Taking your dog for daily walks whatever the weather is all part of being a dog owner. Living in the UK, going out in the rain is inevitable sooner or later, and something your dog won’t be able to avoid. However even the wettest of weather doesn’t have to spoil things for you and your dog. In this blog article, we’ve researched many waterproof dog coats, to bring you our pick of the best available to buy online in the UK.
Does my Dog Need a Raincoat?
Just like us, most dogs aren’t really a big fan of wet weather, so a good quality waterproof dog coat can make their walks a lot more comfortable. A waterproof raincoat for your dog can help keep your pet warm and dry even in the worst downpours. If your dog gets wet they can become cold and start shivering, and before long an enjoyable walk can turn into a miserable experience.
A rain jacket for your dog won’t just help keep their fur from becoming soaked, but will also help stop them shake off all that excess water all over the inside of your car or house when you finish the walk.
How to Choose a Waterproof Dog Coat
There are quite a few different types of coat available to buy, so how do you choose the best rain gear for your dog?
Material
As with raincoats for us humans, waterproof dog jackets come in a variety of materials.
The most common are wax coated cotton (similar to Barbour jackets), and nylon. The more advanced nylon jackets are breathable too.
Some rain jackets also have added insulation, making them ideal for the colder months of the year. If you’re looking for a rain jacket for warm summer showers, then it’s better to pick a lightweight jacket without any extra padding.
Design
The simplest design of dog raincoat just fits over their body, and is fastened with a strap that goes under their belly. These are simple and quick to fit, but give the least protection to your dog and are also not quite as good at staying put if your dog is very active.
For more comprehensive protection from the elements, you can buy a waterproof dog coat with underbelly protection. These coats have additional material that goes under the dog’s chest, which helps provide some degree of underbelly protection.
Waterproof dog coats with legs offer the best protection as these keep the top section of their legs dry, as well as providing underbelly protection. These take a bit more effort to fit though, and won’t be suitable for all dogs. Coats are available with protection for just the front legs, or all four legs.
If your dog wears a harness, you should look for a dog coat with a harness hole. These can vary slightly in size and position, so double-check it is suitable for your particular harness.
Fitting
Some jackets are fitted by simply placing on top of your dog’s back and securing the strap under their belly. Jackets that offer more protection tend to be a bit more involved – some need to be pulled over the dog’s head, and others require their front legs to be fitted into the jacket sleeves. It’s important to bear this in mind when choosing a jacket, as some dogs may not be so keen to have certain types of coat fitted.
Waterproof Dog Coat Reviews
Ancol Muddy Paws Dog Coat
Inspired by outdoor clothing, the Muddy Paws Dog Coat from Ancol is a great choice if you’re looking for a warm and waterproof coat at a reasonable cost.
Not only is the jacket waterproof, but it features a cosy fleece lining to keep your dog warm and dry. The jacket fits over your dog’s head, and there is a lower section that covers their chest. This is then secured by a velcro strap that fastens over the back. There are also elasticated straps to secure the back of the coat to your dog’s back legs.
There is a zipped harness hole on the top, so you can attach a lead to a harness underneath the jacket. It also features reflective edging to help make your dog more visible at night.
This jacket is available in several colours including red, pink and chocolate, and a range of sizes from Small to XX-Large.
- Material: Polyester
- Insulated: No
- Price: £14-20
Barbour Wax Dog Coat
Barbour are famous for their wax jackets, and this Wax Dog Coat in Olive is part of their wax jacket range. This waterproof coat will ensure your dog looks stylish, while protecting them from the elements.
The coat features the classic Barbour look, and is made from wax cotton. It has a tartan lining and corduroy collar. It’s a simple design, that is easily fitted over your dog’s back, although it doesn’t offer any underbody protection. It is secured with an underbody strap secured by a buckle, and a front velcro strap. There is also a small opening to fit a lead to a harness underneath the coat.
This jacket doesn’t have any additional insulation, so is more suited to spring and autumn showers. If you’re after a Barbour jacket for colder months, then this Tartan Wax Dog Coat has the same waterproof outer, but also features a fleece lining to keep your dog warm too.
Available in 4 sizes, from Small to Extra Large.
- Material: Wax Cotton
- Insulated: No
- Price: £40
Bwiv Dog Raincoat with Hood
If you’re looking for a good value, lightweight waterproof jacket for your dog, then this dog raincoat with hood from Bwiv ticks a lot of boxes.
The jacket is really easy to fit, with velcro straps at the front and under your dog’s belly. The underbelly strap is quite wide, so does give some protection to your dog’s belly, however there is no chest protection.
Made from a lightweight, breathable material, the jacket is ideal for summer showers, but not as suitable for colder conditions. It also features a hood which offers additional rain protection for your dog’s head and neck.
The jacket also features a hole to attach a lead to a harness, and reflective strips to help make it more visible at night. There’s even a small pocket (secured by velcro) so your dog can carry their own snacks or poop bags.
Available in several colours, including a very bright yellow, and 4 different sizes to suit a variety of dog breeds.
- Material: Polyester
- Insulated: No
- Price: £14
Danish Design 2 In 1 Dog Coat
This 2-in-1 dog coat from Danish Design is an excellent choice for all year round, four-seasons protection for your dog, and offers very good value too.
The first convertible coat for dogs, it has a waterproof, windproof and breathable outer layer, and a removable polar fleece lining for added warmth. Use the waterproof outer layer during warmer months, and then quickly attach the fleece layer with velcro strips for added warmth when it’s wet and cold. One thing to note is that it isn’t possible to just use the fleece lining on its own – this needs to be attached to the waterproof outer layer.
The jacket is easily fitted with a single underbelly strap that fastens with velcro. The design of the coat offers full chest protection too, and also has a raised collar for added comfort for your dog. There is also a small hole at the base of the collar to attach a lead to a harness under the coat, if your dog wears one. There is also reflective beading to help make your dog more visible at night.
Available in a range of colours, and a large selection of sizes from 25cm (10″) to 75cm (30″).
- Material: Polyester
- Insulated: Yes (removable)
- Price: £11-30
Hurtta Downpour Waterproof Dog Suit
For the ultimate in rain protection, the Downpour waterproof dog suit from Hurtta is hard to beat. The waterproof and dirt-resistant fabric is flexible, and doesn’t rustle when the dog moves. This jacket doesn’t have any additional insulation however, so doesn’t offer any protection from the cold.
The Downpour offers full body protection for your dog, including chest, belly and all four legs. This does however make it more fiddly to fit, and may not be suitable for all dogs depending on how sensitive they are. The high collar features a rain trap to stop water dripping inside the coat.
The jacket features reflective material to make your dog more visible at night, and also a covered slot to attach a lead to a harness underneath the jacket.
It is available in 21 different sizes, from 25cm to 70cm back length, with several options for varying leg lengths too. The jacket also offers a good amount of adjustment once fitted, so it should be possible to get an excellent fit for almost all dogs. There are two colours available – black and green camo. The camo version has been treated with Permethrin to protect from insects such as mosquitos, horseflies and ticks however it’s important to note that this is poisonous to cats.
- Material: Waterproof
- Insulated: No
- Price: £67-90
Pets at Home Ripstop Dog Jacket
If you’re looking for a good value dog raincoat that is easy to fit, then this Ripstop Dog Jacket from Pets at Home fits the bill.
The shower-resistant material will keep your dog dry, while the fleece inner will keep them cosy and warm. The jacket is easily fitted to your dog, with velcro straps at the front and under the belly to secure it.
This raincoat features a reflective trim to help make your dog more visible at night. There is also a slot on the top so you can fit a lead to a harness underneath the coat.
This jacket is available in several colours, and a range of sizes from X-Small to X-Large.
- Material:
- Insulated: Yes
- Price: £14-17
RUFFWEAR Waterproof Rain Coat
This waterproof rain jacket for dogs from Ruffwear is a high quality, lightweight raincoat.
Made from a high-quality 70/210D nylon fabric with a PU coating, it gives great protection from the rain while allowing good freedom of movement. This jacket is not insulated though, so is better suited for summer rain showers.
The jacket is fitted by placing the opening over your dog’s head, then securing the underbelly section with plastic buckles that snap into place. The jacket covers your dog’s chest and some of their belly, so gives good protection underneath. It also has a high collar to give extra protection from the rain.
Reflective strips help make your dog more visible at night too, making it a useful safety feature. This won’t be suitable if you want to fit it over a harness though, as it doesn’t include a hole for a lead to attach through the top of the jacket. If you want to use a harness, you’ll need to fit it on top of the coat.
Available in a range of colours, and a wide range of sizes from XXS to XL.
- Material: 70/210D nylon
- Insulated: No
- Price: £55
ThinkPet Outdoor Adventure Winter Dog Jacket
This lightweight, waterproof jacket from ThinkPet offers great value for a feature-packed coat. Made from a breathable fabric called Blackshark, it’s waterproof, windproof and snowproof. The jacket is padded too, so will keep your dog warm when the temperature is cold outside.
It features a wide opening to attach a lead to a harness, which is sealed with an adjustable and waterproof double zip.
The coat itself is easy to fit – both it fastens at the front and under your dog’s belly, and uses velcro fasteners for easy fitting.
There are two designs of this coat – the first has a padded collar, and the other is made from heat-reflecting material to keep your dog even warmer. Both types of jacket feature reflective materials to help make your dog more visible in dark conditions.
Available in a selection of colours, and a wide range of sizes from X-Small to XXXX-Large
- Material: Breathable
- Insulated: Yes
- Price: £20-40
WeatherBeeta Parka 1200D Deluxe Dog Coat
Most well known for their horse rugs, WeatherBeeta also make dog coats, including this waterproof Deluxe Dog Coat.
Made from a tough and breathable 1200D waterproof outer shell, it also includes 220g of Polyfill insulation for additional warmth. The design of the coat covers your dog’s chest, and the wide belly strap helps keep your dog’s belly warm and dry. An extra-large collar also provides extra protection from the elements.
The jacket is easily fitted, and is fastened by touch-tape closures on the belly strap. There are also elasticated straps to help secure the back of the jacket over your dog’s rear legs.
It also features a hole for attaching a leash to a harness under the jacket, and reflective strips for extra safety at night.
Available in a variety of colours/styles and a range of sizes from 25cm to 80cm.
- Material: 1200 Dernier
- Insulated: Yes
- Price: £23-25
