Love the K9topcoat body suits! And their option to make it to measure is great.

One question is how close to the body the fabric should be. The ones Lauri uses seem to leave an air layer, so does ChicagoCanine's have a bit of a gap at the back when the dog moves.
http://www.scootersfriends.com/products/product.php?id=41#header
K9topcoat makes them fit very snug:
http://www.k9topcoat.com/product.asp?specific=jnnriqo8

The natural coat (so the dog has one) could be equivalent to the thermal base layer that humans have to put on. But still, I wouldn't want a wide gap. I think an air layer really adds warmth if it is closed in. I have a mens' parka (for the pockets) that is too wide at the bottom, and I always have to tighten the strings b/c the cold creeps in from below.

Some dogs I want to put in two layers (not GSDs).

Chip has since grown into his Obtrack coat, and has outgrown his snowsuit.
His suit was made by people in TX who run JRTs in agility, and needed a warm up suit to use in the NE. It kept Chip's legs nice and warm.

Great thread, thanks for posting Sarah.

I love being outdoors in the freezing winter with my little geriatric family, and have been searching for the best way to dress each one appropriately.

I just came across this article about seniors and basic needs, including temperature regulation:

http://www.npr.org/2010/11/22/131516152/helping-your-good-old-dog-navigate-aging

Basic Needs Of Older Dogs

Veterinary behaviorist Nicholas Dodman is the head of the Animal Behavior department at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and has worked with aging dogs for decades. He says that old age isn't a disease, but a stage of life for pets and owners to navigate.

Among the basic things owners need to know about raising older pets, Dodman says, is that older dogs are typically more sensitive to extreme temperature changes because of changes in their metabolism.

"They're really like older people," he explains. "Older people are often the ones who are the victims of these freezing bouts or extremes of heat. They're less able to thermoregulate. So we have to take account of that by making sure they have some kind of blanketlike coat or contraption on to keep them warm and not keep them out so long in cold weather. The same goes for heat. You really don't want to leave them out in the yard, especially tied up on an extremely hot day. They can dehydrate. They're less able to cope with the change in temperature, and it's a recipe for disaster."

(Some more good information in this article about other basic needs of seniors, including end of life care decisions. Just click on the link above.)

Thanks for the link Donna! I just requested his book from the library.

Just ran across this lightweight fleece jacket -
http://www.sitstay.com/dog/supplies/serv...58901_-1_13971_
If you click on one of the jackets, it has a video to show how it fits.

Lisa, These are the Fido Fleece coats (good price at sitstay!):

Oops! I kinda looked to see if you had posted them, but guess I wasn't paying close enough attention. You are very thorough!

This coat falls more into the rain gear wear, and I think it fits Sophie well as it is a 2x large.





But one of the problems is it doesn't hold up to the wind.





This is Millie's old coat on Matsi, and slid all over her.





And also, did not hold up to the wind.





Duke is the only one whose tush stayed warm on this freezing cold day.

Those are almost identical to one of the type of coats I make. (popular style with sighthounds)





For those with the issue of the coats blowing up in back, I don't have any photos of it but I frequently do elastic for the back legs to prevent that from happening. Its a fairly simple thing to add on as well to a completed coat

A better pic of Chip in this snowsuit.

Winter is coming! Brrrh.

More full body suits:
http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php/keep-pets-dry/all-weather-dog-coats.html
https://www.neopaws.com/catalog/rainbodysuitandhood-c-47.html?osCsid=je9ifr4hiup3220mlkhitj35s3 (manufacturer of the ones that handicappedpets.com offers)
http://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/itemdy...=0&srccode=

Fleece leggings:
http://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/itemdy...=0&srccode=

A fleece sweater that works well as an underlayer (I had to put in an elastic at the belly though for a male):
http://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/itemdy...=0&srccode= (large dogs)
http://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/itemdy...=0&srccode= (small and medium dogs)
http://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/