The best coat for a whippet
A whippet needs a coat sooner and more often than most dogs their size. The breed carries very little body fat and a fine, close coat with almost no undercoat, so a whippet standing still in a cold garden can start shivering within minutes. The right coat is less about fashion than about a genuinely thin-skinned dog that gets cold fast.
Why whippets feel the cold so quickly
Whippets are built for speed rather than insulation. Low body fat and a short, single-layer coat mean there is very little standing between a whippet and the weather, which is why you'll see shivering whippets on a walk that a Labrador would barely notice.
This isn't limited to freezing weather. A damp, breezy October afternoon can be enough to have a whippet shaking within a few minutes of standing still, even if the walk itself is fine once they're moving. A coat that goes on before the shivering starts, rather than after, is doing its job.
What to look for in a coat
Fit matters more for a whippet than for most breeds because of their narrow, deep chest and tucked-up waist - a coat cut for a stockier dog of the same length will gape at the chest and slide around rather than sitting close to the body where it can actually hold warmth.
A snug neck and chest with some coverage down over the belly does more for a whippet than a coat that only covers the back, since the areas with the least fur and fat are exactly where the cold gets in fastest. Look for an adjustable neck and a decent length rather than judging purely by the breed name on the label - whippets vary enough in build that a size chart based on length and chest measurement is more reliable than the breed alone.
A lighter fleece or jumper suits a brisk but mild day and everyday indoor wear in an unheated room, while a waterproof, insulated coat earns its keep on wet or genuinely cold walks. Many whippet owners end up with one of each rather than trying to make a single coat do both jobs.
Getting the size right
Measure from the base of the neck to the base of the tail along the back, and around the widest part of the chest, rather than guessing from your whippet's height or the breed name printed on a size chart. Whippets range more in build than people expect, from lean racing types to slightly stockier pet lines, and a coat sized on length and girth fits far more reliably than one sized on breed alone.
Check the fit around the front legs too - a coat that rides up or restricts the shoulder will get shrugged off on a walk, which defeats the purpose of putting it on in the first place.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Transparent Waterproof PVC Dog Raincoat with Hood, XS to 2XL
A clear PVC raincoat with a hood and adjustable chest and waist, cut for small dogs from an 18cm back up to a 42cm back, so collar and markings still show through.
From£11.99
Full-Body Waterproof Dog Raincoat
A full-body waterproof raincoat covering all four legs to keep your dog dry and mud-free outdoors. Reflective strips improve visibility in low light and the secure buckle fastening gives an adjustable fit.
From£28.99
Hooded Dinosaur Dog Raincoat
A waterproof hooded dog raincoat with a fun dinosaur spine and yellow fins. It features full-coverage legs, a reflective strip and a built-in D-ring for a lead, keeping smaller dogs dry and visible on wet walks.
From£29.99
Dog Sports Jacket For Medium & Large Breeds, Warm Coat
A sleek zip-up sports jacket with full leg sleeves and reflective trim, designed to keep medium and large dogs warm and dry on cold-weather walks. Easy-fit and snug at the cuffs.
From£24.99
Padded Coral Fleece Four-Legged Dog Suit, XS to XXL, Many Designs
A padded coral fleece suit with sleeves for all four legs, in designs from dinosaurs to elk, for small dogs who lose heat faster than they can make it.
From£11.99
Ancol Stormguard Softshell Bordeaux
A waterproof softshell dog coat with a harness slot, sized XS to XXL
From£13.79
Baxta & Binx Beaumont Extreme Dog Jacket, Sage
The Beaumont Extreme is an all-weather jacket from Baxta & Binx, here in sage, in sizes Small, Medium, Med+, Large, X-Large and XXL.
From£18.99
Padded Pet Coat in Pink or White with Full Size Chart, XS to 2XL
A padded pink or white coat with a published size chart running from a 20cm to a 45cm back, so you can measure your dog and order the right size first time.
From£11.99
Hooded Fleece Bear Cloak for Dogs
A hooded fleece bear cloak that wraps your dog in soft warmth, with sweet little ears on top.
From£16.99
Reindeer Four-Leg Padded Dog Coat, Arctic Velvet, XS to XXL
A double-padded four-leg suit in Arctic velvet that covers the belly and inner thighs, which is where a thin-coated dog actually loses most of its heat.
From£11.99
Printed Polyester Dog Raincoat, Three Patterns, Sizes S to XL
A lightweight printed polyester raincoat in three patterns - travelling bear, ice cream and scattered flowers - made in four sizes for dogs needing a shower layer, not a storm coat.
£10.99
Protective Hunting Dog Armour Vest
A heavy-duty camouflage protective vest for working and hunting dogs. The reinforced, puncture-resistant body panel helps shield the chest and torso from cuts, stabs and bites in rough outdoor terrain.
£255.99
Common questions
- Do whippets really need a coat, or is it just for looks?
- It's genuinely functional for this breed. Whippets carry very little body fat and have a thin, single-layer coat, so they lose heat much faster than most dogs their size and can start shivering on a walk that other breeds wouldn't notice.
- What temperature should I put a coat on my whippet?
- Many whippet owners reach for a coat well before it feels cold to a person - a breezy, damp day in double digits can be enough. Watching your own dog's behaviour, such as shivering or reluctance to walk, is a better guide than a fixed temperature.
- Should I get a fleece or a waterproof coat for my whippet?
- It depends on the weather you're walking in. A fleece or jumper is enough for a mild, dry day or for wearing indoors in a cold house, while a waterproof, insulated coat is worth having for wet or genuinely cold walks. Many owners keep both.
- How do I know what size coat to buy for a whippet?
- Measure your whippet's back length and chest girth rather than relying on the breed name on a size chart, since build varies a lot within the breed. A coat sized to those two measurements will fit far more reliably than one picked on height or weight alone.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.