Digby & Fox Lite Waterproof Dog Coat Navy S

Digby & Fox Lite Waterproof Dog Coat – Navy, Size S

Shires rate this coat at 3000mm waterproof and 3000g breathability, which is the same sort of figure you would find on a mid-range human walking jacket: it will keep a dog dry through a normal day's rain rather than a hillside downpour. The outer is 100% polyester with a durable water repellent finish, the seams are taped, and there are reflective strips down both sides for winter walks on a road.

The detail worth knowing is the harness slot — a rubber-lined opening through the back that lets a lead clip onto a harness underneath without letting rain in through the hole. Fastening is touch-close at chest and belly, and there are elasticated leg straps to stop the coat riding round. Size S is 45cm along the back.

Performance & Benefits

• Rated 3000mm waterproof with 3000g/m² breathability.
• 100% polyester outer with a durable water repellent finish.
• Taped seams, so water does not track in through the stitching.
• Rubber-lined harness slot, so a lead reaches a harness without opening the coat to rain.
• Reflective side strips and contrast trims for visibility in the dark.
• Touch-close chest and belly fastenings with elasticated leg straps to stop it twisting.

Suitable For

• Dogs with a 45cm back length, which is size S on Shires' dog coat guide.
• Everyday winter walking in rain and wind.
• Dogs walked on a harness, thanks to the lined slot.
• Short-coated breeds that come in soaked from an ordinary walk.
• Not a stable or kennel rug, and not a substitute for an insulated coat on a thin-coated dog standing about in the cold — the fully lined Digby & Fox Waterproof Dog Coat is the warmer option.

How to Use

• Measure from the base of the neck to the base of the tail; size S is 45cm, with a 26cm tummy depth on Shires' chart.
• Lay it over the back, fasten the chest first, then the belly, then the leg straps.
• Leave enough room for the dog to stride out — a coat pulled tight over the shoulder rubs.
• Machine washable. Reproof the outer with a wash-in water repellent when rain starts sitting in rather than beading off.
• Hang it to dry rather than putting it on a radiator, which damages the coating.

Specification

• Outer 100% polyester, waterproof to 3000mm, breathability 3000g/m², with a DWR finish.
• Taped seams, reflective side strips, contrast trims, elasticated leg straps, touch-close chest and belly fastenings, rubber-lined harness slot.
• Navy, size S — 45cm back length, 26cm tummy depth on Shires' dog coat size guide.
• Machine washable.
• Shires' listing for the Lite also carries the 200gsm fill line that belongs to their insulated Waterproof Dog Coat, so no fill weight is stated here — treat this as an uninsulated shell.

Care & Caution

• Take the coat off indoors. A waterproof shell left on a dog in a warm house traps heat and damp against the skin.
• Check under the chest strap and behind the elbows for rubs, especially in the first few wears.
• Elasticated leg straps can snag on undergrowth. Fit them snug rather than loose, and check them after rough ground.
• Do not leave a coat on an unsupervised dog, and do not use it on a dog that chews at its own clothing.
• Take it off a wet dog and let both dry — a damp coat put straight back on causes sores.