Cross Breeds

Do dogs really need the coats and boots that people dress them in?

I take my ex-husbands standard poodle for 1-2 miles walks. I feel so sorry for her having to live with him. It has been about 20-35 degrees here with 6 inches of snow on the ground. I see other people have little boots and coats for their dogs. Do dogs really need the boots and coats or is that more for the owner? Do dogs get frostbite on their feet?

Public Comments

1. Any animal can get frostbite if out in the cold for too long. I would not worry about this happening on a walk though. Some dogs (short-haired dogs) certainly do need a sweater on when it is cold outside. I have a Boston Terrier and when it is very cold, he shivers.
2. The booties are to protect their paws from the ice melt more than anything else. Ice melt can cause pain if it gets stuck in their pads, so some people use the booties. As for the sweaters, some dogs (short-haired breeds) get cold very easily. I have a MinPin who gets cold after about 1 minute outside (we live near Boston) and so we have him wear a sweater to keep his body temperature from plummeting. It allows him to play outside (which he loves!!) and in the snow (funniest thing) for more than 1 minute. Larger, furrier breeds tend not to need sweaters (my old dog was a lab-newfie-etc mix, and LOVED the snow - held snowball fights with himself and would roll around in it). A standard poodle wouldn't necessarily need a sweater unless she shows signs of being very cold. If you don't want to use booties to protect her feet, you can wash them when you return her, or tell your ex- to buy her a salve that protects their pads.
3. people who dress thier animals are....not right... to put it politely
4. no way! they dont need any of it. dogs are well addapted to cold weather. they dont need to be put in booties and coats. the only type of coat i would use is a raincoat.
5. All I know is that my smooth Dachshund stops shivering when I put her sweater on, and that's enough of a reason for me to have her wear it. I don't know if she "needs" it, but I do know it makes her more comfortable in the cold. My longhair Doxie on the other hand, has a thicker, longer coat and isn't bothered by the cold quite as much, so more often than not, she goes "naked." I am not the type to put clothes on dogs "just because" (they are not dress-up dolls for my amusement), but if the clothing serves a practical purpose, like keeping a freezing dog warm, then I'm all for it. And yes, dogs absolutely CAN get frostbite (any mammal can), as I'm sure any vet in a cold climate could tell you.
6. i don't think that they need boots and coats for dogs even if it is 20degrees out. if you wont to dress them up it is all up to you. i don't think that dogs get frostbite when there out moving around. it is great that you take it for 1-2 mile walks wile it walks it might get cold but it won't get frostbite
7. I don't see any problem with giving the pup a little extra protection against the cold if they like wearing the clothes. My sister's dog struts like you wouldn't believe when she gets to wear her jacket. I've also noticed that there can be an added benefit to dressing a pup: many dogs who are used to having clothes put on are much more patient and well-behaved when other people (strangers, groomers, vet, etc.) handle them.
8. If the dog is wearing away the pad leather on their feet to rapidly and getting sore you can use boots on them. If they have furry feet some like to wear boots as they prevent ice build up inbetween the paw pads and it is more comfortable for them to walk. It also will keep the ice melt chemicals out of their fett and they will not lick them off. If you are walking in city type area where they use things like that you should either wash off the feet when you are done or use boots so the dog does not ingest the chemicals. As for coats some like to wear them if they are short haired and not built for cold weather. Other dogs hate them. I use one on our Weim if we are hunting and it is very cold but she only wears it when out in the field and as soon as we are done it comes off. I personally thin dressing them up is rather undignified for the dog.