Planning Ahead for Winter- Blanket for No Undercoat?

BarbV said:
I do support using muttlucks or PAWZ if you will be walking your dogs along streets where they salt the roads. Otherwise, the boots are really only necessary in extreme (i.e. -20C conditions)
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While we have a green space off our apartment, the complex itself and the road we're on (not major, but definitely well traveled) will likely be salted during winter weather. Being a rambunctious 1 year, Olive needs her walks- otherwise she mopes around, swanning around dramatically or tears around like a maniac :rolleyes2:


But I'm glad to hear that the general consensus is to not bother with a turnout coat/blanket. One less thing for her to try to eat (we're working on the concept of fabric =/= food )
 
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You are actually moving at a really good time so she can just grow her own new coat!

The only thing is she may be used to shedding all year round. I read a really interesting thing in a dog behaviour book that long coated dogs judge what to do with their coat by the amount of light - less light means winter so the coat stays unless they are inside dogs that don't see a lot of natural sunlight or dusk or stay in a well lit room when its dark outside. So I guess if you want her to grow and retain a winter coat let her see dusk and keep her in the dark at night.
 
I agree with the others, a coat isn't necessary for Olive.

Sadie was put on prednisone a couple of years ago, which caused her to lose literally all of her undercoat in the fall when it got cold outside. It wasn't going to grow back in time, since I was still trying to wean her off of the steroid, so I bought her a coat. Instead of buying her something warm, I bought one that would insulate her and keep the wind and water off of her.

She used it for 2-3 months, then her undercoat came back enough that she didn't need it.
 
We have a saying at my house. Want a coat grow one:wink2:

My shelties Ember and Justice have almost no undercoat now. People at the gathering will agree. In the next couple months they will grow a nice thick coat and be huge puffy haystacks. We get very cold here and even the puppies run around in sub zero temps. I usually get cold before they do
 
I agree with everyone. Shelby definitley prefers the winter. She hates this heat we are having this summer. The only benifit with a coat is that it helps prevent the snow from sticking from their fur. If your pup is anything like Shelby I guarantee that she will look like a snowman when she comes it. Shelby always has huge snowballs stuck all over her. She doesn't mind but I hate the mess.
 
My Noah preferred lying outside in the snow to being inside. You will have fun watching her eat snow - to them it is a great big huge bowl of ice cream.
 
Beau doesn't have a lot of hair compared to most shelties that I've seen on this site, but, he absolutely loves the snow, I wouldn't dream of putting a coat on him as he would not be able to flip over and do snow dog angels on our walks.
p.s. Beau just pawed me to remind me that I always promise not to dress him up in funny clothes. Its' okay to sing to me when were out mommy, but, don't you dare dress me up
 
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