8 best dog coats to keep your furry friend warm and dry

Whether you have a dog who adores muddy puddles or one that likes leaping into lakes, this coat is a fantastic option for active pups.

The coat is made with neoprene, which is traditionally found in wetsuits, and our furry testers seemed to love the snug, tailored fit. On first wear, you adjust the Velcro panel to fit, then, for subsequent wears, you just zip up the coat and you’re good to go. Whether your pet has a broad chest or narrow waist, you can ensure a snug fit.

One of our testers – a spaniel – is prone to shivering when she swims but this kept her warm even after 30 minutes in the water. But it’s not just for swimmers. If you find you’re constantly brushing mud or seeds out of your dog’s coat, this is the perfect option. Not only does it function well, it looks the part, too. Plus, reflective strips are a fantastic optional addition if you walk your dog at night.

To the touch, this is one of the thinnest dog coats we tried, but it’s surprisingly warm and durable. Made from water-resistant polyester, the coat has been treated with a durable water repellent, which meant rain drops literally rolled off it during testing. At less than £15, it’s brilliant value and the only patterned coat on the list. Affordable, stylish and practical, this is a great choice when it comes to keeping your furry friend dry during your daily constitutional.

Made from 100 per cent waxed cotton with a fleece inner lining, the Mutts and Hounds team has produced a brilliant dog coat. The adjustable Velcro neck and chest mean the coat can be fitted perfectly to your pooch – the wide strapping around the chest seemed to be comfortable for all our testers.

The only downside is you can’t put this dog coat in the washing machine – you risk losing the water resistance if you do – but we found a quick rinse straight after a walk meant nothing stained or dried in. Plus, despite lashing rain during testing, the coat stayed waterproof, even after an hour.

The coat is available in four colours – bright mustard yellow, green, navy and tartan with a corduroy collar – so you’re bound to find one to suit your loyal companion.

Barbour is synonymous with the great outdoors, and the brand has produced a warm, stylish and perfectly fitted dog coat, complete with the Barbour logo embossed on the side.

The waxed stitching and soft cord collar felt incredibly comfortable to the touch, and the buckled chest looks as though it could outlast Velcro, which could pick up seeds and grass on long walks.

The warm, tartan checked lining hand-washed well – this dog coat is hand-wash only, to preserve the water resistance of the wax. All in all, this is an elegant option, with style and substance.

This dog coat doesn’t boast the water-resistant capabilities of some of the others on our list but it’s certainly eye-catching and very cosy.

While it’s super stretchy, it only comes in one size, so, if your dog is at the larger or smaller end of the scale, this might not be the coat for them. That being said, we found it fitted a small labrador, a big labrador and a spaniel during testing, so it really does stretch well. The coat has been designed with a convenient hole to make it easy to attach a lead to your dog’s collar, too.

The fact the coat is so fleecy and cosy made it comfortable for our dogs to lie down on when their walk culminated at the pub. If you’re not a fan of the bright-orange colourway, the coat is also available in a bright cerise. However, the former shade suited both our blonde and black labradors, so maybe orange really is the new black.

We put this coat through the washing machine a few times, and found the Bow-wow didn’t lose any cosiness or tufts, and it dried really quickly. If you’re a fair-weather dog walker, this is a great option.

If you’ve got a dog that can’t help but leap, paws out, into any body of water, this is a fantastic drying coat that’ll take the moisture from their fur and keep them warm at the same time.

As the design comes in three dark colourways – french navy, moss and burgundy – you can get away with not washing it after every use, as you can simply dry it out, ready to be used again.

Of all the dog coats we tested, this is the only one that can be personalised (a maximum of 12 letters can be added).

While it looks like simple towelling, it’s a double layer that draws moisture away from your pup and holds it in the outer layer, while the inside layer keeps your pet warm. During testing, the coat dried a springer-labrador cross faster than we could by hand. It also has a deep collar that can be folded up to dry the ears and head – and made our tester look a little like Yoda.

Available in lichen green or blue pool – both colours reminiscent of nature – if you take your dog exercising with you, either running or cycling, this is a fantastic coat. While you have to buy the trail runner bowl separately (£22.45, www.mountaindog.uk), the vest comes with two 500ml flasks (or two 360ml flasks for the extra small size), meaning your dog can carry their own hydration while you take yours in your favourite running vest.

There are reflective panels on the dog coat, for visibility in low light, and a loop for you to attach a light. The chest harness has two adjustable clips, so you can make sure your mutt enjoys a bounce-free run, too. If you ever hit the trails with your dog – be that running or hiking – this is an excellent choice, and you could even store some poo bags and treats for them in the top zippered pocket.

This padded dog coat is one of the cosiest on the list, and the only reversible one. Available in four colour-block schemes, it definitely looks the part but it has plenty of substance as well as style. Its zip fastening isn’t adjustable, so it’s worth making sure you’ve measured your mutt before you order. It’s insulated, too, and has a reflective inside, which means, if you’re a fan of an early morning walk before work, your four-legged friend will be seen easily by road users and pedestrians alike. While it’s not waterproof, if the weather is going to be dry, this is a great option for your canine companion.