Hey Woofas,

Winter is well underway here in Australia!

I know in other parts of the world our winter is no where near as cold, but for most of us it is freaking cold.

This year I’ve been yapping on about how it feels like an old fashioned winter.

We’ve had ice on the cars and the lawn.  Our temperatures have stayed in the teens and below.  Where I am we haven’t reached the 20’s yet.

Inside the house, without heating on, is colder than outside the house if you’re sitting directly in the sun!!

Those people that say, ‘I love winter, if you get cold, you can always put another layer on!’

Ummmmmmm not when you’re already wearing six layers and you’re expected to move throughout the day you can’t!!!

I don’t know about you but I find because I feel the cold, I think Billy must feel it too.

Don’t get me wrong, yes dogs do feel the cold.  But do they feel it as much as we do?

If I’m cold, I’m always layering on blankets over Billy whether he’s on our bed, his beds or the lounges.  If it’s cold I’m stacking blankets on him.

I know he doesn’t mind if he doesn’t move and just proceeds to go to sleep.

Because he’s a short-haired Staffy x he does have jumpers/coats.

This leads me into…………….

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG DOESN’T WANT TO WEAR A COAT FOR WINTER!

As I said Billy does have 1/2 a wardrobe of dog jumpers/coats.

I purely go by his behaviour as to whether or not he wants to wear a coat or not.

How do I tell?

1. When I go to put the jumper over his head – if he backs away once or twice then I know he doesn’t want one on today.
2. If I put the jumper over his head and he just stands there then I know he wants it put on.
3. When lifting his front legs sometimes he gives a little grunt but if that’s all, then I put it on him.
4. If however, his grunt becomes a growl I take the jacket off.  Sometimes this could be because he’s a bit stiff in the joints, because he’s 13 years old, a senior.  Yes he is on supplements.
5. If your dog is backing away at every attempt you make to put the jumper on, then know they don’t want it on.
6. You may manage to get the jumper on, however, they do everything in their power to remove it.  This can be harmful to them if it gets stuck halfway and you’re not around to take it off them.
7. I’ve heard of other owners putting the coat on their dog and coming home and the dog has removed it themselves……..know that your dog doesn’t want to wear one.
8. If you managed to get the jumper on but your dog just stands still and doesn’t move for ages…………..remove it, they don’t want it on.
9. Accept that if your dog doesn’t want a jumper on then don’t keep insisting that they wear one.
10. If your dog already has a long haired coat naturally, generally they will not need another coat over the top.

HOW TO KEEP MY DOG WARM INSTEAD?

If your dog doesn’t want to wear a jumper/coat during winter, that’s fine.

I mean when I was growing up I don’t think dog jumpers even existed yet, and if they did they weren’t widely used.

Our dogs slept outside in kennels with bedding and old blankets we had.

If those dogs looked at the dogs of today, they’d say they’d gone soft……….lol.

If your dog is not a jumper wearer, just make sure no matter where they are during the day/night, they have a nice warm bed with lots of blankets to snuggle under.

Whether it’s your bed, their own beds throughout the house, kennels outside, the kid’s beds they’ll snuggle in nicely.

I know some people who leave their air conditioning on purely to keep their dogs warm, whether the humans are home or not.

You don’t have to go that far.

DO NOT leave heaters on unattended for your dog  if you’re not home.

ON A SIDE NOTE –

If you’ve got a long haired dog, and you’re keeping their hair longer for winter………..AND they wear a dog coat.

Make sure you take the coat off the dog and brush their hair, every day…………

Most long haired dogs who are left longer through winter will not need a jumper, especially if they’re mostly inside dogs.

KEEP YOUR DOG”S HAIR BRUSHED!

WHY – because if your dog wears a coat all through winter with no hair brushing they will become matted messes and your dog groomer will have to shave their hair off.

Dogs will need time out without their jumper on as well, whether they’re a bit long haired or short haired because it allows their skin to breathe.

It’s not normal for them to wear a dog jumper/coat.

I can’t stress enough though to give your dog jumper free time.

And while doing this brush your dog.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

Read your dog’s body language – this will tell you whether they want to put a dog jumper/coat on.

It may make them feel uncomfortable.  OR they may love wearing one.  Give them coat free time though.

Just because we think they need one on, doesn’t mean they want to wear one.  And that’s okay.

Give them a comfy warm place to sleep with loads of blankets instead.

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – IF YOUR DOG WEARS JUMPERS/COATS?