Which Dog Jacket is right for me?

Not sure what jacket your adventure buddy needs? Or if they even need a jacket at all? We have summed it up and asked Badger and his dog friends from Ruffwear what they are wearing; hopefully, it will help guide you to what will work best for you and your dog! 

Does your dog need to wear a jacket? 

Whether your dog needs a jacket or not will depend on a few factors, like their breed and coat, how cold it actually is and if they are showing signs of needing an extra layer. 

Dogs like pugs, greyhounds, and others with a very short, fine coat will more likely than not need some form of jacket when the temperature starts to drop. 

And dogs like huskies and Samoyeds, breeds with a double coat or dogs bred for very cold temperatures, may not need a jacket - but there are always outliers. 

Your dog will give you signs if they’re cold and if they need a jacket (or booties). Things like shivering (obvious, I know), lifting their feet off the ground, their tail between their legs and looking for ways to get to warm areas, or maybe not wanting to leave the house. 

If you are unsure, make sure you talk to your vet. 

What dog jacket do I need?

Ruffwear categorises its jackets into three different categories: 

1. Insulation - Jackets for the super cold that provide a lot of warmth. 

2. Midlayers - Jackets that can be worn by themselves or under a rain jacket or even an insulated layer. 

3. Shell - Waterproof and Windproof layers (these are lighter layers, but can be worn over another layer).

Here’s a handy chart that puts all the Ruffwear jackets into their categories: 

Still not sure what you’re looking for? Let our dog friends from Ruffwear help you out:

Hi! My name’s Jack and I love my Quinzee Jacket! It’s super warm with its high-loft insulation, fits my long body well and keeps me cosy on cold winter days. My Greyhound mates love this jacket too! 

The Quinzee is great on long bodies that need some warmth. 

My name’s Badger, and I’m Further Faster's adventure dog, a big shaggy labradoodle, and I love to go trail running! I like the Ruffwear Cloud Chaser to keep me warm and dry coz it’s waterproof, windproof and breathable. Mum loves it since it covers most of my body and helps keep me clean! I can also move in it easily with its four-way stretch and bottom panel.

Badger here is rocking his Cloud Chaser on a snowy Christchurch Day!

My name’s Chip and I love a high-paced winter adventure so much that my mum takes me skiing! I use the Powder Hound jacket as it’s the perfect coat for my snowy adventures. It combines the high loft insulation of the Quinzee with the four-way stretch of the Cloud Chaser! 

The Powder Hound is great for snowy activities!

My name’s Gus, and I love snuggling up with my fleece Climate Changer Jacket as it keeps the chill off me when we go for our winter walks (I don’t even mind it too much when it goes over my head!) and has a zip and sleeves to keep my core nice and toasty! You can even put a raincoat over it - even though it’s quick drying! 

The Climate Changer is a nice classic fleece jacket, Badger loves his!

Hi! My name’s Goldie, and I love my stylish Stumptown Jacket coz I look good when I go into town, but it’s also durable enough for adventures on the trail with its ripstop shell. There’s also some insulation in there for some extra warmth. 

A pawfect jacket for that post-trail winter warm drink in town!

I hope this helps you pick the right jacket for your dog, and you are more than welcome to bring them into to the shop and see what they like they feel of (the team and I always love a puppy cuddle too!) 

You’ve got your dog the perfect jacket, but what dog harness is right for your dog? Check out the blog here: What is the best harness for my dog? – Further Faster