Dog jumpers, fleeces and hoodies
A dog jumper is for dry cold: indoors when the heating is off, the car, the garden, a frosty walk that stays dry. It is not a raincoat, and a wet knit is worse than no knit. Small, thin-coated, elderly, hairless and freshly groomed dogs get the most from one. Below are knitted jumpers, fleeces and hoodies, plus the Christmas ones.
Jumper or coat, and who benefits
A coat has a weatherproof outer and goes on for walks in rain and wind. A jumper is a soft layer with no weather protection, for a cold house, the car on a winter morning, or a crisp dry walk. Knitwear soaks up rain and holds cold water against the dog, so on a wet day it is the wrong garment however cosy it looks.
Small breeds lose heat fastest, so chihuahuas, Yorkies and miniature dachshunds are the classic wearers. Whippets and Italian greyhounds shiver in a room that feels fine to you, and hairless breeds need a layer most of the winter. Older dogs feel the cold as they slow down, and a freshly groomed dog has lost its own coat for a few weeks.
Knit, fleece or hoodie
Knitted jumpers are the warmest for their weight. The Fair Isle Knit Dog Jumper and the Cable-Knit Dog Jumper with Crest Badge are proper knitwear, and the Roll Neck Cable Knit Dog Jumper adds a collar that keeps a whippet's long neck warm. Knits need more care in the wash but hold heat well.
Fleece is lighter, dries fast and washes without fuss, so it suits a dog that gets grubby; the Cosy Fleece Pet Jumper is the simple pullover version. Hoodies add a hood most dogs ignore, and the useful ones have a lead ring on the back. The Fleece Zip-Up Dog Hoodie is the easiest to put on a wriggly dog, because a zip means nothing goes over the head.
Getting the fit right
Measure back length from the base of the neck to the base of the tail and chest girth round the widest part behind the front legs, and go by chest if the two disagree. Tight round the chest restricts breathing; too long trails in the wet. The leg holes matter more than on a coat: they should sit clear of the armpits, or they rub sore patches within a couple of walks.
A pull-over needs a neck opening that stretches easily over the head and then sits without gaping. Roll necks suit a long-necked dog and annoy a bulldog. Long-backed dachshunds are hardest to fit, since a jumper sized on the chest is often too short; look for a longer-back style or accept a little belly showing.
Christmas and novelty jumpers
Christmas jumpers are bought for a different reason. The Gingerbread Knitted Christmas Dog Jumper, the Fair Isle Reindeer Hooded Dog Jumper and the Knitted Christmas Snowman Dog Jumper are for the photo, the family visit and the dog-friendly pub on Boxing Day, and many work as an everyday jumper after the tree comes down.
Keep sessions short if your dog is not a regular jumper wearer: twenty minutes for photos, then off, is kinder than an afternoon in a warm room. A dog that goes still, licks its lips or yawns a lot has had enough, and a dog new to clothes should not meet a jumper for the first time in front of a crowd.
First wears, washing and when to take it off
For a first wear, let the dog sniff the jumper, put the front legs through first with a treat in the other hand, pull the body over, praise, and take it off after a few minutes. Build up over a few days to an hour, then a walk. Most dogs stop noticing it by the third or fourth wear; if the dog freezes, go back a step.
Wash knits on a cool wool cycle or by hand and dry them flat, or they stretch. Fleece takes a normal cool wash and a low tumble. Take a jumper off when the heating is on, when the dog is panting, and before it sleeps on a warm bed, because a dog cannot cool itself through a knit.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Fair Isle Knit Dog Jumper
A colourful Nordic Fair Isle jumper with ribbed trims to keep dogs warm all winter.
From£8.99
Halloween Pumpkin Knitted Dog Jumper
A warm navy knitted dog jumper with an embroidered jack-o-lantern pumpkin and Halloween lettering, finished with bright orange and yellow striped trims. A cosy, festive layer for spooky-season walks.
From£9.99
Ancol Knitted Jumper
Ancol Knitted Jumper is listed in our dog clothing range for dogs. The page brings together the available option labels and the product facts that can be checked, so unsupported claims are left out.
From£13.79
Red Heart Knit Dog Jumper
A bright red knitted jumper with love-hearts and striped trim to keep small dogs cosy.
£30.99
Whippet Christmas Jumper & Toys
A Christmas jumper cut for whippets and Italian greyhounds plus a six-piece festive squeaky toy set.
£28.99
Tartan Hooded Dog Jumper
A thick tartan hooded jumper that keeps your dog warm and looking dapper on cold British walks.
£9.99
Cherry Print Knitted Dog Jumper
A cosy knitted jumper for small dogs in black with a sweet red cherry pattern. Soft and stretchy, it keeps Teddy, Bichon and other little breeds warm and snug in cooler weather.
£13.99
Gingham Knit Pet Jumper
A soft gingham-check knit jumper with a contrast trim, ideal for keeping cats and small dogs warm and snug indoors. Lightweight and stretchy for an easy, comfortable fit.
£9.99
Cable-Knit Dog Jumper with Crest Badge
A snug cable-knit dog jumper with a smart embroidered crest for a preppy academy look.
£7.99
Soft Plush Hooded Dog Jumper
A cosy fleece dog jumper with a hood, in soft yellow with a colourful embroidered dot pattern. Lightweight and warm, it keeps small dogs snug indoors and on chilly walks.
£7.99
Common questions
- Do dogs actually need jumpers?
- Some do. Small, thin-coated, hairless, elderly and freshly clipped dogs lose heat quickly and often shiver in a cold house or on a frosty dry walk. Dogs with a thick double coat do not need one and can overheat.
- Can a dog wear a jumper in the rain?
- It is best not to. Knit and fleece soak up water and hold it against the dog, which makes them colder, not warmer. For wet walks use a waterproof coat, or put a fleece under a waterproof shell.
- How do I get my dog used to a jumper?
- Go slowly. Let the dog sniff it, feed a treat, put the front legs in first, pull it over and take it off after a couple of minutes. Repeat over several days, making each wear a little longer, before trying a walk.
- How do I wash a knitted dog jumper?
- On a cool wool cycle or by hand with a gentle detergent, then dry flat away from radiators so it keeps its shape. Fleece is easier: a normal cool wash and a low tumble, with any zips closed first.
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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.