Laugh at My Small Dog’s Winter Coat? I Think Not

Posted on Dec 04 in Small Dog Careby Jeff K.Print

Admit it. You’ve seen someone walking a small dog in your neighborhood; and that dog was wearing a fancy little overcoat. And you laughed “Ha! It’s a spoiled little poofta dog and his goofy, over-indulging owner. How silly.” Or, maybe you didn’t. Maybe you realized many small dogs have very little tolerance for cold weather. Given their light body mass and, for some, lightweight fur that offers very little insulation, some small dogs need an overcoat for protection.

People may still scoff. They say, “C’mon, it’s just a dog,” as though any dog should be able to handle anything you throw at it. While dogs do not complain, and they do not actually suffer in the intellectual, (some say neurotic,) way that we humans can suffer, they still feel pain and discomfort. As responsible dog owners, it is up to us to do the things that keep our dogs comfortable. Granted, it is not necessary to cover your small dog in an ermine or sable stole, but a little protection against a chill or against the summer sun is good and reasonable care.

Most of the modern dog breeds were developed to do specific work in specific regions of the world. To prove it, follow me to Pembroke County, Wales. The year is 1170. We are standing in the mud and stone house of the Flemish weaver who first introduced the Pembroke Welsh Corgi to area shepherds.*

“Mr. Flemish weaver–”

“Angus.”

“Pardon?”

“Angus. Me name is Angus.”

“Okay, Angus. I notice that dog you are holding has very thick fur. Why is that?”

“Are ye bloomin’ daft man? Bloody chilly outside, isn’t it? Wouldn’t be right to put a wee dog out into the vapors without proper covering. I bred a double-thick coat into this hound so it could work the sheep without freezing its arse off.”

“Yes, but what if one day people decided to take this dog to, say Hawaii, and keep it as a pet?”

“Hawa—who? Aye, ye art crazy. Git and be gone afore I call the constabulary on ye.”

The weaver has a point. Who knew Corgi’s would have to live in hot climates, or that Toy Mexican Hairless dogs would someday play above the arctic circle? If we dog owners are determined to take a dog out of its native element, then we are obligated to help that dog live in its new surroundings as comfortably as possible. When it is cold, put an overcoat on a small dog with a naturally thin or lightweight coat. Examples of small dogs that chill easily are the Chihuahua, the Miniature Pinscher, the Italian Greyhound, and the Toy Mexican Hairless.

When its hot, help double-coated northern dogs cope with the heat. Examples of small dogs with double coats are the Pomeranian, the Shetland Sheepdog, the Shiba Inu, the Toy American Eskimo, the West Highland Terrier, and several others.

Keeping dogs bred for the northern tier out of the heat of the day is the best and simplest solution. Air conditioning or breezy shade are musts for these dogs in the summer. You can also reduce a northern dog’s burden by reducing his natural coat. There are two methods for doing this: You can have his groomer shorten the coat length or thin his undercoat using an undercoat rake. (Note: an undercoat rake is not the same as a rake designed to remove shed hair.) In either case, be careful not to over-do it. The same thick coat that protects your dog against the cold, also protects him against sunburn. Making your dog’s coat too short takes away that natural protection.

Some people argue that a dog’s coat provides natural heating and cooling. I say, yes to a certain extent. Anyone who has watched a Pomeranian try to cope with a southern summer knows the natural cooling argument does not work when the weather turns hot. I would recommend the next time someone tells you not to shorten your Pom’s coat for the summer, you should ask that person to put on a winter coat and accompany you into the 90-degree heat outside to discuss the matter further.

Laugh at my dog’s fancy overcoat? Go ahead, but do me a favor this winter. As you pass us by, take your own coat, hat and gloves off while you laugh.

*The origin of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is not certain. One theory maintains that this breed was brought to Wales by a Flemish weaver. The weaver’s name and his comments in this article are purely fictitious.

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