Ears and necks are where a short-coated dog loses heat fastest, and they are also the parts a winter coat leaves uncovered. A fleece snood closes that gap. It pulls over the head and sits round the neck, so a whippet or a greyhound heading out on a frosty morning is not walking into the wind with bare skin exposed at the throat, which is often what turns them for home early.

The fleece is soft and light, insulating without adding bulk or restricting how the dog moves, and an adjustable fastening lets you take up the slack. That matters, because a snood loose enough to slip is one that ends up bunched around the shoulders halfway through the walk. It has a second use worth knowing about too: pulled up over long ears at mealtimes, it keeps a spaniel's ear feathering out of the gravy.

• Soft fleece construction
• Sizes S, M and L
• Colours include dark grey, light grey, dark brown, blue and pink
• Adjustable fastening for a secure fit
• Weighs between 21g and 45g depending on size
• Pulls on over the head, covering ears and neck

On fit, and on when to use it. Sizing follows head and neck measurement rather than breed, so measure before choosing and check you can slide two fingers under the fastening once it is on. A snood should be snug and never tight around the throat. Take it off indoors, since a dog that cannot lose heat through its neck will overheat in a warm house, and damp fleece left against the skin causes soreness.

Who it's for: Owners of short-coated, thin-skinned or elderly dogs facing winter walks, and spaniel owners fed up with washing ears after every dinner.