The great clothes debate: Does your dog need a coat?

It's the question every pet person has heard -- to clothe, or not to clothe your dog?

I admit, before I owned a dog, I came down firmly on the no clothes side. I even wondered if it was some form of abuse. If you haven't noticed, my opinion has softened somewhat.

But I know the question still remains among pet owners -- is dressing up your dog too much?

Now's as good a time as any to have this discussion -- because baby, it's cold outside!

Yes, even here in Florida.

Lows have been in the 40s and 50s every night. They may even get down to the 30s this week. Yeah, I know boohoo, right?

Well, I'm fine, thanks. It's the dogs you might want to be worried about.

They're willing to snuggle, it's so cold!

You see my dogs are southern dogs, and Lulu is a Florida dog. When Lulu and Jasmine are outside it's clear they are not used to the cold. Poor Jasmine especially shivers and whines outside.

Keeping warm and dry in jackets by Jelly Wellies (Lulu) and Buster (Jasmine).

If you have a dog who has short hair, a lean body type, is small or has a health issue, you should really consider getting a coat or a sweater.

What should you look for:

• If you live in a snowy area, you may want to consider a water-resistant coat. 
• You want something that covers the chest. The chest and abdominal area is your dog's core, just like it is on you. If you keep that area warm the heart can better pump blood to other areas of the body and help regulate temperature.  There area also has the least amount of fur.
  (Often in stores you see a coat that covers the back with a piece of fabric that goes across the middle. That's not as helpful when it comes to the cold)
• Something that fits snug around the chest and waist, but not too tight. It should also give a little cover to the neck and down to the tail.
•  Be roomy around the arm pits so the dog has plenty of movement.

If you've ever been to Pets Weekly.com, last year Stacy Mantle did a good write-up on coats for winter. It includes some of my favorite companies, like KumfyTailz and Thunderworks. 

You can find the Jelly Wellies and Kruuse BUSTER raincoats that Lulu and Jasmine are wearing above on Amazon.

So tell us below -- do you think dogs need coats when it gets cold?

Sign up for our newsletter! Get more beagle news!

We've started a twice-monthly newsletter! Get caught up on the Life With Beagle world, plus more dog news, tips and other great info right to your email. Sign up below!

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

American Beagle Outfitters is real! Check out the new line

Rejoice doggy parents who dress up their pups: American Beagle Outfitters is real.

You may remember that last April American Eagle Outfitters released a line of clothes for dogs called American Beagle. Well it was released on April Fools Day, and while the joke line helped raise $100,000 for ASPCA, the clothes were not real (in my personal opinion, thank God).

Don't you wish your dog was hot like this? Courtesy American Eagle Outfitters

 Considering the overwhelming demand, AEO decided to make American Beagle Outfitters for the fall.

ABO is a selection of winter wear designed for dogs, including hats, sweaters and puffer (pupper) jackets.

Courtesy American Eagle Outfitters

The pupper jackets come in three colors: red, navy blue and silver. They are quilted microfiber with velcro fastenings. They run about $39.95, and the biggest size they come in is large.

Courtesy American Eagle Outfitters

I really like the sweaters, personally. It's full body, so it's more likely to keep a dog warm at the chest than the pupper is. A dog's heat escapes from the chest area. Unfortunately, the largest the sweater is made in is medium, which is disappointing, because I don't think the medium will fit Lulu. The sweater is also $39.95.

Finally there are the hats -- right now there are only two on the ABO page, but there are four in the media kit American Eagle provided me, so maybe more is coming out. As you can see the hats are basically what AEO showed us back in April. They run $15.95 a hat.

While the outfits are, for the most part, for style over substance, they do also match the fall line for humans -- so you and your pup can match.

American Beagle Outfitters outfits are available at some stores, and also online.