Keep your dog warm this winter! (Equafleece Dog Jumper)

Member Name: mizmir

Product:	Equafleece Dog Jumper
Date:	10/01/09 (144 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: High quality, good range of sizes and colours, wears well

Disadvantages: Price - but excellent value for what you get

In these freezing spells we wrap ourselves up warm with coats, scarves and gloves but we tend to forget that our dogs can feel the cold too, especially those without the benefit of a natural thick undercoat, those who like to go out and get wet and muddy, and older and younger dogs. My lurcher is one of those without an undercoat - her coat is very smooth and thin and doesn't give her much more protection than a thin jumper would me.

For the winter she therefore has an equafleece dog jumper and it it brilliant. Made of high quality Polartec fleece (better quality than any of my own fleeces!), the Equafleece is cut to fit a dog's shape - covering the back right the way to the tail and cut away under the belly so there is no interference with private parts! It also has legs so the underarm and upper legs are protected and a collar to cover the neck. It comes in 25 different sizes - from 9 inch (length) for a puppy to 40 inch for the largest dog. Among this huge range of sizes are specially shaped ones for Dachshunds, Pugs and particularly slim breeds. So you are very likely to find one that is a snug fit. They also come in a range of colours: black, red, navy, cobalt blue, mulberry, loden green, pine green, dark purple, flourescent yellow and hi-viz pink! The latter two are great for keeping an eye on dogs on cold dark nights and of course for safety when road walking. For the fashion conscious you can even get the jumper with a faux fur collar - in tiger, snow leopard, or leopard patterns. I didn't go this far!

Ordering your jumper is simple. You measure your dog from the sternum bone n the middle of the chest to the tail and again round the chest just behind the back legs. If these measurements are the same your dog has a regular shape and you need a regular jumper of that size. If your dog is at least 2 inches less around the chest as it is long, then your dog is slim build and you need the slim jumper. For more irregular shapes they offer more advice on measuring on their website and an advice number to ring - which I have always found extremely helpful. And for an extra charge they will make to measure - so you should always be able to get the best fit.

Once you have the right size you can order on the website. It is a clear process where you select the size and colour combination you want from drop down lists. If they have what you want in stock then you will get it very quickly indeed. I ordered one in the morning one day and it arrived in the post the following morning! If not, and you particularly want a specific colour, ring them and they will be able to help you.

The jumper is fully machine washable and dries extremely quickly (an hour or so on a radiator - or on low in the tumble drier). It doesn't lose shape or get rough in the wash - a friend of mine has had one for 2 years and it still looks as good as new. My dog's is washed every few days (or more often if she gets muddy) and it is still looking great.

The thing I really like about the jumper, rather than a dog coat, is that it moves with the dog so it does not restrict movement in any way. There is also no tabs or straps to get caught on things when they are out. So my lurcher can run flat out with hers on and can chase around the undergrowth as she loves to do - and it doesn't stop her at all. It has the added bonus of keeping her clean and protecting her from scratches from brambles etc. Its Polartec fleece means that moisture is kept away from the body and the body heat stays in - so it is good to put on wet dogs - hence they are popular with gundog owners. And they are water resistant in the rain!

Maybe all this is why she loves to wear it! She actually tries to stop me taking it off her and comes to put her head in it when I bring it out to put it back on. During this cold spell she has been wearing it quite a lot in the house as well!

Equafleece jumpers are not cheap. The basic jumper ranges from £17 for the smallest to £44 for the biggest, with faux collars and made to measure extra. This may sound a lot but compare it to the same quality human fleece (which will have a similar amount of material as the larger dog jumpers!) and it seems better. But the main case for spending the extra is the quality and wear you will get. This jumper will last you years and will continue giving service long after cheaper models have worn out. It will be comfortable for your dog - nothing to rub - and will stay soft. So though it is certainly not cheap - I would say this jumper is definitely good value for money.

So if your dog is feeling the cold treat them to one of these!

Summary: A must for dogs feeling the cold this winter