There is SO much of it available now! A new whippet owner or even an experienced one wouldn’t know where to start!
There are some basic whippet clothes that you will need. It might sound obvious but a warm jumper or three is a basic requirement. So too is a coat that will give protection from rain and or snow.
Ideally look for washable items, jumpers made from fleece – easy to care for, wash well and dry quickly. All of our clothes for whippets are fitted to their very specific shape, slim necks, deep chests and small waists, generic dog clothes do not fit whippets well!
Fleece jumpers are our best selling item. The thing I reach for when we walk our two whippets daily. MOST dry days in the autumn and winter our two will be seen in their fleece jumpers. Washable and wearable, made with the whippet body in mind, the long snood neck for maximum cosiness, easy to care for because they wash well and dry quickly.
A well fitted fleece jumper will keep the chills out and can be worn with a collar or a harness over the top. It should allow your dog the full range of movement so they can go from plodding to zooming with no restriction.
For maximum ease choose a washable coat. A water resistant coat like a Carlisle is ideal all year round – layered over a jumper for winter and on its own in the warmer, sometimes wetter months of summer.
A quilted coat like the Norwich is a useful addition to your whippet clothing, giving protection from rain and wind, also washable for after those muddy winter walks.
For older whippets, a wax cotton coat like the Norfolk is a good option; it will give wind and rain protection and can be brushed clean when dry.
When might your whippet clothing include a tee shirt?
They are very useful for the change of seasons, when it’s too warm for a jumper but still chilly enough that your whippet will be cold.
Tee shirts are useful for whippets in the evenings when the temperature drops – great for days out, evening bbq’s and pub lunches. As soon as your whippet stops running around, they will feel the cold when the sun goes in.
Also useful for camping trips and can be used to cover a wound to avoid licking and cones.
Some would argue that whippet clothes should not include any unnecessary items. But if the item serves a purpose, like the Pet-Shirt being great for older whippets that sleep a lot and also feel the cold, then it becomes a necessary item. Yes, there are some gimmicky products on the market, but if your dog is comfortable and the item is well fitted there is room for it.
When choosing what whippet clothing to buy, think about layers – items that work with each other – a coat that layers over a jumper or tee. A tee shirt that goes under a sweat shirt or gilet. Then you can shed a layer as your whippet starts to run around and pop it back on when you are returning home. Or shed a layer if the weather improves or pop one on if it catches you out!
