Does a dachshund need a winter coat?

The short answer: yes - and for very practical reasons. Dachshunds and small dogs lose warmth considerably faster than large breeds, and their closeness to the ground means the belly and chest take the brunt of cold, snow and slush. A well-fitting winter coat keeps your dog warm, protects the sensitive back and makes walks in freezing weather more enjoyable for both of you. In this article you will learn when a dog actually feels the cold, what matters in a dog winter coat - and which model suits which weather.

When does a dog feel the cold?

How well a dog copes with cold depends less on how hardy he is than on four very specific factors:

Coat structure. Dogs with a dense undercoat come with a natural layer of insulation. Smooth-haired dachshunds, Chihuahuas, Maltese or toy poodles have little or none of it - for them the cold reaches the skin almost directly.

Body size. Small dogs have a large body surface in relation to their body volume. Warmth escapes across that surface faster than the body can replace it. This is the main reason a miniature dachshund shivers at 3 °C while a larger dog barely notices the same weather.

Closeness to the ground. Cold air gathers low down. A dachshund moves with chest and belly just a few centimetres above frozen ground, wet leaves or slush - areas that are more thinly covered with hair than the back anyway.

Age. Puppies cannot yet regulate their body temperature reliably, and older dogs move more slowly and therefore generate less warmth of their own.

As a rule of thumb: if a small, short-haired dog tucks his tail on a walk, arches his back, walks hesitantly or keeps stopping, he is too cold. Below around 7 °C a coat is worth it for most small breeds - in wet and windy conditions, even earlier.

Why dachshunds benefit in particular from a winter coat

With dachshunds, body shape comes into it as well. The long back means a large area left unprotected directly above the spine - precisely where dachshunds are sensitive in any case. Cold and damp also contribute to tension in the back muscles.

Then there are the short legs: they place the entire body in the zone where spray, snow and gritted slush come up hardest. A coat that only covers the back simply falls short with this body shape - the belly stays wet and cold, and that is exactly what cools a dog down fastest.

So is a dog winter coat necessary? For a Bernese Mountain Dog in winter, certainly not. For a dachshund walking through wet grass for an hour in sub-zero temperatures, it is not a luxury but sensible basic equipment - much like the fact that you would not head out in a T-shirt in January either.

What to look for in a dog winter coat

Fit for a long back

A winter coat can be as warm as you like - if it does not fit, it slips, chafes at the armpits or leaves the loin area exposed. With dachshunds you therefore need a cut with an extended back section that reaches the base of the tail without restricting the hind legs.

Measure two values before buying: the back length from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, and the chest circumference at the widest point behind the front legs. A note from experience: size ranges differ from model to model. Our loden coats start at XS with a 36-38 cm chest circumference, the Parka at 32-36 cm. So it is worth checking the relevant size chart even if you already own a model from our range.

Belly protection - crucial for short-legged dogs

Belly protection largely determines how much a winter coat actually delivers. With short-legged dogs the underside is the most exposed part: meltwater, slush and cold ground meet thinly haired skin exactly there.

All our winter models therefore have belly protection covering the chest and belly. On the loden coats and the fleece coat it is made of softshell: water- and wind-repellent, soft and flexible at the same time. A practical detail is that on the loden coats the chest panel can be unbuttoned and washed separately at 30 °C - or swapped for a replacement panel. That keeps the coat ready to use even when one part is in the wash.

On the Parka the belly area is instead made from the same membrane material as the rest of the coat. It is therefore permanently integrated rather than removable - but waterproof rather than merely water-repellent.

Water-repellent or waterproof?

This distinction often gets blurred, but it matters for the buying decision.

Water-repellent means: the material lets water bead off and reliably keeps out drizzle, snow and damp. Loden does this naturally - the traditional fulling technique creates a dense fabric that repels moisture while remaining breathable. For typical winter weather that is exactly right.

Waterproof means: the material also withstands sustained rain, measured as a hydrostatic head. Only an outer fabric with a membrane achieves this. In our range that is the Parka with a 10,000 mm hydrostatic head.

The practical consequence: for cold, dry or slightly damp days a loden coat is the warmer and more comfortable choice. If your winter is persistently wet, you need a waterproof model. You will find more on protection from wet weather in our article Is a dog raincoat worth it?.

Lining and warmth

Not every winter coat has to be lined - and not every lined coat suits every day. What matters is the combination of outer fabric and lining:

• No lining: loden on its own already provides noticeable warmth and is ideal for mild winter days and the transitional season.
• Fleece lining: considerably more warmth at low weight, comfortable on longer walks.
• Curly lining: warmth combined with a waterproof outer fabric - the choice for cold, wet days.

Models with a button-out lining are particularly practical: they cover two seasons with a single coat instead of you having to buy two.

Handling and care

A coat that turns into a wrestling match every time you put it on stays in the cupboard. Look for adjustable hook-and-loop fastenings on the chest panel - they also accommodate changes in weight and keep the coat fitting properly over time.

If you walk your dog on a harness, an opening in the back section is essential. Our loden models and the Parka have a two-way zip for this: you open it exactly as far as the harness ring requires, and the coat stays closed otherwise. The fleece coat has a fixed opening without a zip.

On care: loden does not belong in the washing machine. Airing it overnight is usually enough, and when soiled, brushing it dry with a soft brush will do. The lining and chest panel, on the other hand, are machine washable at 30 °C.

Which winter coat suits which weather?

For mild winter days and the transitional season

The unlined loden coats are the classic starting point: windproof, water-repellent, breathable - and pleasantly light thanks to the absence of a lining. Ideal for temperatures around freezing and for dogs that are on the move a lot.

Dog coat Loden softshell brown ab €110,00 Jetzt ansehen

Dog coat Loden softshell checked brown ab €110,00 Jetzt ansehen

For cold days with flexible warmth

This is where the button-out fleece lining comes in. In freezing weather it stays in; in the transitional season you simply take it out - one coat for two seasons instead of two separate purchases.

Loden coat with detachable fleece for dachshunds and small dogs ab €130,00 Jetzt ansehen

Dog coat Loden Softshell with detachable fleece red/anthracite ab €130,00 Jetzt ansehen

For cold, wet days with persistent rain

If your winter is mainly wet, there is no way around a waterproof model. The Parka combines a 10,000 mm hydrostatic head with a removable curly lining, an extended collar and elastic loops for the hind legs. The belly area here is made from the same membrane material as the rest of the coat - permanently integrated and therefore waterproof from below as well. That makes it the only model offering genuine rain protection and winter warmth in one.

Dog raincoat parka beige ab €150,00 Jetzt ansehen

Dog raincoat parka dark blue ab €150,00 Jetzt ansehen

Dog raincoat parka olive ab €150,00 Jetzt ansehen

The light option for in between

The fleece coat is not a substitute for a loden coat - it lets more wind through and is not made for really cold weather. For dry, moderately cold days, for a quick walk around the block or as a second coat while the other is in the wash, it is an easy and affordable solution. The stretchy material makes putting it on and taking it off especially simple, and the lower section in softshell protects the chest and belly. There is an opening for a harness, though without a zip here.

Dog coat fleece brown ab €50,00 Jetzt ansehen

Dog Coat Fleece Leopold's ab €50,00 Jetzt ansehen

All our winter coats are handmade entirely in Germany and cut specifically for the anatomy of dachshunds and small dogs. Discover the full range in our dog winter coat collection - and read more about the material in our article Loden - tradition, quality and craftsmanship for your dachshund.