AS SUMMER fades into autumn you’ll want to be on the lookout for the best dog jumpers and coats for your dog this coming season. Adding an extra layer of warmth, as well as waterproofing against the rain, the best dog coats can handle whatever our UK weather throws at them and still look good.

While some dogs prefer to go au naturel and don’t seem to notice the cold, others need a helping hand when the temperatures drop, especially if they’re little or they’re short-haired breeds.

Go for jumpers and fleeces that are pull-on and don’t restrict your dog’s movement. Coats should fit snugly but again, allow for a full range of movement. Velcro fastenings are easily adjustable to ensure an optimal fit and they’re no fuss to secure, so less fiddly than buttons.

Zippers are a good idea for full-body suits, as they make it easier to get them on your dog and get them off again; zip fastenings are also great for coats and fleeces for older dogs with stiff joints.

Consider coats that cover your dog’s chest and tummy, as well as their back, for maximum protection against mud and rain, while jumpers and fleeces that cover their legs will also help keep them clean and dry.

Your dog is bound to get dirty at some point – it’s what dogs do best after all – so opt for coats and jumpers that you can simply throw in the washing machine and that come up good as new every time.

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Finally, fluorescent stripes or piping on dog coats are vital during the low light conditions of autumn and winter. You want your dog to be seen and safe while you’re out walking so high-vis detailing is a must.

Best dog coats at a glance:

• Best dog coat: Ancol Muddy Paws Stormguard and Fleece Lining Coat
• Best dog jumper: Equafleece Hotterdog Jumper
• Best dog coat with harness hole: Withu Winter Dog Coat
• Best indoor dog coat: AllPetSolutions Dog Jumper
• Best puffer coat: Hugo & Hudson Reversible Dog Puffer Jacket

Equafleece Hotterdog Fleece Jumper

• Dog Jumper, from £17.99 at Amazon– buy here

This fleecy jumper is not only great for keeping your dog warm on cold days, but it also wicks moisture from his skin and coat then his body heat pushes it away. The non-absorbent properties of the fleece also help stop rain from getting in.

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There are no zips to fasten and the material is very stretchy, so it’s easy to put on and take off. It’s also available in 14 different colours so you can style his outfit to match your own if the fancy takes you.

Equafleece designs their jumpers to suit different breeds of dog, so as well as the standard size you’ll find slim, puppy, Italian greyhound, pug and dachsie fit. You can even opt to have a zip fitted if your dog has arthritic or stiff joints, making the jumper even easier to put on.

Machine washable at 30° using a non-bio detergent. Do not use fabric softener.

Material: Polartec 200 fleece, size: Standard, slim, puppy, pug, dachsie and Italian greyhound, waterproof: water-repellent

Pets At Home 3 Peaks Waterproof and Windproof Dog Suit

• 3 Peaks Waterproof and Windproof Dog Suit, £27 from Pets At Home – buy here

For dogs who love walking in all weather, this waterproof and windproof suit is a must. It provides full-body coverage so they won’t get cold or wet and it features reflective piping, which is a great added safety feature for the dark days of winter.

The full-length zipper means it’s easier to put on and take off a wriggly pup, while the taped seams provide extra protection from the elements.

Wearing a suit also keeps them clean, which means you don’t have to wash them after every walk. One happy buyer writes: “This is the best dog jacket I've ever purchased for my cockerpoo. Easy to put on and keeps him dry and mud free when out in bad weather. My dog seems to like it too.”

Machine washable.

Material: unknown, size: XXS – XL, waterproof: yes

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AllPetSolutions Dog Jumper

• AllPetSolutions Dog Jumper, from £10.99 at Amazon – buy here

If your pooch feels the cold then this woolly jumper could be just what they need to keep them toasty warm this autumn.

Wear it outside when the weather’s chilly but dry and not cold enough for a full coat, or wear it indoors as the temperatures drop, especially if you haven’t yet switched on the heating for winter.

The cable-knit design, wide collar and hem are right on-trend and there are no zippers or buttons to struggle with when you’re putting it on.

One happy Amazon customer writes: “I bought three medium-sized jumpers for my Jack Russells. All fit really well. They love them especially as my medieval house is very draughty. They are easy to put on and very soft.”

Machine washable at 30°C.

Material: wool-like fabric, size: small, medium and large, waterproof: no

Barbour Quilted Dog Coat

• Barbour Quilted Dog Coat, from £32 at House of Fraser – buy here

Kitting your pooch out in a Barbour jacket has got to be one of the cutest photo opportunities ever. The likes will come flooding in on Instagram.

Currently on sale for £32 at House of Fraser, this Barbour Quilted Dog Coat is ideal for dogs of all sizes. It's soft and will keep your pal warm on those frosty winter walks.

It has an adjustable belly strap and an adjustable velcro neck fastening. It even has a cute corduroy collar.

Available in black, pink, olive and navy.

Material: Quilted nylon with nylon lining, size: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, waterproof: showerproof

Ancol Muddy Paws Stormguard & Fleece Lining Coat

• Ancol Muddy Paws Stormguard and Fleece Lining Coat, Red, X-Large, for £20.99 at Amazon – buy here

This coat ticks all the boxes for a variety of reasons: firstly, it's got a great range of sizes so can fit a variety of breeds, from tiny to very large.

Secondly, it's been inspired by quality ski wear and has reflective strips for visibility at night, as well as elastic and Velcro to accommodate any dog's shape. It also features a chest protector to keep them dry and clean.

Thirdly, just see how fans have raved about it, writing: 'don't waste your money on other coats', 'fits really nicely', 'the dog loves it' and 'makes cute dogs mind-blowingly cute'.

Material: Nylon with fleece lining, size: S, M, L, XL, XXL, waterproof: water-resistant

Kerbl Raincoat Manchester

• Kerbl Raincoat Manchester, Medium, Black, for £18.59 at Amazon – buy here

For dogs who agree to wear a full-body suit, this one from Kerbl is a great buy. It has a zip along the back so it’s relatively easy to put on your pup and take off, and it features drawstrings at the neck, legs and belly so you can adjust the fit.

The collar folds back, or stands up, to suit the weather conditions, or you can remove it altogether. Reflective strips along the sides, around the collar and down the legs ensure visibility during low-daylight winter walks and at night.

It’s also windproof and waterproof.

Machine washable at 30°C

Material: 100% polyester, size: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL and XXXL, waterproof: yes

Withu Winter Dog Pet Coat

• Withu Winter Dog Coat, £20.41 from Amazon – buy here

This quilted dog coat is warm and incorporates a smooth quilted lining to help stop their hair from catching inside. It also has an elasticated belly section that fastens at the sides and neck with Velcro so you can easily adjust the fit.

Reflective detailing means your dog is visible at night and in low-light conditions – always a good feature on a dog coat – and it has a hole on the back to access the D ring on your dog’s collar. If you use a harness there’s also a two-way zipper so you can get to it easily.

Machine washable.

Material: Polyester and cotton, size: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL and XXXL waterproof: water-resistant

Personalised Reflective Dog Coat

• Personalised Reflective Dog Coat, from £12.95 at Etsy – buy here

A reflective dog coat is a must during the winter when light levels are low, or if you walk your dog at night when it’s dark.

This one from Etsy is available in six colours: pink, red, royal blue and silver, in addition to the more usual fluorescent yellow and orange. You can even personalise it with your dog’s name on one or both sides.

The easy hook and loop fastening around the belly and neck keep the coat securely in place and of course, you can adjust it for a snug fit.

Material: 300D polyester, size: small, medium and large, waterproof: showerproof

Not On The High Street Personalised Navy Winter Waxed Dog Coat

• Teddy Maximus Personalised Navy Winter Waxed Dog Coat, £52.99 at Not On The High Street – buy here

You can choose to add your dog’s name to this waxed cotton coat or leave it blank if you prefer.

The real wool lining means your pooch will be warm and snug, even on cold days, so this coat is great for winter wear, as well as for our temperamental climate at any time of the year.

Popper fastenings hold the coat securely in place at the neck and on the belt around the belly.

The personalisation feature makes this a great gift for birthdays or Christmas too.

Material: waxed cotton with pink Shetland wool lining, size: XXS, XS, S, M and L, waterproof: showerproof

Joules Rain Jacket Water Resistant Pet Coat

• Rain Jacket Water Resistant Pet Coat, £16.20 at Joules – buy here

This cute dog-print jacket is perfect for rainy days and complements Joules’ popular Coast waterproof jacket for people. It has a nautical look to it, with its striped cord detail, button trim and leather toggles.

The Velcro fastenings at the neck and belly are easily adjustable for the best fit and there’s an opening on the back of the coat so you can reach the harness to attach a lead. It’s also available in a variety of sizes to suit different breeds.

Machine washable at 30°C

Material: polyester, cord and leather trim. size: S, M, L and XL, waterproof: showerproof

Hugo & Hudson Reversible Dog Puffer Jacket

• Hugo & Hudson Reversible Red Dog Puffer Jacket from £32 at Viovet – buy here

Customers love that this stylish jacket is "made very well and is of excellent quality", that it gives dogs "freedom of movement" and "is light whilst cosy and weatherproof".

Not only is it the coolest puffer jacket we've seen, but it's also reversible, padded and water-repellent, so it will keep dogs warm and dry. We just want to know whether it's made for humans, too!

It has a hole on the back so you can attach a lead, though you can’t attach a harness.

Available in a range of sizes. Hand wash only.

Material: 100% nylon outer and lining with 100% polyester filling, size: XS, M and L, waterproof: water-repellent

Where to buy dog coats in the UK

You can buy dog coats in the UK at a wide variety of high-street stores, specialist pet stores and online retailers.

We found the dog coats and jumpers featured in our round-up at:

• Amazon
• Etsy
• House of Fraser
• Joules
• Not On The High Street
• Pets At Home
• Viovet

How much do dog coats cost?

Dog coats and jumpers are available to suit all budgets with many costing less than £10 while designer labels can set you back more than £100.

The coats and jumpers we’ve featured here range in price from £10.99 to £52.99.

Do dogs need coats?

For average, day-to-day weather in Britain, dogs don't really need coats. But when that frequent rain sets in, or even those fun snow days, it's best to wrap up your pooch.

Most dogs are equipped with enough fur to keep themselves warm naturally. That being said, short-haired breeds will need a bit of extra help on really cold days.

It's also a great way of saving time on washing your dog post-walk, because a coat can keep it clean (as much as possible), and dry.

How to measure a dog for a coat

When fitting your dog with a coat, measure around its neck in the same way that you would for a collar.

For the overall size, while your dog is standing measure from their neck to the base of the tail with a measuring tape.

Many brands have a guide of which breeds suit which sizes, so don't worry too much about getting the measurements exactly correct.

Do dogs need coats in the rain?

If you have a fluffy, long-haired dog then when it's raining, their coat is going to soak up all the water, making them cold, drenched and most of all, really uncomfortable.

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However, if your furry friend has a coat which naturally traps warmth and repels water then it's less likely to need to bother with a coat when it's raining.

That being said, they can go without if you really don't want to buy one.

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