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Protect your pup against the elements and extend chilly walks with the right outerwear.

While dogs already wear a built-in fur or hair coat, most need additional protection against the elements—whether it’s rain, slush, snow, or just cold weather. The right outerwear can lock in your dog’s body heat and help them stay dry and comfortable, no matter the duration of the outing. Whether they spend the colder months curled up on the couch between short potty walks or enjoy diving head-first into fresh snowbanks, there’s a coat for every size, shape, cold tolerance—and personality.

Available Sizes: Most dog apparel manufacturers size their coats based on a dog’s body length, neck circumference, and chest-girth measurements. Chest girth is usually the most important dimension when it comes to fit. If your dog has a deep chest, you might need to size up, which sometimes results in the rest of the coat being too big or too loose. For hard-to-fit breeds, such as long-bodied Dachshunds and Corgis and lean, deep-chested Greyhounds and Whippets, adjustable straps and stretchy fabrics are a lifesaver.

Weather Conditions: Ideally, your dog’s winter coat will have a waterproof exterior and extend from the neck to the base of the tail (or longer). Chest and belly coverage protects them when they walk through deep snow or when they kick up slush. On especially cold days, you may need a coat with built-in insulation, or you might need to layer it over a sweater or fleece. Some coats have slightly extended sleeves that cover part of the front legs, and some extend higher on the neck than others.

Take into consideration not only how cold the weather will get in your region, but how well your dog tolerates it. Small dogs have a higher skin-to-body ratio, so they lose heat faster than large dogs. Puppies and seniors tend to have trouble regulating their body temperature. The length of your dog’s fur does not always correlate with their cold tolerance. For example, single-coated breeds like Greyhounds and Yorkies may get cold more easily than Labrador Retrievers and Pomeranians, who have an insulating undercoat. While those with a fluffy double fur coat, like the Siberian Husky, may not need as much protection, even the dogs of the Iditarod wear jackets in wet weather or extremely cold conditions.

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Harness Compatibility: Most coats have a slit in the back through which you can thread your dog’s leash to attach to their harness. If your dog’s coat is formfitting, they can wear the harness over their coat. If you have more than one harness, it’s helpful to keep one adjusted for over-the-coat use and one for days when they’ll wear their harness directly against their body. If their harness has a front leash attachment, you will be able to access it without a leash slit. Some coats have a convenient built-in D-ring, eliminating the need for additional walk wear.

Type of Closure: Your dog’s coat may be fastened with a zipper, Velcro, buckles, adjustable straps, drawstrings, or any combination thereof. Most styles have pros and cons and are better suited for some purposes more than others. Multi-step closures tend to be more secure, so they can work well for escape artists or long hikes but may be impractical for quick potty walks. Velcro is convenient and adjustable but tends to lose its clinginess as it gets clogged with lint and fur. Zippers are a quick way to open and close a jacket, but impatient pups can sometimes cause frustration when trying to properly line up the zipper. Some jackets also have thin elastic hind leg straps to keep the coat in place in windy conditions, but if your dog finds them uncomfortable, it’s usually not necessary to use them.

As a pet parent who knows the struggle of finding perfect outerwear, I looked for winter dog coats that have had high ratings from multiple reviewers with photos and videos showing how they fit on different breeds and body types. I also read reviews from bloggers who rely on their dog’s outerwear for long hikes and weekend adventures who could attest to the reliability of each garment. And, of course, I gleaned from my personal experiences, avoiding styles with large, permanently attached hoods that my dogs, like many, find uncomfortable, designs that lack coverage over the chest, belly, and hips, and stiff fabrics that chafe or impede mobility.

When it comes to quality, durability, and size selection, Hurtta dog gear is unparalleled. Its Expedition Parka comes in 16 sizes, including specialty sizes for long-bodied dogs like Dachshunds and stocky breeds like Bulldogs. The neckline, collar, and back length adjustment points made it easy to make Matilda’s parka look tailor-made just for her. It’s easy to put on, too: Just slip it over the head and snap the waist buckle. It provides full coverage and is fully insulated, yet the soft fabrics keep it lightweight and non-bulky, so it keeps dogs warm without impeding their mobility.

When worn by itself, the Loft Jacket from Kurgo is a great basic everyday coat to get your dog through the late fall and early spring. What we love about it is that it works perfectly with the brand’s separately sold layers so you can build upon it as the seasons change. You can add the Stowe base layer for extra coverage, the K9 Core sweater for a little more warmth, or top it with the Scruff Scarf snood for neck and head protection.

If you want your pup to look like your Mini-Me when you head out in your North Face, check out the True North Parka from Canada Pooch. It matches not only the style but also the quality of human outerwear, with a fleece lining, extended front legs, and heavy insulation to keep your pup warm and cozy on winter walks. It comes in many sizes to fit most dogs, but it fits stocky, short-bodied breeds, like the Pitbull or French Bulldog, best.

The Altitude-Mountaineer coat from Helios has many of the features you’ll see in coats from high-end dog apparel manufacturers without the hefty price tag, including a cozy polar fleece interior, three layers of inner lining with innovative Blackshark technology (windproof, waterproof, tear-resistant, and impermeable), and a waterproof, PU-coated shell. Though it comes in only five sizes from XS to XL, it’s adjustable at the chest, neck, and belly.

For quick walks in moderate weather, the stylish Quilted Bomber Jacket from Gooby is a great choice. It has a step-in design that secures with a zipper along the back, and a convenient built-in D-ring that lets you easily clip on a leash without too much fuss. It comes in only five sizes, though, and the XL fits a 20.5-inch chest girth, so even the largest size is unlikely to fit breeds any larger than a Beagle. However, the water-resistant material does have plenty of stretch to it, offering a comfortable fit for small dogs.

Voyagers K9 Apparel offers breed-specific winter coats for over 20 popular, hard-to-fit breeds, including the Dachshund, Boxer, Greyhound, and Great Dane. For all others, including mixed breeds, the brand’s made-to-order custom dog winter coat ensures a tailored fit. Handmade with premium materials—Ultrex Taslan nylon with a Polartec polar fleece lining—these custom coats are windproof, waterproof, and warm. They’re also durable; some reviewers have had their K9 coat for 10 years or more.

More Sizes Available at Zappos

Waterproof and lined with lightweight insulation, the Vert from Ruffwear is a versatile everyday dog jacket. On exceptionally cold days—which, for me, is about 15 degrees F or lower where I live in Delaware—my Heinz 57, Cow, wears hers over a sweater, but the jacket is usually sufficient on its own. There’s a concealed adjustable strap around the torso, so it’s great for dogs that, like Cow, have a deep chest and narrow body.

A snowsuit provides unmatched protection against wet, cold weather conditions. The pant legs are a godsend for dogs that accumulate rainwater, mud, and snowballs on their undercarriage. But a full-coverage design can be restrictive if the coat is not a perfect fit. The Extreme Overall from Hurtta has drawstrings to adjust the chest girth, waist, and back length. Owners of hard-to-fit breeds, like deep-chested Boxers and long, slender Weimaraners, are raving about its Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants-esque fit-ability.

If you lovingly refer to your big dog as your “house-horse,” you’ll love the Parka from WeatherBeeta, a company that started off making high-quality outerwear for actual horses. The 1200 denier exterior material is rated for destructive horses, so it’s naturally more than durable enough for large, active dogs. With a chest-and-belly wrap, high collar, and extra-long drop, it provides plenty of coverage against the wind, rain, and snow.

Though toy-sized pups get cold much more easily than larger dogs, it’s difficult to find warm, high-quality winter gear for them. The Mountaineer II from Puppia has that sturdy, structured feel you’d expect from a good puffer jacket, with a waterproof exterior and a fleece-lined, insulated interior. The all-in-one design has an attached, adjustable harness that makes it convenient for quick winter potty breaks. The coat itself is not stretchy or adjustable, though, and it runs small. Puppia recommends adding ¼ to ½ inch to the neck girth, and to take into consideration that the measurements listed in its size chart are the dimensions of the actual product, not your dog’s measurements.

Q: Best way to measure your dog for a coat?

A: You need to take your dog’s measurements only once (as long as they’re not sneaking treats behind your back), but you should always check the size chart for each coat while you shop, as each brand uses its own sizing guidelines (one brand’s small may be another’s medium). Use a tailor’s measuring tape to measure the girth of the widest part of their chest, the neck girth at the widest part (close to their collarbone), and their back length from the base of their neck to the base of their tail. If you plan to layer the coat over a sweater, add a half-inch to an inch to the chest girth measurement.

Q: Your best tip for keeping a winter dog coat in good condition

A: Between uses, I always hang or lay it flat so it can dry completely. A damp coat may not be wearable in time for the next walk, and if it’s put away wet, it could develop mildew. Most important, if your dog is a destructive chewer, make sure to store the coat out of reach.

Q: Any advice for helping dogs get used to wearing a coat?

A: Some dogs are sensitive about having anything placed over their head, while others are difficult to position into “step-in” designs. I find it helpful to teach my dogs to put their head through the collar by luring them with a treat, and then guiding their paws through the sleeves. They seem less stressed when they’re actively cooperating in getting dressed. It’s also best to put their coat on as the last step; that way they’re not becoming anxious or overheated while waiting to go outside.