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