I have. 2 schnauzers who have to stay shaved to avoid matted coats, and they are weenies to boot. They’re both older, and one isn’t in great health. They come in at night, but because we work full time, and they can’t stay locked in the laundry room 20 hours a day, they go out during the day in the winter. They refuse to use their shelter, so they need better coats this year. I want something waterproof in case of a stray shower and warm, like a MW horse blanket. I found some weatherbeeta orican coats on close out in their sizes. Any reviews on those, or is there something better? What denier is suitable for little dogs that do occasionally roughhouse? The orican is 1200, I’m assuming that would be ok?
I like the Saratoga Horseworks dog coats
I dislike the way the weatherbeetas fit my dogs. When the dogs put their head down, the blanket pops up in back.
Gold standard (the Rambo of the dog world) is Foggy Mountain. I have a couple and I LOVE THEM. They are pricy. Sometimes they come up on eBay.
I should have mentioned, I’m on a budget.
Tough 1 from Tractor Supply
My go to outer shells (that don’t cost the fortune that Foggy Mountain is) are RC Pets:
http://www.rcpets.com/All-Products/Coats/West-Coast-Rainwear/Product.aspx?ProductID=277&DeptID=8
I love the way these fit.
I have Ridgebacks, so they have no hair. They wear the RC Pets fleece stuff or Fido Fleece pretty much all winter and the extra layer goes on if it’s wet or quite cold.
I don’t think you’d be terribly unhappy with the weatherbeeta, especially on sale, but there’s just something about the way they’re cut that really doesn’t work for me.
Stay away from the Tough-1 and from Ruff Wear. Both just fell apart.
My JRT has a Tough 1 that is in perfect shape that is at least 4 years old. Maybe I just got lucky?
My Tough 1 blankets didn’t even last a week!
I love these blankets from Schneiders: http://www.sstack.com/giftspet_dog-products_dog-blankets-coats/waterproof-insulated-breathable-dog-blankets/
I have both the blanket and the sheet. My Jack Russell asks to have it put on when it is cold, and it has lasted him several years now (even trying to go under the wire fence!).
Do the schneiders dog coats hold up better than the horse blankets? I’ve had some bad luck with the waterproofing, durability, and fit on their horse blankets before. They do seem to be just what I’m looking for though!
I’m afraid the fleece lining on the RC will go the way of the fleece lining from 2 coats ago. It made these horrible mega matts under their bellies that almost needed surgical blades to remove. It was only at the belly bands. Their thermo manager coats did the same thing. I’m thinking the nylon lining may work better since I can’t shave them every few weeks with 8 horses to keep trimmed, 2 kids, and lesson plans. I don’t even ride anymore.
I have been looking at the Weatherbeetas that have a piece that covers the chest and secures on either side of the belly. IME, the blankets with just one surcingle in the middle don’t help much because they pop up in the back when the dog’s head is down. The ones with crossed surcingles would probably work better, as well.
I have Pessoas right now and the quality is good but I have the above fit issue, and the surcingles are ridiculously short. I had a blanket for each dog and had to put Velcro extenders on them because they didn’t reach, on dogs without particularly deep chests.
It sounds like you need a waterproof exterior and a lined interior, no fleece. I would avoid anything with legs since the dogs will be unsupervised (it is easy for Fido to accidentally pull a leg through when laying down).
How can we make their shelter more appealing? And how “shaved” are we talking? A 30 blade? a 4F?
I second Foggy Mountain and I’ll throw Hurtta into the ring. Some Hurrta coats hit stores like Marshall’s about two weeks ago.
A few dog forums like Chazhound have a flea market section and sometimes you can find treasures on Craigslist and at discounts chains Marshall’s and Tuesday Morning.
I can’t afford (and don’t really need) the horse ones, but the Rambo dog rugs are within my budget, and fit my petite Cardis beautifully:
http://www.bitofbritain.com/Rambo_Waterproof_Dog_Rug_p/7574.htm
Amigos are even more affordable from Dover, and have the same fit: http://www.doversaddlery.com/amigo-dog-rug---100g/p/X1-24954/?ids=305jspkwsl1j1p5dj4uxqzg5
Both are smooth nylon lined (my preference, too - I hate trying to clean dog hair out of polar fleece) and 100g fill - denier on the Rambo is 1000D, the Amigos are 600D.
The Foggy Mountains are really nice, but beyond my price point, and I don’t love the metal closures on them for dogs - supervised, fine, but unsupervised, with potential roughhousing? Doesn’t seem as safe or secure to me.
I have one of the weatherbeetas that have the covered chest. It was given to me by a lady whose dog had outgrown it. I use it, but find that when my dog puts her head down it pops up in the back. I have a few of the Dover Saddlery’s fleece coats that I like for non rainy weather. I have a weatherbeeta without the chest covering and it seems to stay put better than the chest one. I was kind of thinking of maybe attaching some elastic to the chest blanket to make leg straps.
Try the thrift shops, Value Village, etc - I find all sorts of dog coats there!
Or, make your own. Get an old polartec or fleecy top, with sleeves. You can use any sort of material, but fleece is good because it’s stretchy, and the edges don’t fray.
Cut the sleeves out at the seams, then try and keep your dog from wiggling as you match one sleeve along one side of the dog, with the cuff at the front end.
When it looks about right for girth, snip a couple of leg holes roughly where you think they should go. Wiggle the wiggly dog into it, gently, and see how it looks - between its front legs, under its tummy, long enough along the back, around the neck, etc. Remove it VERY carefully (if it catches behind the elbows they’ll yell), snip it a few times until you get it to about the right fit, try it on again, etc, until it’s just right.
By this time that first sleeve will be a bit of a mess, but you simply use it as a template to turn the second sleeve into the perfectest doggie coat ever.
You will then spend most shopping trips to the thrift shops keeping an eye out for really neat fleece tops to turn into dog blankets. 
I LOVE the waterproof, thinsulate Smartpak dog blankets
https://www.smartpakequine.com/smartpak-thinsulate-dog-coat-3877pb
I know they aren’t “cheap”, but my Schnoodle (who is also shaved and a wimp) has worn his for 4 years now, with regular washes in the front loader, and it is in perfect condition. Keeps him warm, dry and happy from October to April here in the PNW. He’s the size and shape of a biggish (25lbs.) schnauzer if that helps. Our ancient Lab mix also wears one outdoors when it’s cold and wet, and hers is wearing like iron. I can’t recommend them enough.
I also have a Rambo fleece blanket for Schnoodle and love it. The Schneiders unlined blanket is nice, but not as good at the Smartpak one, and the Dover no name fleece sucked. The Weatherbeeta Rambo knockoff fleece has never fit correctly, but my SIL has some of their turnout/waterproof ones for her JRT and they seem to work well.
I have WAY too many clothes for my dog! :lol:
My parents’ dogs have these: http://www.doversaddlery.com/rider%3Fs-international-fleece-lined-dog-blanket/p/X1-24463/ and they’ve held up great for many years. They are fleece lined, though.
The only shelter they will use is a large covered porch, seriously. If we know it’s going to rain, we leave them in. It’s the surprise showers and the “yes it’s raining, you still have to go pee” that requires something waterproof.
I shave with a 10 or a 7, depending on what I have. Any longer than that and I would have to shave them every couple weeks to keep matts at bay.
I’m quite rural, so can’t shop Marshall’s, etc. we literally have a walmart and that’s it.
I’ve made their coats before, but buying a horse blanket to cut up seems absurd, and I don’t have the time.
I’ll check out the other brands mentioned. I can always cut leg straps off. They’ve never had issues with belly bands in a reasonable spot.
[QUOTE=Hampton Bay;7842851]
I should have mentioned, I’m on a budget.[/QUOTE]
I have bought and “repeat” bought a total of 5 matching dog blankets from Big Dee’s in Ohio. web site: www.bigdweb.com The ones I’ve bought look just like Baker horse blankets. (#DR0004) A tight weave, waterproof outer shell…firm, but not stiff. Chest Velcro and Velcro belly band (double Velcro). They have a silky lining, but don’t slip around. They are on sale right now for $12.50. I posted this info last winter and two or three Cothers bought themselves the blankets and raved about the quality. We have very active dogs…a Boxer, SA Boerboel/Ridgeback, Border/Jack, Kelpie and a Pappillon mix. This is a GREAT bargain blanket that holds up. Last spring I washed them all in the machine and they are just like new, now.
crosscreek, these?
http://www.bigdweb.com/Dog-Blanket-Tartan-Plaids/productinfo/DR004/#
Tough to say no to that price!
