Dog clothing, in general, seems to cater to the small to medium sized dog. Even smaller and medium sized dogs may have trouble getting the proper fit because like people, clothing is not a “one size fits all.” Larger dogs tend to get the short end of the stick: How to find a proper fit for your dog is a dilemma for the millions of pet parents who need clothes for their dogs. I am one of those dog moms: I have a Cocker Spaniel with a girthy chest: Most off the rack clothes, sweaters, and outfits simply do not fit him. The answer is custom affordable dog coats.
Winter’s chill is making its presence known in many areas, and as we dig to the back of our closets and coat racks for parkas and seasonal outerwear, we should do the same for our dogs. I like to get waterproof dog clothes for my Dexter, a Cocker Spaniel, so his thicker hair can stay dry on our winter snow-covered-sidewalk jaunts. In addition, waterproof apparel keeps him dry from dew-coated bushes and grass at the park. Much like my own winter coat does for me, a polar-fleece lining gives dogs comfort while protecting against colder temperatures.
Custom affordable dog apparel is the way to go. Just as you need to move in a coat, so does your dog. Snug but not tight is a good rule. Make sure there are no additional hanging zippers, snaps, or parts that can rub or irritate a dog. Dexter will wear apparel as long as it doesn’t interfere with his “man parts.” Pay attention to where any Velcro straps or fasteners lay against a dog’s coat. De Hufford knows this, so she founded her own company to make affordable, custom coats and jackets for dogs without the hefty pricetag.
De Hufford started her own company of making dog jackets and coats as an alternative to the big stores, where the sizes are Small, Medium and Large and you can’t find “dachshund” or “bulldog” or “skinny mutt” anywhere. Over the years, she expanded the line to include dog cooling coats, dog raincoats, dog britches and belly bands, dog specialty wear and dog pajamas.
Coats and hoodies do not need to be heavy nor look heavy to adequately protect dogs from the elements. Technology has evolved in the human outerwear market, and the same holds true with our canine counterparts. How frustrating is it to want your dog to be protected from cold weather, snow, rain, or just to keep warm indoors….but the stores don’t carry his or her size nor do they have the good quality, long lasting items? What about walking your dog at night and wanting reflective wear? Each year, accidents occur, sometimes with a fatal outcome, from dogs who are hit at night by cars. If your dog is seen, this is less likely to happen. Reflective strips on the apparel, if desired, solves this problem.
Personal service is what you get when working with De. She makes each item by hand and prides herself in getting the right fit.
“I attend a number of AKC shows, agility competitions and other pet related events, as well as talk with people one on one so I can better understand the needs of each individual dog/owner team,” Hufford says. “I have successfully fit all sizes and breeds from the tiniest Chihuahua to the largest English Mastiff or Irish Wolfhound.”
Putting Coats by De to the Test
My dog is hard to fit: There I said it. He is small but stocky and has a girthy chest. As a result, one leg will go into the jacket, but the other paw is an issue. De asked me for all of Dexter’s sizes: Meaning: Chest, neck, length. I even told her about Dexter’s disdain of clothes that brush up against his man parts. She took all of this into consideration when making his outerwear. Here’s the end result: Perfect fit!!!! Keep reading for details and how you can order one:
We ordered the winter dog coat with tummy panel and reflective strips and choice of turtleneck/snood/hood/collar.
Here is what we love about this coat and why we recommend it to pet parents:
– Easy to put on; just pull over the head, pull panel between front legs and wrap at the “waist” with velcro or buckle closure
– Waterproof outer shell of durable ripstop nylon
– Windpro fleece lining for extra warmth and comfort
– Reflective strips unless otherwise stated
– Harness port or D ring (D ring for S or M only) on request
-Choice of snood, turtleneck or collar
– Machine wash and air dry
Folks Opposed to Clothes on Dogs Will Like It
Let’s face it: There is a portion of society who feels that clothes on dogs is not cool: So if you are in that portion, the outerwear is for you: It is functional and serves a purpose. Here’s a good rule of thumb: If it’s cold enough for you to wear a coat, it’s cold enough for a dog to wear protective apparel. While many dogs benefit from the additional layering in colder temperatures, try letting your dog wear the coat in the house for minutes at a time. If he or she is not responsive — or does the famous “freeze in place” pose — scratch the idea and move on.
Sizing Your Dog for Clothes
With the dog standing up, run a tape measure from the base of the dog’s neck (where the collar would sit) and to the base of the tail. The majority of dog clothes use this measurement. Knowing your dog’s chest measurement will ensure a good fit, too. De wants to provide the best fit possible so please be sure to measure as accurately as possible with a fabric tape. Click here for sizing information.
Logic Prevails
There are functional, safety reasons dogs need clothing, and Coats Made by De touches on all of these. This is why Fidose of Reality wholeheartedly recommends her products for your dog or for gift giving. De also makes:
- Dog Snoods: Long eared dogs use these to keep ears out of food and water bowls.
- Drool Bib: Got a slobbery breed? Newfie perhaps? Problem solved.
- Hooded rain coat: For rainy days
- Reflective striping if desired: Be seen at night!
- Windpro fleece coat with chest panel: Coverage for the front of the dog
- Tummy panel on coats if desired: To keep the under portion of a dog warm on cold walks.
Bottom Line
We are over the top thrilled with our Coat from De for Dexter. It is fashionable, matches our blog colors, has the reflective striping, and has a removable turtleneck collar.
Would you like your dog to have a Coat Made by De? Check out the entire line at: http://coatsmadebyde.com
And stay tuned, we have a very special surprise coming later this month from De, too.
Note: We were not compensated for this recommendation but we did receive this coat and are head over heels in love!
Carol Bryant
A dog lover of the highest order is how Gayle King introduced Carol Bryant, when she appeared with her Cocker Spaniel on Oprah Radio’s Gayle King show to dish dogs. Carol created and owns the trademark, My Heart Beats Dog® and lives that mantra. A 30-year veteran of the dog world, she is President of the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) and the 2020 DWAA winner for Best Dog Blog.
I have a little dog, so we ALWAYS put him in a coat when we take him outside.
We absolutely love Made By De! De is amazing to work with! Great review! Dexter looks so cute in his coat!
Dexter looks smashing in this coat. I’ve tried so many designers, pet stores and online companies to get the proper fit for my dogs. Sometimes I find the right sizes, but many times I don’t. It is so difficult to get the right size just like you say.
I really like this sizing chart which I’m going to use the next time I place an order with a designer. De sounds like a perfect fit. I saved her name for future use. I would love a coat like Dexter for my two pooches, which by the way, are not small to medium. The reflective strips are just what we need, too, for walks in our area because of a lack of lighting. So this sounds like the type of designer I need.
Thanks for a real great article, Carol Bryant.
Aw how cute. . I want one for my kitty she would look good in one.
I love these dog coats! We live in the mountains and when it gets super cold, our dog doesn’t want to go outside to do his business! I’m going to have to look into one of these so he can be warm outside just like we are!
I love these. Will tell my neighbor who has little dogs!
Those are cute dog coats! I have a Husky and her coat is already thick!
Love this idea because my very broad front and short bony is very hard to fit
Lily & Edward
Looks like an awesome coat!!! Dante and Ziva would love one i’m sure. 🙂 I’ll have to put this company on our list, my pibbles with their big heads, big shoulders, and tiny little waists are hard to fit!
Such a cute little coat for the doggies! My yorkie needs coat like this,
Those are so cute! We always had big, furry dogs, and they definitely didn’t need coats!
This looks like the perfect Christmas present for my pup!
These coats are super cute and I like how they are expertly designed to allow dogs to function properly.
We have dog coats for our XL dogs, but they wont keep them on 🙁
My mom needs to get one of these for her pup! She’s always walking him and has been looking for something to keep him warm during the winter months!
I’ve bought coats for our dogs in the past, but they never keep it on. They always manage to get it off 🙁
Oh, these are so adorable! Our long-haired St Bernard wouldn’t care for one as he likes to roll around in 3 foot high snowdrifts, lol. But, my brother’s pug would LOVE one of these. He’s not a fan of the winter weather! lol
Those look really nice. My poor chihuahua needs one of those. He shivers all the time – even in the summer.
I love that they’re handmade with tender loving care. The pictures are cute!
Oh my goodness those are so adorable! I love all the styles, perfect for this time of the year!
These are so adorable .. I would totally get this for my Dog for the holidays
How adorable are those jackets!
We don’t have a dog but I have friends that do so I will pass this on to her.
Wow, this could finally be the coat that I could find that would fit a corgi! They can be hard to fit with their wide chests!
And you get what I am saying – barrel chested dogs – Cockers are chesty – this is a beautiful coat, Carleen, and very functional
I love custom made clothes for Mr. N. He’s not terribly hard to fit off the rack though. My main complaint is usually they don’t cut short enough at the belly for male dogs.
Oh, this is a smart idea. I’m always sewing Matilda’s clothes, because she has the big ribcage of a minpin. All dogs are so different, De’s prices are really good for custom gear!
These are cute. I love that they look soft and comfortable. I’m sure this will keep our babies warm.
I like these coats and really appreciate the fact they have the reflective fabric on them. What a great idea. Rosa, in particular, has a coat that stays really wet for a long time when she comes in from the snow. I put a parka on her and it helps a lot. Both my girls have a big girth and are hard to fit correctly. I will definitely be checking this company out!
Ad a dog mom with a chesty girth, I can so relate – we have a hard time getting the right fit. Share pics if you order from De – would love to see.
We lub Made By De – how pawesome we will check dem all out!
I just love the awesome colors. However, the fact that they are machine washable is perfect. I love that you included how to size it for your dog. It makes it so easy for a pet parent to make sure they order the perfect size for their pet.
As someone with 4 large dogs, I’m thrilled to find out that i can have apparel custom-made for my pooches! Thanks for the hot tip!
This coat is incredibly well made and we have wanted one for years. There are a lot of colors and varieties, too, Bernard 😉
These are adorable! Unfortunately, it rarely drops below 70 degrees where I live so, no incredibly fashionable coats for us 🙁
We are ordering a rain coat for days that it rains – so that would be a great option for Daisy 😉
The coats look fantastic (especially Dexter’s). It gets pretty cold and snowy here, but Kilo hates wearing a coat. He freezes and hobbles looking totally depressed. He doesn’t mind one sweater he has and I am going to try soft fleece.
My dogs have multiple coats (especially my Chihuahuas). It’s not terribly cold in Arizona, but I just want to make sure they stay warm…
They all look so cute in their coats!
They all look so cute in their coats!!!
Hmm. I don’t put the corgis in winter coats – I rarely even wear one myself (probably hot flashes), but on the occasion I have purchased them sweaters (or hot dog costumes) they NEVER fit their long backs correctly. Yay for someone who gets that not all dogs fit those standard size guidelines. Oh, and I’ve got De’s number (website) in case belly bands are ever needed. JF’s father needed to wear one when he got into advanced age. 🙁
Dexter is so cute! The turtleneck is killing me. 🙂
These coats are really cute! We are already getting the winter treatment here in Metro Detroit. It is great that these are custom fitted – dogs come in so many different proportions. I love the detachable turtleneck too.
Custom coats sounds like a great idea. I’m sure it is difficult fitting each dog – especially the larger breeds. I wonder if she’ll branch out into cat coats…mine could use some for trips to the vet!