The best dog rain coats come in all shapes, sizes and colours. If you are considering buying a raincoat for your dog, now's the time to look at the best ones on the market and what to consider when buying a dog coat for rain or shine.
Every dog breed is different, and we are firm believers that every dog should and can come on all of our outdoor adventures. And sometimes that means coats.
Not all dogs have the coat to suffer through snow and rain, and most dogs will need a little protection if you are travelling through mud and the cold. From a more practical viewpoint consider this: when taking long car trips to somewhere beautiful, it’s practical to have a little cover to keep the car from getting filthy.
Make sure that before you choose the best dog rain suit you measure your pooch properly.
You’ll need 3 measurements:
- Neck
- Back
- Chest
Not all raincoats are the same, but they should all have one thing in common:
They should be comfortable and feel effortlessly on your dog forgets they are even wearing a coat.
Best Raincoat for small dogs
You have a lot more choice when it comes to small dog raincoats. Mostly because small dogs mean less body mass and in the case of whippets or short hair dogs, a raincoat is almost always a must.
What’s important to consider for small dogs is warmth and comfort. A double layer to give that extra protection is a must, though be wary of going for heavy linings – these will usually require a lot of washing and can cause even the smallest dog to overheat.
What you want is flexibility: something that you can tighten or loosen, a hood you can add or remove, and a fully waterproof material that is easy to clean.
What to look for:
- Warmth
- Waterproof
- Adjustable
Best Raincoat for medium and large dogs
When it comes to getting a coat for larger dogs, you need to consider comfort and breathability. Chances are your Labrador, Cocker Spaniel and Great Dane will have a better tolerance for the cold than your miniature poodle.
The key here is breathability and flexibility. You want full 100% waterproof outer fabric, but with a breathable mesh lining that will keep your pet dry and comfortable even in the heaviest of rain.
Preferably you want to ensure that the raincoat has both a collar and harness hole, with reflective stripes so you can see him in the dark.
Finally, it needs to be practical: easy to clean after a particularly muddy walk, so you can just put it in the washing machine, as well as easily adjust it should your dog gain or lose a little weight.
In short a raincoat for all seasons and for day to day wear.
What to look for:
- Adaptability
- Waterproof
- Breathability
Best Dog Raincoat for full protection
If you live in a region where mud and snow are just part of your everyday life, maybe a raincoat isn’t quite what you want. Maybe you want a full dog jacket that covers the body, back, and legs.
Be careful with these ones – they are great for anyone living in a colder environment and dogs with short hair and not a whole load of muscle mass. If you put your puppy in one of these on a warm day in spring, he may get a little hot under the collar.
But for winter and snow walk you want something that is water-proof, wind-proof and snow-proof. You want it to be fully adjustable to the neck, feet, chest and waist and you want it to be easy to put on or take off.
These are great for all dogs, but especially smaller breeds who struggle with the cold in winter – from bulldogs to Dachshund, getting a full cover raincoat will ensure less mess and fewer shivers at the end of a walk.
What to look for:
- Fit – measure everything
- Snow-proof for full protection
- Adjustable setting
Best Anxiety Raincoat for Dogs
What is a Dog Anxiety Calming Coat? They are basically dog coats that apply constant gentle pressure to the pet’s torso, giving them the feel of an ‘instant’ hug. This basically calms anxious or over excited dogs – just like swaddling an infant at night.
It’s a hit or miss science. It doesn’t work for every dog, but for many (especially small breeds), it has been found to be particularly helpful when dealing with fireworks, thunderstorms and hyperactivity. It also comes highly recommended for a rescue dog who is still getting used to a new environment and find it difficult to have close human contact for long.
In short, it’s a great way to try and reduce your dog’s stress levels without resorting to drugs.
Calling these rain jackets is a stretch as their primary use is to be soft and comforting. But if you are taking them out in a thunderstorm, you want it to be at minimum splash-proof, quick to dry and easy to clean.
Thank-fully the price of these anxiety calming dog coats doesn’t tend to break the bank. So if you are looking for a solution to help a nervous dog, it’s a drug-free test that might just change your pups life for the better.
What to look for:
- Comfort
- Adjustable strap to control the tightness
- Budget-friendly
Best Reflective Raincoat for Dogs
If you love long off lead walks through the wilderness come day or night, what you need is more than just a rain jacket. You need a warm cosy reflective dog coat that you can see from miles away, and so can any cars, bikes or vehicles in the area.
But as with all dog jackets, it can’t just be reflective, it needs to be comfortable and adjustable. Compatible with both harness and collars, you want a jacket that covers all weather and all sizes of dogs.
Neither water, wind, snow or the dark will keep you from having an adventure with your pooch, and with some nice padded layers and quick-drying material, it should feel to your dog as if he’s wearing nothing at all.
You don’t have to compromise your dog’s motion for safety and warmth. You just have to get him the right reflective raincoat.
What to look for:
- Bright, colourful and reflective
- Weatherproof for all weathers and adventure
- Easy for your dog to move around
Best Overall Raincoat for all sizes and weather
If you are looking for a raincoat that will fit the smallest chihuahua to the most active border collie, then you need something that covers all the basics:
- Can be used with varying harnesses and collars
- Fleece can be removed or added according to the weather
- Can be used on warm spring days or cold winter nights
- Machine washable
- Easy to put on and adjust to your dogs specific size
- Reflective elements to keep your dog safe at night
- Not more expensive than other dog coats in the market
The best raincoat we could find is the Danish Design 2-1 Harness Dog Coat. It’s not snow proof, but it is waterproof and winter proof with added breathability for the larger breed and that warm cosy fleece for smaller ones.
This is a great dog jacket that covers all the basics and won’t break the bank.
1. What are the best raincoats for dogs?
Raincoats for dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and the best ones will be adjustable to fit the specific size of your dog. A good raincoat should be fully waterproof, easy to clean, and ideally have both a Harness and a Collar opening to allow you to easily walk your dog on the lead.
When it comes to raincoats it’s definitely worth putting substance over style and make sure you have a comfortable fit.
2. Age and size – make sure it fits wells at all stages
When buying a dog rain jacket online make sure you measure the chest, the back and the neck – maybe even the legs if you are going for full cover.
Puppy raincoats may be needed depending on where you live, but don’t forget to upgrade them as they get older. And ill-fitting coat will restrict your dog’s movement, his enjoyment of his daily walks and, ultimately, may cause chaffing or pain.
3. Dog raincoat with harness opening: a must for long haul trekkers
Not all raincoats have a harness opening, but these days most dog owners will have a harness for their dogs, especially if you are in the habit of going on a big adventure out in the wild. So it may be a strange one to check, but before you buy read where the opening is of the dog jacket. You don’t want the water to leak through, or find that you can only use the rain jacket with a collar.
4. Want full protection? Dog raincoats with hoods, legs, and belly cover
We actually really like these type of dog coats, though they do tend to be a little harder to put on, but give you better overall cover. No rain jacket can promise to keep your dog clean at all time, but they do help keep most of the mud and snow at bay. Better for those of us living in more extreme weather conditions, rather than tropical climates.
5. Warmth Vs Waterproof Vs Lightweight raincoats
When buying a raincoat you need to ask yourself why does your dog need it? If they are small and anxious, it may be that they need a protective barrier from the world far more than warmth, in which case buy an anti-anxiety dog coat.
If they have short hair and a skinny frame, say a whippet, you may have to sacrifice some waterproof elements for a nice warm cosy lining. And, of course, if you have a larger dog such as a Boxer or a Great Dane a lightweight and breathable coat is a must.
6. Double Coat Dogs do not need a rain jacket
Most coats fall under two categories – single and double coat dogs. Double coat dogs have two layers of fur – one is a dense undercoat, almost woolly in texture, and then a top coat of longer hairs called guard hair.
Double coat dogs have the superpower being able to repel moisture and dirt, and depending on the season, protect them from both hot and cold temperature. This superpower also comes with a whole load of shedding in between the seasons.
The point is, if you have a double coat dog breed, they are unlikely to need a raincoat. In fact, if you pick a raincoat that’s too hot, it may even be dangerous. Some double coat dogs are obvious – think snow dogs like Huskies, Akita’s and Bernese Mountain dogs.
If you have one of these breeds and are still reading this best dog coat list, you may want to save your money and go find a nice comfy dog bed for them instead. They’ll need it after all the exercise.
What many people don’t know is that popular breeds such as Golden Retrievers and Labradors also have this double coat. They can’t stand the cold quite like the other breeds, but they are all-weather type dogs. So if you are looking for a mud coat rather than rain-jacket, make sure you go for lightweight and breathable coats.
