Does my dog need a coat? A UK temperature guide

Most dogs need a coat once the temperature drops below about 7°C, and small, thin-coated, elderly or clipped dogs need one sooner, from around 10°C. Thick double-coated breeds such as Huskies, Newfoundlands and Golden Retrievers are usually fine without a dog coat well below freezing, as long as they are moving. Wind and rain lower the effective temperature, so a wet 8°C walk along the seafront is colder for your dog than a still, dry 3°C morning. Here is a temperature guide for UK conditions and how to judge your own dog.

Dog coat temperature guide

These are widely used guidelines for dry, still conditions. Drop each threshold by a category if it is raining or windy.

Temperature	Small or thin-coated dogs	Medium, single-coated dogs	Large, double-coated dogs
Above 15°C	No coat	No coat	No coat
10–15°C	Coat if wet, windy, elderly or clipped	No coat	No coat
7–10°C	Coat	Coat if wet, windy, elderly or clipped	No coat
4–7°C	Coat; keep walks shorter	Coat	No coat unless elderly or unwell
0–4°C	Insulated coat; short walks	Insulated coat	Coat for standing around, not for brisk walks
Below 0°C	Insulated coat; minutes, not miles	Insulated coat; shorter walks	Coat if elderly, thin or standing still

"Small or thin-coated" covers Chihuahuas, Whippets, Greyhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Staffies, Boxers, Dobermanns, Chinese Cresteds and any dog that has just been clipped short. "Medium, single-coated" covers Spaniels, Beagles, Vizslas, Labradoodles and Poodle crosses. "Large, double-coated" covers Huskies, Malamutes, German Shepherds, Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Golden Retrievers and Labradors.

Which dogs feel the cold most

• Short, single coats. Whippets, Greyhounds, Staffies and Boxers have no undercoat and almost no body fat over the back. They feel the cold at temperatures a Spaniel would not notice.
• Small dogs. A small body loses heat faster than a large one, and small dogs are closer to cold, wet ground.
• Puppies under six months. They cannot regulate body temperature as well as adults.
• Senior dogs. Thinner coat, less muscle and often arthritis, which cold makes worse. A coat for a stiff older dog is as much about the joints as the temperature.
• Clipped or groomed dogs. A Cockapoo clipped to 1cm has lost most of its insulation. Treat it as a thin-coated dog until it grows back.
• Dogs that are unwell or underweight. Ask your vet; some conditions such as hypothyroidism make dogs noticeably cold-sensitive.

Signs your dog is cold on a walk

Dogs rarely stop and shiver dramatically. Look for the smaller signs:

• Shivering or trembling, including fine muscle tremors along the back
• Hunched posture with the tail tucked
• Lifting paws off the ground or stopping to lick them
• Slowing down, lagging behind or trying to turn for home
• Whining, or looking for shelter against walls and hedges
• Reluctance to go out at all when it is cold

Shivering that continues indoors after a walk, lethargy or pale gums are signs of a dog that has got genuinely cold; warm them gradually with towels and a blanket and call your vet if they do not pick up quickly.

Which type of dog coat?

There are three jobs a dog coat does, and most coats do one or two of them well.

Raincoat

Waterproof shell, little or no insulation. For wet UK walks above about 7°C and for thick-coated dogs that get soaked and take hours to dry. Look for a belly panel if your dog gets muddy underneath.

Insulated winter coat

Padded or fleece-lined, usually with a water-resistant outer. For temperatures below 7°C for most dogs and below 10°C for thin-coated ones. A high neck and a chest panel add a lot of warmth for the same weight.

Fleece or jumper

Warm, not waterproof. For dry cold days, for indoors in a cool house, and for layering under a raincoat. Good for Whippets and Greyhounds that need something at home as well as outside.

Whichever type, fit matters as much as warmth: a coat that gaps at the neck or rides up over the back lets the cold in. Our dog coat size guide shows how to measure back length and chest girth. If your dog wears a harness, choose a coat with a harness opening on the back or one cut to go over the top of a dog harness.

Mistakes to avoid

• Putting a coat on a double-coated dog for a brisk walk. A Husky in a padded coat at 5°C overheats. Save the coat for standing around in the cold.
• Leaving a wet coat on indoors. Take it off as soon as you get home and dry the dog underneath.
• Buying by breed name. Coats are sized by back length and chest. A long-backed Dachshund and a Jack Russell weigh the same and need very different coats.
• Walking a thin-coated dog without a coat because it is "only" 6°C. Factor in wind and rain; the dog's experience is colder than the thermometer suggests.
• Forgetting the paws. A coat does nothing for salted or icy pavements. Rinse paws after winter walks.

Dog coat FAQs

What temperature does a dog need a coat?

Below about 7°C for most dogs; below about 10°C for small, thin-coated, elderly or clipped dogs. Thick double-coated breeds usually do not need one above freezing unless they are old, unwell or standing still.

Do Labradors need a coat?

Healthy adult Labradors rarely do; they have a dense double coat and plenty of body fat. Older Labradors with stiff joints, or any Labrador standing around in wind and rain, benefit from a light waterproof coat.

Do dogs need coats in the rain?

Short-coated dogs, yes, because wet skin loses heat fast. Thick-coated dogs are fine in rain while moving, but a raincoat saves you an hour of drying afterwards and keeps the car and sofa clean.

Can a dog wear a coat indoors?

A dry fleece, yes, for a thin-coated dog in a cold house. Never leave a wet or padded outdoor coat on indoors, and take all coats off at night.

If your dog falls in the "coat" column above, browse our dog coats and raincoats, each listed with back length and chest measurements in centimetres. For a cold-sensitive dog at home, a calming bed with a deep rim holds warmth far better than a flat cushion. Free tracked UK delivery on every order and 30-day returns on unused items, so if a dog coat does not fit, send it back.