome giveaway and for hooking up ms Bessie and ferris! Our Amy is a little grump in the rain and she would love to have a coat that doubles as a rain coat so we can actually walk in peace on rainy days haha. Plus we are looking forward to hiking in the Palisades soon and a new jacket would keep Amy toasty for our walk :-)

Heather said...

Little Jazz would love a new coat! Ben has a ruffwear coat and he LOVES it and it keeps him super warm - we just haven't been able to get her one yet! She gets VERY COLD when she goes outside because she is very lean and has a very short hair coat. If she had a new coat she could play at our farm all day and not get cold :)

K-Koira said...

Koira would love a new coat to wear out in a snow play day or on walks on cold days. She gets super cold, but sometimes her sweatshirts just don't cut it. And her only coat is a dark camo, which is dangerous to have her wear sometimes.

cailin7 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
cailin7 said...

Our pittie, Maya, has been plagued with skin allergies since she was a puppy. Unfortunately, her skin issues have left her naturally short coat on the thin side. It's ok for summer, but not so good in the winter. I would love to be able to take her outside for more than a minute or two without her shivering. Her current jacket just isn't working!

tripl said...

With a Ruffwear coat, we might be able to get Paris to walk at all in chilly weather. Now that she's turned 10, she downright refuses to walk in rain or cold. Not that I blame her...

H Ski said...

I would love a coat for Lola that would be good in the snow. Her current coat is fleece, so that will not keep her warm when it is snowing.

Coco Bean - The Princess said...

My sisters and i WISH we could convince our mommy to adopt Bessie-Belle or Ferris!

you all are SO beautiful!

Tail Wiggles & Puppy Kisses,

Coco Bean The Princess

emily said...

nick loves to be outside but becomes a 70lb baby when it rains. one of these coats might make it easier to convince him it's ok to be outside in the rain!

Mayzie said...

WOW! This is a super duper FANTASTIC giveaway! Now, me...what would I do if I had one of those? I wouldn't be so uncooperative abouts going out in the rain. I HATE getting wet as I believes you know that Most Beautiful Brindle Furs melt in the rain. So with one of those coats, maybe I would learn to dance in the rain!

Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie

Dachshund Nola said...

That was so sweet of them
Dachshund Nola

Lex said...

I would give my coat to my brother and his pitbull/greyhound mix. She needs a durable coat for when she goes on runs in the woods, and something to keep her skinny, short furred self nice and Toasty! That way she could chase after every stick in the woods without shivering!

MLaFayette said...

Ruff Wear is a GREAT company and so glad to hear they made the donations, and are making more!!! They are a very generous company residing in our own Bend, OR and we are proud of what they create. We don't have a dog in need at the moment, but would ask that a coat be donated to the Born Again Pit Bull Rescue, here in Portland, OR - they go all out to see that their foster dogs get a home, and none of them ever see a shelter again....they are wonderful!!! If I win, you may contact them at:
Phone
1 503.888.4583
Email
info@bapbr.org
Website
http://www.BAPBR.org
Thanks!!!

KS said...

With a Ruffwear coat, Vinnie the pit mix would be stylish AND warm as he helps establish an Arlington dog-walking group! We're inspired by SociaBulls and looking to get started soon...and Vin's already a Ruffwear fan thanks to his awesome Approach pack :)

Mel said...

Barksdale would be able to poo in the rain!

Although expensive, their stuff is probably the most well fitting and durable for the doggies.

Kitty+Coco said...

We live in the South, and therefore would rather a cold-weather pooch win a warm coat. We must say though that Fenris and Mr. B. look amazing in grey. Love love love the modern look it has.

Kitty+Coco

Twin Cities Pack Walk said...

Today I spent my uh-hum "down-time" at work searching for the perfect coat for Ms. Penelope to wear on her pack walks with Twin Cities Pack Walk. Being a Pitbull in the midwest is hard enough, but add a pack of dogs to impress to that agenda and you have one stylish pitbull request on your hands! Good thing I didn't place my order because I think I just found her future coat. And to think I have a chance to win one for free! Too cool :)

Kate said...

I would love to win one of these! We should finally be getting some snow in VA today so a new coat would be great for the dogs!

Anonymous said...

We woul love to be able to have a coat for our baby for more adequate wear than a tee shirt while walking in the Pacific Northwest rain that is perpetual. Our poor baby always tears coats to shred if she can get them off herself but I think the clips will be much better for her! Thanks!!

Rebelwerewolf said...

Wow, what great timing! Ever since seeing pictures of Miss M and Mr B all dressed up, I've wanted to get a sweater or coat for Badger. Unfortunately for me (but fortunately for him), he's quite furry and doesn't really need the extra warmth. Also, my spouse vetoed the dog hoodies, calling them "ugly". =(

Enter our new dog Mushroom, who is considerably slighter of build and not nearly as furry as Badger. We've only had her for a few days, but she'll start shivering after about 10-15 minutes of being outside. I've already been thinking of ways to measure her for a coat, so that she can do her business in (relative) comfort. Plus, if we win this contest, my spouse can't exactly veto a free coat!

Little Miss Southern said...

I'm obsessed with these super sweet and cute pups!!!

Two Kitties One Pittie said...

I love the photo of the three dogs with Miss M giving the camera the stink eye. CLASSIC!!!!!

PoochesForPeace said...

I just posted pics today of how cold it is here in Ohio! The dogs always rush inside after going potty when it's this cold outside so if we won a coat they could spend more time outside even though it's cold, and get more exercise !

Jon said...

A Ruffwear coat would mean that Floyd, our American Bulldog, could play outside in the winter as long as Nora, our Bulldog/St. Bernarnd whose natural coat was made for winter. He would love not being so cold all winter.

Briana said...

Our pup Sammy would love a Ruffwear coat. Philadelphia winters can be pretty unpredictable, but Sammy is very much predictable. Once the weather hits 50 he wants nothing to do with being outside, even with his lovely hoodie. He loves to stroll up and down South Street (a tourist area a few blocks away) to meet all of the new people visiting Philly but we hardly make it a block away before Sammy is a shivering mess and is pulling to go back inside. A great winter coat would make Sammy a much happier/and social winter time pooch.

Liz @ The Shrinking Owl said...

Bella would adore a Ruffwear coat!! She'd actually be willing to go outside in the winter for more than a quick "business trip"!

Two French Bulldogs said...

you are total fashion statements
Benny & Lily

Joanie Hoffman said...

It's not so much what I could do as what my Chan could do! He could hold his Shar Pei head a little higher in a new Ruffwear coat! I just bought my little dog, Datsun, a new really warm coat, and Chan is still wearing his Target coat.Thanks for the giveaway1

Keri @ Trinitys Love said...

I would love a new coat for my pup. We live in New England and can get some pretty crazy cold weather. Although not right now. But it's supposed to snow saturday and my little girl loves the snow!!!

Julia said...

Yay for the Quinzee jacket! Lily loves hers, and it keeps her quite warm!

I LOVE Ruffwear for donating (2) coats for this give-away! So great! If we had annnnother Ruffwear coat ;) we'd love a rain coat! Lily has nearly mastered avoiding rainy days and rainy walks. She puts on the brakes, tries to pull inside, and grumbles one we carry her out. Once we even wrapped her up in a big, fluffy bath towel just to get her outside to "deuce" in the backyard!!

A Wonderful Dogs Life said...

You all look so sweet in your snuggly new coats.

With a three season coat I could go potty in the rain or early morning walks.

Emma

Laura M. Olson said...

Awww!! My Max would Love a coat and hat from Ruffwear...we walk everyday three times a day, rain, snow or shine! He's a stylin' dog and would rock your wear. Thank you!

Unknown said...

Pixie Dixie would be able to go potty when it's raining! (her absolute least favorite weather element) Love the stylish coats btw. Will certainly be checking out the site.

Cereal City Doggie Mom said...

Gogo was going on daily walks while the weather was pleasant. Working on his social skills. He has not been able to go on those walks since the weather has been cold and snowy. He is in desperate need of socializing. So, should we win one of your wonderful coats (that actually fit!) we would be able to begin socializing in many outdoor venues that we can not use now. It would be so wonderful. Thank you.

mizzrigg said...

My little brother, Bark Lee, and I (Skeeter) would like to win a new coat for our older cousin, Riley. He is getting older and Chicago winter walks are becoming difficult...his joints don't like the cold. He has sweaters but costs are difficult to find because he is a big guy. We would like him to be able to take his winter walks in comfort. After all, he is our favorite cousin, just don't tell the others!

Unknown said...

What we, Ito (Terrier Chihuahua mix) and I would do with Spencer (Am-staffordshire Terrier mix) which is a adapted rescue from a great shelter here in Chicago is keep him warm for he gets very cold and at this moment can't afford to buy him a warm and suitable coat. I attempted to sow him one but not having the proper material or tools or being able to do it by hand led us to not take him out for walks that he can enjoy or be beneficial for him. So you see, our need to provide him with a proper coat for these extreme winters in Chicago have us pleading to you to pick Spencer to win one of your great coats. Which by the way look great and I've read all the great reviews. Keep up the awesome work your doing!

Sandman511 said...

Just adopted Liam from a high kill shelter in CA. He would love a 3 season coat for the rainy days in Seattle. 1st time dog owners and want to treat Liam to some Ruffwear.

Laghari Bedi said...

Thanks for the information. I really like the way you express complex topics in lucid way. It really helps me understand it much better way. winter jacket for dogs

Eliza Lewis said...

Thanks for sharing this informative information about winter jacket for dogs with us. It's very helpful. Keep it up!

Ajitesh Agarwal said...

Thanks to share this post.Warm cotton-padded clothes for pet dogs is a very good product.

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