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Mar 20, 2024

Get Your Pup a Dog Jacket to Keep Them Warm

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Winter is coming. Don't let your best friend get stuck in the cold. By best friend, I mean your

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission.

Winter is coming. Don't let your best friend get stuck in the cold. By best friend, I mean your dog, of course.

You've probably got the right outerwear in your closet to keep you plenty warm on the coldest days, but what about your dog? Sure, they have fur, and, yes, some of them have a lot of it. But if you haven't yet, now is the time to get a dog jacket to make sure they stay as cozy as you are when you go out for a walk, head to the campsite or just hang out in the dog park.

There are a ton of options, from a Carhartt dog jacket that will outfit the most hard-working (or hippest) pups to dog puffer jackets and dog rain jackets for a dog who loves GORP as much as you do. A dog jacket is also a great gift for a pet owner if you don't have a dog of your own. We think any dog, big or small, deserves to be shrouded in the same warmth as St. Bernards and Newfoundlands were naturally blessed with.

Dog jackets not only come in all sizes, from Dachshund to Doberman and everywhere in between. Regardless of breed, when things take a turn for the worse, your dog needs some sort of protection. They could be as warm as the aforementioned Newfies, but that's not likely. You need to ensure that your dog has a jacket that is warm, durable and well-made.

Dog jackets are much like dog beds; some of them are made from super sturdy, high-denier material that will stand up to anything you can throw at them, while others are soft and cozy but won't last longer than five minutes on a hunting trip. Ensure that what you buy is made for the activities you're looking to do with your dog, whether that is taking a stroll through the park or going on a duck hunt.

Obviously, a dog jacket's main purpose is to keep it warm when temperatures start to drop. In addition to the material it is made from, the jacket's insulation plays a big part — much like a jacket you'd buy for yourself. Some of the following jackets are simply warm because they're made from heavy cotton or fleece, while others have real insulation like you'd find in an insulated jacket from the North Face or Patagonia. Consider your dog's natural coat and then decide how much extra warmth you want to give it.

Just about every dog jacket comes in different sizes — obviously, garments for a dog should not be one-size-fits-all. This is probably a bit more straightforward than the other categories, but before you purchase, make sure you check the size details and make an appraisal as to which size your pup needs, even if you're just eyeballing it. Otherwise, your dog will fight you tooth and nail every time you put it on them (though they may do that anyway).

We put a variety of dog jackets on our four-legged friends, testing them near and far, in cold and wet conditions. Many of us have had dogs for our whole lives and have gone through myriad dog jackets, so, as a collective, we have a huge knowledge base to work with. While testing, we took a close look at how the dog jackets and coats are constructed, what they're made of and how they hold up to the elements.

Workwear isn't just for humans, it is for your dog, too. Our fitness editor has one for his Great Dane and claims that the Carhartt dog coat is the only one he can fit on his big guy.

Maine-based L.L. Bean knows a thing or two about the outdoors. This coat is machine washable, affordable and pretty much always in stock. A field coat tailor-made for your best pal? That dog'll hunt!

Suited for pups raised to hunt foxes — or just for the Anglophile dog parent, this waxed cotton dog coat will keep your furry friend warm and dry when the skies start to rain like over in jolly ol' England. Hunting rifle not included.

Take on the coldest days with this National Park-inspired fleece design from Pendleton. Probably better suited for walks in the park than off-road adventures, this coat doesn't have any techy features, but still has a slit for a leash and is machine washable.

Put on your matching puffer and take your pup on a mountain adventure. Ruffwear is one of the best around (hence the co-sign from REI), making this dog jacket with materials you'd likely see on a jacket for a hooman: 120g recycled polyester insulation and 300-denier ripstop.

You wouldn't go out in the dark with no reflective clothing, so why would you bring your dog out with nothing? Keep you and your dog visible on late-night or early-morning outings with Ruffwear's easy-on and easy-off Lumenglow Hi-Vis jacket.

One of the burliest, most purpose-built coats on the list, the 1,000-denier Cuga from the hunting experts at Orvis keeps your pooch protected from burrs, wire, thorns and any other hunting hazards.

More than a dog jacket, this is a dog parka. Made by Orvis, this hi-vis parka is water- and windproof, plus it maximizes coverage all the way up the neck and down the back, perfect for the briskest days.

Canada Goose, meet Canada Pooch. This jacket has multiple pockets and is made with a faux-fur liner and faux-fir trim (no dalmatians were harmed). It's also machine washable for the times your dog gets a bit too rowdy.

More rainy than cold? This will keep your pup from the worst of the wet. One of our Commerce Writers is San Diego based, so he relies on a light rain coat for his pup rather than something bulky and insulated, keeping his dog cool and dry.

For the four-legged friend who likes to swim, get this dog life jacket that comes with 400D ripstop material and internal flotation material.