Shivering Pets: Keeping them warm

**obscure2k** · Dec 22, 08, 8:47 pm

Cold now in Southern California. Yorkie was shivering, so he is now wearing a nice merino wool sweater and is comfortable and laying by the fireplace. Any other recommendations for keeping your pet warm during inclement weather? What do you do if they resist going out during nasty weather?

cepheid · Dec 22, 08, 9:43 pm

Our Pom wears his own coat. Our chihuahua refuses to wear clothing so we got her a winter "coat" that has no sleeves - it just wraps around her. Very useful when we take them up to Tahoe. Other than that, we just keep a LOT of blankets on the floor and couches around the house... she loves to nest. The cats like it, too.

We also have raincoats for them for when it rains... they're not like them much, but they like them better than getting soaked.

**obscure2k** · Dec 22, 08, 11:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by cepheid

Our Pom wears his own coat. Our chihuahua refuses to wear clothing so we got her a winter "coat" that has no sleeves - it just wraps around her. Very useful when we take them up to Tahoe. Other than that, we just keep a LOT of blankets on the floor and couches around the house... she loves to nest. The cats like it, too.

We also have raincoats for them for when it rains... they're not like them much, but they like them better than getting soaked.

We also have raincoats (yellow slickers). They take one look at the rain, turn around, walk right back into the building and do their business on the covered patio.

kipper · Dec 23, 08, 1:02 am

The Wonder Pup doesn't have a coat or raincoat. She balks at anything like that. She loves the cold weather, especially the snow. When we get snow, she doesn't want to come inside. When it rains, she'll go outside long enough to do her business, but will come right back inside. She's definitely not a fan of the rain.

jennj99738 · Dec 23, 08, 4:36 pm

It's not really cold enough for a long enough to warrant a coat for Charlie, although for the last couple of weeks it's been darn cold. I tried to put him in a Coach coat once but he freaked. He likes to be outside in any weather; it's me on the leash he drags behind him who hates the cold and wet.

Charlie seems to radiate enough body heat to keep himself warm. When he sleeps a little too close to me in bed, I really can feel it.

kipper · Dec 23, 08, 7:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennj99738

It's not really cold enough for a long enough to warrant a coat for Charlie, although for the last couple of weeks it's been darn cold. I tried to put him in a Coach coat once but he freaked. He likes to be outside in any weather; it's me on the leash he drags behind him who hates the cold and wet.

Charlie seems to radiate enough body heat to keep himself warm. When he sleeps a little too close to me in bed, I really can feel it.

I love the body heat most of the time, although occasionally, I'll be warm anyway, and Cobaka will choose that time to insist on being right next to me.

oldpenny16 · Dec 23, 08, 8:44 pm

My S O insisted that the poodles not be groomed during this cold spell. They look like sheep. It's going to be a huge job to get them groomed when the weather finally warms up....but they seem comfortable in their own thick coats.

kipper · Dec 24, 08, 6:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpenny16

My S O insisted that the poodles not be groomed during this cold spell. They look like sheep. It's going to be a huge job to get them groomed when the weather finally warms up....but they seem comfortable in their own thick coats.

I'm hoping you take them to a groomer, so you won't have to deal with grooming them when the weather improves.

**obscure2k** · Dec 28, 08, 10:52 pm

So, my really big Yorkie wears a size 16 sweater (I brought him with me to the Pet Supply store). Size 16 sweater fit fine. Then, I bought a sweater for his "cousin", an elderly pug and got her one size larger. The sweater is too big for her. Is there some standard of measurement to know what size sweater will fit your pooch? My Yorkie is completely addicted to his comfy sweater. I want his elderly (16 year old cousin to be happy too).
Thanks for any advice.

lalala · Dec 30, 08, 5:01 pm

Ernest the puppy has no undercoat, so when he's stuck in the car he wears a polar fleece that fits him great in length, but is made for a bigger dog (lab) so its really loose in the torso. I believe its made by Teckelclub.

He has the coolest lands end jacket that has fleece on the inside and is water repellent. He will walk about .01 miles an hour in that thing. It is embarrassing for him.

At home, the boy spends his sleeping hours underneath a down blanket.

I guess we could turn the heat on for him.

Funny thing, when he's in eastern Washington and its 5 degrees and snowing, he seems to be just fine. Its only at home he's such a wuss.

lalala · Dec 30, 08, 5:02 pm

It is also my opinion hat Ernest shivers because he wants to sit in TH's lap.

kipper · Dec 30, 08, 6:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lalala

It is also my opinion hat Ernest shivers because he wants to sit in TH's lap.

Cobaka doesn't shiver, and still wants to be a lap dog... a 50 lb. one at that.

Tummy · Dec 30, 08, 9:11 pm

When excited, our frienchie doesn't appear to get cold. We never keep her in a cold house or car, so only have to use a jacket when we go out.

Here's a video of her first snow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBDWE5Iam6Y

I actually find various dog jackets from Walmart and Toys R Us. They're usually around $10.

When inside, we use this 4 watt pet bed warmer. It doesn't ever get hot, only warm when she sits on it.

jennj99738 · Dec 30, 08, 11:17 pm

OK, this is strange. As I posted earlier, Charlie (a Schnoodle as I might have mentioned one or 10 times before) generates enough body heat to power a small nuclear plant. However, I decided I was chilly last night and turned on the small space heater in the living room. Charlie decided that he wanted to sleep right in its path. It was so hot where he was sleeping, it was remarkable that he wanted to stay there. Apparently, he has been cold and I didn't know it. I'm a bad mother.

I raised the thermostat this morning before I left.

Of course, I didn't leave the space heater on in case he decided it wasn't close enough to him and knocked it over.

jennj99738 · Dec 30, 08, 11:21 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by obscure2k

So, my really big Yorkie wears a size 16 sweater (I brought him with me to the Pet Supply store). Size 16 sweater fit fine. Then, I bought a sweater for his "cousin", an elderly pug and got her one size larger. The sweater is too big for her. Is there some standard of measurement to know what size sweater will fit your pooch? My Yorkie is completely addicted to his comfy sweater. I want his elderly (16 year old cousin to be happy too).
Thanks for any advice.

I think the measurement is from the base of the neck to the base of the tail?

According to this website, you have to measure girth as well but frankly, I've never seen that on a tag:

http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/do...rscoa_shja.htm