A coat covers the back and leaves everything that actually gets cold and wet uncovered. On a small, clipped or thin-coated dog, the heat goes out through the belly and the bare legs, and those are the same parts that come home covered in mud and get towelled in the hallway. A four-legged suit is the answer to both problems at once, which is why owners who try one rarely go back to a back-only coat.

The fabric here is padded coral fleece: a soft short pile with wadding behind it, warm without the weight of a wax or a quilted shell, and it dries quickly on a radiator, which matters when it is worn twice a day. Sleeves run to all four legs on most of the designs in this range, whilst a few are made as two-legged hooded styles instead. The designs run to dozens, from dinosaurs and cows to elk and pandas, so there is a version that does not embarrass you.

• Padded coral fleece
• Four-legged cut on most designs, with some two-legged hooded styles in the range
• Sizes XS to XXL
• Designs include dinosaur, cow, elk, shark, rabbit, panda and tiger
• Supplied as one garment
• 150g to 200g listed weight

On sizing, and on fit. Be honest about the four-legged cut too. It is warmer than a coat, but it takes longer to put on, some dogs object to sleeves on the hind legs, and a male dog needs the belly line checked before you rely on it for walks. Try short indoor wears first.

Who it's for: small clipped breeds like poodles, bichons and shih tzus, thin-coated dogs, elderly dogs who feel the cold indoors, and owners tired of towelling four muddy legs every afternoon.