Small, short-coated dogs lose heat quickly because there is a lot of surface area for not much body, which is why a whippet shivers on a walk that a labrador enjoys. A fleece layer over the back and chest fixes most of that without wrapping the legs or getting under the feet. This striped vest is the plain version of that idea, cut close and pulled on over the head.

Fleece works by holding a layer of still air against the coat, so the warmth comes from the loft of the pile rather than from any weight. The vest is light, between roughly a hundred and a hundred and fifty grammes depending on size, and it goes on and off without buckles, which matters once a dog has learned to sidestep the moment the coat comes out. Four sizes run from small to extra large, in pink, green or orange.

• Soft fleece body in a striped pattern
• Sizes S, M, L and XL
• Pink, green and orange colourways
• Pull-on design with no buckles or clips
• Product weight 107g to 147g
• Ships in a 35 x 25 x 5cm pack

On sizing. Dog coats are decided by back length, from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, not by weight, and two dogs of the same weight can need different sizes. Fleece is also warm but not waterproof: in steady rain it wets through and then works against you, so keep it for dry cold.

Who it's for: Owners of small, fine-coated or older dogs who want a simple dry-weather layer for autumn and winter.