by S. Heisley » Tue Apr 17, 2018 7:27 pm
My French Brittany used to wear coats that I made for him. He wasn't crazy about them but appreciated them on cold nights, back when we were still tenting. Since, I've discovered that, if I keep his fur/hair a little longer, he doesn't seem to need a coat. (Plus, the trailer is warmer at night than a tent!) When I did make coats, I used a pattern and made them out of heavy flannel or twill; but, other things can be used, such as fleece. Fleece will help keep a dog warmer even when it is wet; and also, the fabric is washable. It is pretty easy to work with; requires no seam finishing; and, is very forgiving of errors. You just pin the pattern pieces onto the material; cut them out and sew the resulting fabric pieces together. I have a whole wardrobe for my little hairless pooch. She loves them. Coat patterns can be found at most any fabric store.
The 'business' area of the lower belly and behind area is left open for their necessities. You can find ready-made pet coats at most pet stores; and, if you need a warmer coat, a toddler's winter snow/ski vest will sometimes do the job. I've seen a child's size snow/ski vest used on a German Shepard.
I think the reason that the Brittany Spaniels' hair is kept so short is two-fold: 1) If you hunt with him/her, you'll be able to see the ticks easier. and 2) There are less fur balls to be found around the house. Mine doesn't hunt plus the fluffy hair balls sometimes found remind me how lucky I am to have him. (And, that it's time to vacuum!)