With the arrival of Autumn and soon Winter, we all need some warm outerwear, to keep warm during the hours spend outside. But does this also include our four-legged family members?
It is no secret that dogs are covered in fur to keep warm. What may come as a surprise is that only some dogs have a double coat, i.e. where the dog's fur is divided into two different layers. The topcoat of a dog's fur is the coat we see and which characterizes the dog's appearance. The inner layer of a dog's coat is often referred to as undercoat. The undercoat is a short layer of fur which has a unique insulating feature, keeping the dog warm. Moreover, the undercoats naturally contain lanolin which make the dog’s body stay free of moisture. As examples of dogs with a double coat are Border Collies, Chows and Golden Retrievers.
However, not all dogs have an undercoat. Short-haired smaller dogs usually only have a single coat or a very minimal undercoat. The lack of undercoat means less insulation, so dogs with no or only very little undercoat need to use dog wear in cold weather. Examples of dogs which lack an undercoat are short-haired dachshunds, Danish Swedish farmdogs, Maltese dogs, Bichon Havanese dogs, Chihuahuas and Bulldogs. Accordingly, all these dog breeds must have help to keep warm during cold times. And what would be more natural than to help those dogs stay warm with a wool dogsweater.
A wool dogsweater has many similarities with a dog's natural undercoat. A wool dogsweater has an insulating effect due to the lanolin the wool dogsweater contains and which makes the wool dogsweater moisture repellent. On top of this, the wool dogsweater is naturally soft just as a dog's coat.
Older dogs also benefit well from wearing a wool dogsweater during cold times, as older dogs and even older dogs with an undercoat may get cold during the Winter as their coat loose its thickness with age. Older dogs also benefit from keeping their joints warm.
So, if your dog lacks an undercoat, or if your dog is an older dog or just get cold easily, it is recommendable to let your dog wear a wool dogsweater to keep warm.
A wool dog sweater is easy to maintain as it has a self-cleaning effect and the far easiest way to clean the wool dogsweater is by airing it outdoors in damp weather. You can of course also handwash the wool dogsweater in lukewarm water or even machine wash the wool dogsweater on the wool programme. On both occasions you should add a little wool detergent as it protects the wool and extends the wool’s durability.
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