With so much choice out there now it can be a daunting task choosing what your whippet needs. I want to help you purchase with intention, items your dog will get the most wear out of, the things you will pull out time and again, getting value for money too.
Maybe your puppy is now an adult and you are ready to invest in some clothes that will last. Maybe you want everything you see online but have a budget.
With this in mind I have put together a guide for what I consider to be the Essentials – an add on to the Basics as discussed here, or a stand alone selection of really useful clothes for the warmer seasons – Spring and Summer.
For now, let’s consider the items your whippet will need in these warmer often wet months.
A lightweight coat for wet days
A warmer jumper for cooler evenings
A cotton tee for cooler days
A lead and collar for all days!
Choosing by Colour:
You could choose at random, whatever catches your eye, but this is not to be recommended if you want to add, at a later date, other items that will work with these Essentials. If you choose a colour theme you can add to this and all the items will work together – I’ve broken this down into 4 groups:
Lights
Darks
Brights
Monochrome
Light Essentials
The Carlisle Whip-it-Away Mac in Taupe
The Stripe Terry Pet-Shirt in Sage Green
The Whippet Tee Shirt in Latte
Leather whippet collar in Biscuit and rope lead in Mustard
Total cost: Small - £175, Medium - £185, Large - £195 - an average saving of 10% over individual items
Choose the Lights if you love muted, neutral colours. The soft leather collar will last for years if it is looked after. The Terry Stripe Pet-Shirt is useful for chilly spring days or cold summer evenings, and the Carlisle mac, in its own little carry bag, will ensure you are always prepared for whatever the weather throws at you. The Tee in looks classy alone or provides a warming layer under the mac.
Alternative Light Essentials – Chester Light Mac in Taupe, Hoxton Collarless Coat in Camel, Fleece Jumper in Camel or Oatmeal. These will all look great with the collar and lead.
Dark Essentials
The Carlisle Whip-it-Away Mac in Navy
The Mist Leather collar and lead set
Total cost: Small - £175, Medium - £185, Large - £195 - an average saving of 10% over individual items
You will have a collar and lead for every day walks, a light weight coat that can be easily taken out for adventures when the weather is changeable, a chic stripe tee for summer wear and a lighter than a fleece Cosee that is great for most of the year, solo or layered up.
Alternative Dark Essentials – Cardiff Whip-it-Away Mac in Navy, One Colour Tee Shirt in Navy and The Cosee in Racing Green - these will look great with the collar and lead.
Bright Essentials
The Carlisle Whip-it-Away Mac in Sunny Yellow
If you love bright colours in moderation, this is a good choice; the bright mac never fails to make me smile when I put it onto my whippet on a dull rainy day. The Tee is bright but the Cosee tones it all down.
The leather collar will last if looked after like a pair of your favourite shoes – feed it with leather cleaner and it will build up a lovely patina over the years.
Total cost: Small - £175, Medium - £185, Large - £195 - an average saving of 10% over individual items
Alternative Bright Essentials – Chester Whippet Coat in Sunny Yellow, Collar and Lead in Mustard.
Monochrome Essentials
If you love a palette of greys, black and creams, you will most likely select these colours for your dog. This range of Essential items will be a great base to add to. It’s also a great addition to the Monochrome Basics.
Total cost: Small - £175, Medium - £185, Large - £195 an average saving of 10% over individual items
Alternative Monochrome Essentials – Carlisle Whip-it-Away Mac in Dove Grey, The Cosee in Graphite, One Colour Tee Shirt in Grey.
Buy your Working Wardrobe: Essentials Box here.
Whippets need clothes, they are short haired and lean, and they don’t hold heat in their bodies, will feel the cold and likely hate the rain. By investing in any of the Essential ranges, even assuming you use all items just 50% of the year, and I think some will be more than that, the cost per wear is around £1 – less than half the cost of a take away coffee!
