A dog coat is a compromise between two qualities that are rarely equally strong in one product: protection from wet and protection from cold. Some coats manage both, most specialise in one. Before you buy, the short, honest version pays off: what size, what material, and whether your dog actually needs one.
Finding the right size
What matters is the back length from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, measured while your dog is standing, and the chest girth at the widest point behind the front legs. As a guide, based on the size charts of common models in our range:
| Size | Back length | Chest girth |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 20–25 cm | 20–32 cm |
| S | 27–30 cm | 24–34 cm |
| M | 33–40 cm | 34–54 cm |
| L | 43–50 cm | 44–66 cm |
| XL | 55–62 cm | 60–82 cm |
| XXL | 70–80 cm | 82–108 cm |
This is a guide, not a fixed standard – every manufacturer cuts slightly differently. The binding chart is always right on the product. How to measure your dog yourself, in two minutes, is in Measuring your dog for a coat: the two-minute guide. A more detailed chart with examples is in Dog Coat Size: The Chart With Real Measurements.
Waterproof or warm?
Most coats in our range are waterproof. The difference lies in the padding. Pure rain coats like our Mackintosh models have no inner lining, they keep out water and wind but don't add extra warmth – ideal for a short walk in the rain, as long as there's no frost involved. Warm winter coats like the Trixie Explore Thermo or the Trixie Brizon combine a water- and windproof outer shell with warm padding or honeycomb fleece lining underneath. For pure rain in autumn that's often too much, for frost and wind in winter it's exactly right.
The detailed comparison with all models is in Waterproof or Warm: What Your Dog Actually Needs. If it's just about rain, not cold, our rain coat guide also compares Mackintosh against softshell.
When does a dog actually need a coat?
Above 10 degrees, no dog needs a coat. Below that, it depends on coat type, size, age and health – the exact thresholds and how to tell your dog is cold are in When Does a Dog Get Cold? An Honest Answer. Short-haired breeds, very small dogs, seniors, and freshly bathed or clipped dogs are especially affected, covered in detail in These Dogs Absolutely Need a Rain Coat.
The most common fit mistakes
Buying by breed instead of by measurement. Two dogs of the same breed can differ by 10 centimetres. Measuring beats guessing, every time.
Measuring sitting instead of standing. Sitting shortens the back length, so the coat ends up too tight.
Ignoring chest girth. A coat can be a bit tight in length, but must never pinch at the belly. If only one of the two measurements fits the chart, chest girth decides.
No belly strap. Without an adjustable strap, any coat slides backward as soon as the dog moves instead of just standing still.
Sizing up "just in case". Adds no extra safety, only a coat that chafes at the legs or drags on the ground. Dachshunds and other long, short-legged breeds need their own cut anyway, not a bigger standard size.
Our picks
Budget, purely waterproof: the Mackintosh coats (Husum, Vimy, Orleans) from €9.99.
Warm winter coat: the Trixie Explore Thermo winter coat from €49.99, water- and windproof with warm padding.
Mud and wet, without padding: the Happy Pet Go Walk mud coat from €32.99, with paw pads and reflective stripes.
Premium: the Lulu Ultra-Soft Raincoat from €165 or the waterproof Queline cotton trench coat from €89.
The full selection is in the Jackets & Coats collection.