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Dog coats are more than just a fashionable accessory. They can have lots of added health benefits, can prevent diseases and alleviate complaints in dogs that are already ill.
Small dogs can be at a disadvantage in bad weather. With their short legs, they are more exposed to the cold ground and their sensitive little tummy region can cool down rapidly.
If your dog loves splashing in puddles, a coat can help keep the worst of the grime off their coat so you don't feel like life is a constant dog shower and groom !
With the lovely British weather, a warm and waterproof coat is a great idea for winter walks regardless of what breed of dog you're adventuring with.
We've researched and short-listed the Best Dog Coats available in the UK for 2024. Coats that not only protect your pooch from the elements, but will ensure they are always insta-ready ! |
UPDATED : OCTOBER 2024 After a new round of testing, we've added the raincoat from Barc London |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Features to Consider
Before you shop, let's make sure you get the best dog coat for your furry friend. Here are some things to keep in mind -
Range of sizes
Crucially, check that the design you've set your heart on is available in a size to suit your dog. Owners of smaller breeds will definitely find a wider range of styles on offer.
Ease of fastening
What do you prefer ? Pop studs, zips or velcro straps? We've found in testing that there are pros and cons of each option. For example velcro will give you more flexibility for size adjustment, but excess velcro can easily snag as your four-legged friend dives into the undergrowth.
Waterproof potential
If you're looking at a dog coat to withstand the British winter, waterproof or water resistant is a no-brainer. The best waterproof jackets and coats will keep your dog dry, whatever the weather throws their way.
Harness attachment
For those of you who prefer a harness to a collar, look for a dog coat with a harness attachment opening. Then your dog can simply wear their dog coat over their harness.
Trouble-free cleaning
Machine washable is always a stress-free solution especially for those pups that simply love muddy puddles.
Price
Budget-friendly or splurge-worthy, we've included a range of prices to suit your style and your pocket.
From functional to fabulous, our Top 10 Dog Coats for 2024 have it all. Judge the looks for yourself, and we'll fill you in on warmth, waterproofing, size options and harness holes. With something for everyone, let's take a look at the Dog Coats that made our Top 10 for 2024 |
Our Picks of the Best Dog Coats
1. Best Dog Coat Overall
Luther Bennett
Luther Bennett's credentials need no introduction – the brand behind the iconic and super-stylish Dog Pod, it's little wonder that their first foray into dog coats ranks as a best in class here at Smart Bark.
If you're looking to upgrade your dog coat this year, then allow us to introduce you to our favourite : the Honeycomb Waterproof dog coat. It's the best we've tested for many reasons and it packs in some nifty features.
Firstly it's waterproof and warm, crafted with a soft polar fleece lining coupled with a waterproof quilted exterior.
And let's talk about the fit. Cleverly the adjustable straps have good quality lengths of velcro attached right to the ends of the straps. Why does this matter? Well we've found that if the coat strap is loose, you can be sure it'll tear or get caught on any expeditions into the undergrowth.
What we really like about this dog coat is that the straps fasten on your dog's back not under the belly. It feels more secure, plus there are adjustable leg straps too which really helps give a snug finish and keep the coat aligned on your dog's back.
It doesn't end there, the coat also has a collar to keep the neck area warm which you can tighten with a toggle or choose to fold back on warmer days.
This Honeycomb coat is compatible with a harness or collar thanks to the handy hole on the back.
If you have a dog that simply loves mud, no problem! Simply throw it in the wash. The coat is machine washable on a cold cycle and dries quickly.
Lastly, there's the design. It is only available in one colour but we loved the colour. Dark olive green with striking orange stitching in a honeycomb pattern (as the name suggests) it comes in 5 size options.
We thought we'd mention that Luther Bennett are releasing their dog coat in a specialist fit for Dachshunds. These longer-bodied beauties deserve a coat of their own and this waterproof coat offers great underbelly protection.
Our Verdict - All of the above adds up to mean that we think it's the best waterproof dog coat we've tested. Designed with dog lovers and dogs in mind, from the flexible fit, adjustable back straps, leg straps and collar to the harness slot, fleece lining and easy wash. We think it's the one to beat.
REASONS TO BUY
+ Waterproof
+ Great design features
+ Fleecy lining
+ Options for a collar or harness
REASONS TO AVOID
- Only one colour option
2. Best Dog Raincoat
Barc London
Looking for a waterproof coat shouts cute and classy about town without breaking the bank? How about a raincoat from Barc London?
New to our review for 2024 is their signature raincoat. It's extremely functional yet very beautifully designed with a two small pockets, an adorable drawstring hood and popper fasteners on the underside.
Available in three on-trend colourways - green, orange and stone which will brighten up the greyest of days.
This is the totally adorable Twiglet testing out her green raincoat for Smart Bark. OK, so the test was not without its problems - she point blank refused to move 😂. We will conduct additional testing to assess the fit whilst walking and it's waterproof capabilities.
In the meantime, the coat is beautifully designed. It has a lovely soft inner side, fits well and because the material is thin ( think mac rather than puffer), it could easily be teamed with a fleece or jumper to offer additional warmth if needed.
We loved that it's ideal for rainy days when you don't necessarily need a thick, warm coat.
Completely waterproof, each jacket is made from recycled PU and has some nice detailing including a harness opening and colour coded drawstrings.
Barc London offer a really wide range of 7 sizes from XXS to XXL which is great as large dog coats can be tricky to find.
We think that Barc London offer a very classy, durable and good value raincoat. That's about it, save for the fact that Barc London also stock a colourful range of Puffer Jackets and Sherpa Fleeces if you're looking for some warmth.
We'll report back once we've finished testing and given Twiglet a treat - for simply looking adorable in her coat.
REASONS TO BUY
+ Gorgeous design
+ Waterproof
+ Available in multiple sizes
+ Choice of colours
REASONS TO AVOID
- Limited adjustability with poppers
3. Best Waterproof Coat
Embark Pets
If you're looking for a waterproof coat that won't break the bank then the Embark Pets Adventure Dog Rain Jacket might be perfect.
This well-made dog jacket has a lightweight yet fully waterproof outer and importantly, the mesh lining is cooling so it won't make your dog hot and bothered. So ultimately, it's both durable yet comfortable to wear.
In testing we felt that the cut of the jacket was more streamlined than many other waterproof coats. We particularly liked the more figure-hugging design as it won't flap around when your dog charges about.
The coat is secured with double adjustable velcro straps at the neck and girth. Both sets of velcro straps are strong, wide and offer a fair amount of 'wiggle room' so you can get the perfect fit.
This is so important for dog coats because the chest, neck and back measurements vary from dog to dog, so offering maximum adjustability is essential.
It's worth mentioning that the girth strap secures underneath not on your dog's back (like the Ancol Stormguard coat featured next).
Other well thought-out design features include access for the lead to attach to your harness under the coat plus a clever velcro cover to stop the rain seeping in when not in use.
The reflective edging for night and low-light walking is a nice touch.
The only downside, is the lack of colour options, but clearly Embark have designed a functional waterproof dog coat not a fashion accessory.
A detailed sizing guide is available on their website and on Amazon with chest and neck measurements alongside the coat length measurement. Available in 4 sizes.
Our Verdict : We recommend Embark Pets Adventure Dog Rain Jacket because it's a great value, well designed rain coat which will keep your dog dry but not too hot. |
REASONS TO BUY
+ Waterproof
+ High quality finish
+ Streamlined design
+ Great value + Wear with a collar or harness
REASONS TO AVOID - Only one colour option
Get 10% OFF Embark Pets UK
Simply enter the discount code SMARTBARK at checkout
4. Best Value Waterproof Coat
Ancol
An alternative waterproof coat to the Embark Pets Adventure Dog Rain Jacket, is the ever-popular Stormguard design, from family pet brand Ancol.
Suitable for all weathers, the Stormguard dog coat has a hardwearing, waterproof outer layer coupled with a lovely soft and warm fleece inner lining for extra warmth.
A chest cover protects your dog against puddle splashes which gives it added warmth too and as you'd expect from Ancol, the coat is machine washable.
For harness wearing dogs, the coat incorporates a zip opening on the back to feed the lead through and attach to the harness worn beneath the coat.
Better still, there are straps which wrap around your dog's back legs to help keep the coat in place.
Incorporating a reflective edging band for safety when the clocks change and the nights close in, there is also a High-Viz version if your prefer.
The only potential downside to this coat is the velcro stomach strap. Whilst the velcro means it's fully adjustable to fit, we found that any excess strap can tend to flap around.
Available in a really wide range of sizes to fit extra small to large dogs and in a choice of colours (although this chocolate brown colour is our favourite!)
This could be a great value dog coat for you if you're looking for a functional waterproof coat with some additional padding for warmth. |
REASONS TO BUY + Waterproof
+ Padded for warmth
+ Available in multiple sizes
+ Harness attachment opening
+ Choice of colours
REASONS TO AVOID - Possible excess strap
5. Best Designed Warm Coat
Kurgo
This stylish reversible and great quality dog coat from Kurgo is ideal to keep your dog cosy during the chilly winter months when out on walks, hikes and runs.
The key selling point of the Kurgo loft coat is that it's incredibly lightweight but also warm.
It works to keep your dog's core warm and insulated without adding extra weight.
Made of water resistant material it is designed to be comfortable to wear and can be layered with a fleece for extra cold days.
It has an adjustable velcro belly strap but a fixed collar, so it's important to get a fairly accurate collar measurement.
We loved that the 'under-belly' of the coat attaches with velcro on either side. This means that you are much less likely to get loose velcro straps which can tear when caught on undergrowth.
Available in a choice of 4 stylish and reversible colour combinations like this coastal blue & orange or violet & grey.
The design includes an opening on the back to allow access to your dog’s harness to attach a lead. We loved that the harness opening has two zips that move so the position of the harness and the coat line up perfectly - great design feature.
The additional reflective piping means it's easy to spot your dog when it gets dark early.
Available in a range of sizes. We felt that with the neck and chest measurements the corresponding coat length was quite short on Freddie (12kg Cockapoo), but it will obviously depend on your dog's measurements.
Nonetheless, we've been using our Kurgo Loft Jacket for 2 years now and it still looks good.
REASONS TO BUY
+ Exceptional quality
+ Designed for warmth
+ Lightweight
+ Flexible harness attachment opening
+ Choice of colours
+ Reversible
REASONS TO AVOID - Only water resistant
- Possible shorter length
6. Best Dog Jacket
Embark Pets
If you want to look super stylish at the park then take a look at this great value Country Wax Jacket for dogs from Embark Pets.
Perfect protection on a chilly walk, this classic, waxed dog coat is strong, durable and most importantly, warm to keep your dog as snug as a bug.
Made from 75% cotton and 25% polyester it has a padded, luxurious tartan inner layer to offer extra protection from the cold.
Super easy to take on and off, it fits snugly around the body and neck using wide, adjustable velcro straps to secure the coat firmly in place. In testing we found it was surprisingly lightweight and the velcro was easy to attach.
Available in 5 sizes with a sizing guide available online.
Bear in mind this coat from Embark, like many, is water resistant not waterproof, so not recommended for keeping your dog dry during heavy downpours. However Embark do offer a waterproof jacket which we feature earlier in our review.
REASONS TO BUY + Available in 5 sizes
+ Practical design
+ Water resistant
+ Great value wax jacket
REASONS TO AVOID - Only water resistant
Get 10% OFF Embark Pets UK
Simply enter the discount code SMARTBARK at checkout
7. Best Dog Puffer Jacket
Hugo & Hudson
Our first puffer style dog coat to feature in our review. This jacket from luxury dog accessory company - Hugo & Hudson, will keep your dog feeling warm and looking stylish on the slopes or at the local park.
The main difference between the two brands of puffer jacket that we feature is the type of fastening.
Hugo & Hudson opt for a zip which gives less opportunity for adjustment so you need to measure your dog accurately.
On the plus side, once you have that perfect fit, the zip is strong and unlikely to snag on anything as there will be no excess strap.
As well as looking smart, this puffer is padded with high quality stuffing and is water repellent to help keep your dog's fur nice and dry.
Machine washable, if you fancy a change it's reversible with a contrasting lining.
Available in a selection of gorgeous colours and sizes. There's a detailed Sizing Guide available on Amazon and the Hugo & Hudson website to help you order the perfect size for your pup.
We particularly love the underbelly protection that this puffer offers. A perfect choice for miniature breeds like dachshunds whose tummies are in close contact with the cold ground in winter.
REASONS TO BUY + High quality puffer coat
+ Available in multiple sizes
+ Zip fastening
+ Choice of colours
+ Reversible
+ Machine washable
REASONS TO AVOID - Minimal adjustment
8. Best Alternative Puffer Coat
Doodlebone
Doodlebone are a UK company offering a modern collection of collars, leads, harnesses and gorgeous dog coats in a range of bold and bright colours.
Their gorgeous Doodlebone Puffer is made from a super lightweight fabric and is reversible, so you actually get two jackets in one!
Choose from orange/green or blue/raspberry.
Unlike the Hugo & Hudson Puffer, Doodlebone fasten with large velcro straps.
It also incorporates a reflective edging to help visibility on late night walks.
We put our Doodlebone Dog Puffer through its paces and were very happy.
This coat has been designed for a comfortable fit with very wide velcro fastenings both around the belly and at the neck. It is worth noting that when testing the coat we found that the velcro can snag on undergrowth if it's hanging loose.
We suggest - measure and measure again to make sure you order the right size (ours was a bit to large hence the excess and loose material)
The coat is water repellent not waterproof so will cope well with a shower not a heavy downpour. Available in a range of 4 sizes.
REASONS TO BUY + Gorgeous design
+ Available in 4 sizes
+ Adjustable fastening
+ Reversible
REASONS TO AVOID - Velcro can snag
- Not waterproof
9. Best for Dachshunds
DogHouse
Keep your Mini Dachshund cosy and dry with this must-have waterproof coat! 🐶🌧️
This soft and adjustable coat is perfect for layering over their fleece jumper on chilly days or wearing solo during showers. It's a must-have for any Mini Dachshund owner!
The DogHouse waterproof coat has been designed with a Dachshund's body in mind.
Handmade at their workshop in Bradford on Avon they are 100% rainproof so suitable for one of those rainy day walks in the park. Whilst they aren't lined so won't offer much in the way of warmth in the middle of winter, they're ideal to fit over a favourite fleece.
The adjustable belt which fits round their tummy coupled with leg straps ensures that the coat stays in place.
The design also includes a harness opening on the back to allow you to attach your lead to a harness worn beneath the coat.
Available in a range of chic, bright colours and there's 4 different size options to choose from.
We recommend checking the size chart available very carefully and if in doubt choose a size up.
REASONS TO BUY + Handmade
+ Designed for Dachshunds
+ Practical yet chic
+ Waterproof
REASONS TO AVOID - Unsuitable for a Labrador !
10. Best Luxury Coat for Dogs
Barbour
Barbour make a few adorable and very classy dog coats and this waxed-cotton jacket is no exception. It's a canine version of the classic human Barbour jacket.
It's super stylish with the traditional corduroy collar and signature Barbour tartan lining.
It not only looks good but it's tough and durable too. Waterproof, windproof, and thornproof it can cope with all the British weather had to throw at it.
Whilst it's not suitable for machine washing, it is made from rugged cotton canvas so simply clean with a damp sponge.
Let's talk fit. It has an adjustable under-belly strap along with an adjustable hook-and-loop fastening at the neck to ensure a comfortable fit.
It's available in 5 sizes up to a whopping 26"(66cm) back length. So ideal if you're looking for an extra large dog coat.
REASONS TO BUY + Luxury looks
+ Barbour brand
+ Sizes for large dogs
+ Practical design
+ Waterproof
REASONS TO AVOID - Pricey
How to Measure your Dog
Take your time and measure accurately. If you haven't got a tape measure handy then use a piece of string and lay it out against a meter rule.
Record the measurements carefully, and we'd suggest measure twice to be safe.
If you're struggling to keep your dog still enough, get some help and use treats if necessary.
Our top tip ( this is a gem of an idea) is to stand your dog on an ironing board.
It restricts their movements and brings them up to your height so you can measure more easily.
Allow a bit of extra room as a coat doesn't need to fit quite as snugly as a harness.
If you do use a harness, look for a coat which incorporates an opening on the back.
Also, trust us when we say - Ignore the names of the sizes on websites. Extra large might not mean a Great Dane, it could be a Spaniel!
Thanks for stopping by and reading our article on the Best Dog Coats for 2024
