Unless you live in a place where snow is a regular winter visitor, it can be easy to forget that our beloved pup pals can need extra insulation beyond their fur when it gets cold. Certainly, some breeds like huskies already have all that insulation at birth, but other breeds may not be entirely comfortable when the weather takes a turn.
Where I live on the California coast, my rescue Labrador is perfectly at home year-round. But when we take her to the mountains in winter, she likes to pack her Ruffwear Stumptown Quilted Dog Coat.
The 300-denier polyester ripstop shell fabric is strong enough to last, and it’s abrasion resistant to stand up to pups who love to rub up against textures, like trees and rocks. It’s got a Bluesign-approved durable water repellent (DWR) finish that repels water, as long as you’re not out walking during a rainstorm or your canine buddy runs through a deep, muddy puddle. The 120-gram recycled polyester insulation provides plenty of warmth. The coat’s lining is 30-denier polyester.
There’s a leash “portal” on the back, which is compatible with most harnesses, if your pooch prefers them to a collar. Side release buckles makes it easy to put the coat on and take it off. When you wash the coat, secure the fasteners before washing in cold water with a mild detergent in the gentle cycle. Hang to dry and do not bleach, iron, or dry clean.
There’s reflective trim on the coat for low-light visibility when you’re out in the early morning, late night, or during a stormy day, and a light loop for attaching a safety light, like Ruffwear’s The Beacon Dog Safety Light.
The Stumptown Quilted Dog Coat comes in twilight gray, larkspur purple, and Metolius blue, and lists for $64.95 on the Ruffwear site.