Do Dogs Need Raincoats? How to Decide (and How to Choose One)

Sep 03, 2026

Dogs are waterproof in the sense that they dry out eventually. Whether they should be walked wet is a different question, and the answer depends on the dog, the temperature, and how long you plan to be out.

The real problem is not water, it is heat loss

A dry coat insulates by trapping a layer of warm air against the skin. Once that coat is soaked, the air layer collapses and the insulation is largely gone. This is why a wet dog at 45°F can be colder than a dry dog at 30°F.

Rain also usually comes with wind, which strips warmth faster still. The combination matters far more than the temperature on its own.

Which dogs benefit most

Short and single-coated breeds — Greyhounds, Whippets, Vizslas, Boxers, Dobermans, Pit Bulls, Dalmatians. Almost no insulating undercoat to begin with.
Small and low-slung dogs — Dachshunds, Corgis, toy breeds. They are closer to the ground, take spray from every puddle, and lose heat faster.
Seniors and dogs with arthritis. Cold and damp noticeably worsen joint stiffness.
Puppies and dogs recovering from illness.
Long-coated breeds — not for warmth, but because a soaked coat mats, holds mud, and takes hours to dry.

Which dogs usually do not need one

Double-coated northern and water breeds — Labradors, Goldens, Huskies, Newfoundlands — have coats built to shed water and stay warm when damp. A raincoat on these dogs is mostly about keeping your car and floors clean, which is a perfectly good reason, just not a welfare one.

Raincoat versus winter coat

They solve different problems and are not interchangeable.

A raincoat is a shell: waterproof, wind-resistant, minimal insulation. For wet weather above roughly 40–45°F.
A winter coat is insulated. For cold, dry conditions.
For cold and wet, you want a waterproof insulated coat, or a shell layered over a sweater.

An insulated coat in warm rain will overheat your dog. A thin shell in freezing weather will not be enough.

What to look for

Genuinely waterproof, not water-resistant. Water-resistant fabric wets through in sustained rain.
Belly coverage. Most of the water your dog encounters comes up from the ground. A blanket-style coat that leaves the underside bare misses the point.
Breathability. A fully sealed coat traps moisture from the inside. Look for a vented or breathable membrane.
A harness opening so you can clip a leash without layering awkwardly.
Reflective trim. Rainy walks are low-visibility walks, and drivers see less than you think.
Easy on and off. A coat that takes four buckles will stay in the closet.

Fit still matters in the rain

Measure back length from the collar to the base of the tail, and chest girth behind the front legs. A raincoat that is too long restricts squatting; too short and the rear gets soaked anyway. Check that leg openings do not chafe in the armpits.

After the walk

Towel the belly, chest, and armpits — the places that stay wet longest and where damp causes skin irritation. Check between the toes. If your dog walked on treated roads, rinse the paws: road salt and de-icing chemicals irritate pads and get licked off.

Shop our Raincoats for wet-weather shells, or browse Coats for insulated options when it turns cold.