Clothing for Whippets – 4 Essential Items for Your Whippet

As short coated and fair weather dogs, Whippets like to stay warm and dry. This means they have certain sartorial requirements! In this guide I’m discussing several essential items of clothing for Whippets to provide protection from the elements.

Why Whippets Need Clothing

Whippets are very special dogs…perhaps the best breed of dog? Of course, I would say that as a proud owner!

That said, like many other dog breeds, Whippets require special attention when it comes to clothing.

Whippets are elegant, sleek and athletic dogs known for their incredible speed. And while they are built for explosive acceleration they aren’t quite so well adapted for bad weather and lower temperatures.

Whippets have a short, single coat that doesn’t provide much warmth. While this is great in some ways (Whippets don’t shed much), it’s a disadvantage at certain times of the year. This alone makes it important to invest in certain essential clothing items to keep them cozy and dry when the days get shorter and wetter / cooler weather comes.

The following items of clothing for Whippet are things I consider to be vital… at least during colder times of the year where Whippets struggle to be outside.

New to Whippet ownership? Read my Whippet Owners Starter Kit guide!

1. Whippet Coats

Whippets aren’t built for wet weather. While no dog is waterproof, some breeds have fur that copes better in wet climates than others.

As a consequence, during wet months of the year a Whippet raincoat is essential. This may be a type of “shell” that goes over a warm coat or sweater, or it may be a warm waterproof coat combined.

Another thing to consider is either a raincoat with an inbuilt hood of some description or a separate “snood” type of head protection (see below)… some Whippets have very delicate ears that need protecting when it’s cold and wet.

Worth bearing in mind too is the shorter hours of daylight during winter. All dogs are difficult to see when it’s dark. As a result,  it can be helpful to have a raincoat that’s brightly coloured or one that includes reflective materials. This is especially helpful if you walk your Whippet in urban areas where there’s traffic.

2. Whippet Snoods & Headwear

I’ve seen dozens of images on Instagram of Whippets modeling very fancy headwear! While it looks cute, snoods and other types of Whipper headwear serve a real practical function. 

Heat loss can be a problem for Whippets as they have short coats and low body fat. Whippets simply don’t have natural protection against low temperatures.

The areas particularly sensitive to cold temperatures are the neck and head areas, especially the ears.

Our Whippet struggles terribly during winter and often gets very sore ears because of the cold. The best way around this we’ve found is a snood. She didn’t particularly enjoy wearing it to begin with, but now seems to accept it whenever the mercury drops!

The advantage of the snood we have is that when combined with her coats it keeps her whole neck and head region covered and cosy.

There are a variety of snoods made from soft materials that won’t irritate the sensitive ear regions. 

In my view, snoods are essential items of clothing for Whippets in winter!

Find out more about canines and their cold weather needs with my dog’s winter checklist.

3. Whippet Sweaters

I’m a big fan of Whippet sweaters as they’re useful during many times of the year for outside use, and they’re often great for indoor use sometimes if it’s chilly but you don’t want to put the heating on.

Whippet sweaters may can be used on their own if it’s dry outside or combined with a raincoat or shell if it’s wet.

Rather than wax lyrical any further about knitwear and fleeces, I have a whole post dedicated to the subject: fabulous, handmade Whippet sweaters on Etsy.

4. Whippet Booties

Not something I own myself, my Whippet can’t bear things on her feet, Whippet booties are popular with some owners.

Whippets are fair weather creatures, not really given to cold winter walks in wet, snowy or icy conditions. Keeping their bodies warm is one thing, but ensuring their tootsies don’t get cold is something entirely different!

Some people find that booties are an extremely important item of clothing for Whippets and don’t leave home without them when the ground outside is frozen. 

For me, I’d like my whippet to wear booties as I feel they would offer an extra layer of protection during the winter and make walks more comfortable for her. However, she flatly refuses to wear them and tries to take them off as soon as I put them on!

Essential Non-Clothing Items for Whippets

Of course this article is really about Whippet clothing and as such shouldn’t really focus on accessories.

However, for those considering Whippet ownership it’s worth getting an early handle on the subject of harnesses and collars.

You should note that Whippets, and other breeds of Sighthound, require special collars or harnesses to protect their long necks.

All breeds of Sighthound are known to chase things without warning. It might be a cat or another dog, but equally it could be a crisp bag suddenly picked up by the wind. 

Conventional collars can damage a Whippet’s neck if they decide to suddenly bolt! To protect against this, you can opt for fishtail or martingale collars or choose a body harness.

You can find out more about these non-clothing items here:

• Whippet Harnesses or Collars? Which is Best?
• What are Martingale Whippet Collars?

Summary – Essential Items of Clothing for Whippets

Although some of the clothing items in this list may not be vital, I’d certainly at the very least recommend a waterproof jacket and a sweater for any Whippet.

While clothing of any variety may not be necessary during the summer months, it’s a different story during winter. Whippets have very short coats and little body fat so they need extra protection from cold and wet conditions.

So if you want to ensure your little Sighthound enjoys its daily walk when it’s chilly and wet outside, a few choice items of Whippet clothing will make a world of difference!

Do you have any recommendations for Whippet clothing you couldn’t live without? Or perhaps you have a question about any item of clothing for Whippets? Please tell me your suggestions or ask a question in the comment section at the bottom of this page.

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