At Barkmatic we make the distinction between dog clothing and dog coats.  Dog clothes tend to be purchased to give pleasure and fulfillment to humans and dog owners, like a summer dress for a dog or a miniature black-tie dog suit for a wedding.  No thanks.  Dogs derive little benefit themselves from being outfitted this way.  Some will freeze in place or paw at the clothes, a sure sign that they want the clothes off.  A bandana or bow tie is a less invasive way for you to include your dachshund in special occasions without discomfort for your dog.  

On the other hand, we see a clear need for functional garments or outerwear for dogs, where necessary, that are more akin to sports kit or equipment, and are usually designed with the needs of the dog at the forefront. There’s a genuine dog-centred reason for such garments to be worn.  Of course, we believe these functional garments can and should look great as well.  There's no reason why your dog shouldn't look stylish, but we think there should be a functional need for a dog to be wearing something.  Many dog parents pay for premium dog food, yet may hesitate to invest in a well-fitting winter coat for their dog.  

Waterproofing

In many north European countries, rain is a given all year round.  This is not good news for rain-resistant dachshunds and their humans. However, needs must, and even dachshunds have to go outside for toileting.  Keeping dry with a proper waterproof dachshund dog coat may make walkies a bit easier to bear.  Keeping dry generally means keeping warm, so waterproofing may be sufficient to avoid heat loss.  But on really cold days we sometimes put our dachshunds Sunny and Pixel in fleece base layers like our Stretchy (because fleece fabric is insulating even when wet), and add our wraparound custom-fit Rainbuster raincoat over the top.  

Warmth

Even without rain and damp underfoot conditions, conserving body heat is important for smaller dogs, puppies, elderly dogs, nursing dogs, ill and recovering dogs, and dogs with short hair.  These groups of dogs will likely all benefit from some help both to generate and conserve body warmth, in the form of a dog coat or fleece.  

As a Londoner, I can't say I've had any experience in managing extremes of heat or cold for dogs.  But many dog owners do need to think about this, whether they live in Scotland, Toronto or Italy.  Just a little online research shows that in some climates, dogs may benefit from cooling vests sold by reputable dog coat manufacturers, and dog booties for extreme cold.  Pet equipment shops in Toronto are full of colourful silicon booties in a range of sizes and a rainbow of colours.

A bit of wet and cold won’t adversely affect young and healthy dachshunds, but we think that all daxies, not only younger, older, and more vulnerable dachshunds are more comfortable if they’re warm and dry.

Visibility

Ensuring that your dog is clearly visible, both to you and others, is half the battle when it comes to keeping your dachshund safe during walks in the dark and off leash adventures. This applies whether you’re out and about in a rural or urban environment.  A bright, eye-catching dog coat will help to make your dachshund visible to you and others.  A dog coat with reflective trims, a hi-vis dog vest or bib, or even clip-on reflective patches as used by runners, are all essential in low light conditions and at night.

Reflective trims, as used by Barkmatic in our dachshund dog coats, will make your dog visible when caught in car headlights or streetlights.  During long, dark days in the winter months your dog may be outside before dawn and a couple of times after dark. It makes sense to invest in some reflective kit for your dachshund.

Health

If your dachshund is recovering from surgery, a properly-fitting dog coat can act as a barrier, preventing them from licking, chewing or scratching a wound or dressing. 

Cleanliness

This one is for dog parents! Dog coats help humans keep both the dog and the home environment clean (or cleaner). A properly fitting dog coat can be taken off at the door, meaning less dry dirt, rainy mud, or petrol/diesel street dirt  - or worse - brought inside needing to be wiped off, and fewer baths for your dog. Dachshund tummies are often soaked and caked with dirt after a winter walk while their top half is relatively clean.

Check out the full range of Barkmatic custom-fit coats and accessories for dachshunds here.  We deal directly with our clients, and only sell via our online store.

Happy walking!