How to Get a Dog Used to Wearing a Coat
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
A new coat goes on, and your dog freezes, walks like a robot, or tries to back out of it. That is a normal first reaction. A coat covers the back, wraps the chest and belly and moves with every step, and most dogs have never felt anything like it. With a slow start and plenty of rewards, most dogs learn to accept a coat or raincoat, and many start to wag when it comes out. This guide shows how to get a dog used to wearing a coat, step by step.
How we wrote this: the steps come from Dogs Trust’s guides to getting your dog used to a coat and cold weather care, Battersea’s guides to winter dog care and getting a dog used to a collar, lead and harness, and Best Friends Animal Society’s guide to keeping dogs warm in winter. All were checked on 1 November 2026. We did not test any coats for this guide, and we do not show prices or ratings.
Does your dog need a coat?
Not every dog does. Dogs Trust says some short-haired breeds and puppies may need help staying warm and will need a coat when it gets chilly. Battersea suggests a coat on walks especially for fine-coated dogs, such as Greyhounds and Staffies. Best Friends suggests a sweater or coat for a short-haired dog who lives mostly indoors and goes out mainly for neighborhood walks.
The other side matters too. Best Friends warns that a thick-coated dog who is used to the cold and plays outside for long spells can overheat in a coat or sweater. Best Friends lists breed, age, health, fitness, coat density and how used to the cold a dog is as the factors that decide how well they cope, and notes that wind and damp make the cold worse. That is why a raincoat can help even a dog who is fine in dry cold. Our best dog winter coat and best dog raincoat guides go into which dogs benefit from each.
Get the fit right first
A coat that pinches or rubs will undo any training, because your dog will learn that the coat hurts. Measure your dog’s back length, chest and neck and use the maker’s chart; both guides above explain how. Then, in our view, check these points the first time it goes on:
- Neck: snug enough not to slide back, loose enough that it does not press on the throat.
- Chest and belly: straps or panels sit flat, without gaps that catch on brush, and without squeezing.
- Legs and shoulders: your dog can walk, trot and sit without the edges dragging or rubbing in the armpits.
- Back: it ends near the base of the tail, so it covers the back without getting in the way when your dog toilets.
Battersea makes a similar point about harnesses: a good one should allow free shoulder movement, and a poorly fitted piece of kit can make a dog reluctant to walk. If your dog dislikes having a leg lifted, a style without leg loops may be easier. A pull-over fleece such as the Gold Paw Stretch Fleece has no zips or buckles, while a parka such as the WeatherBeeta Comfitec Premier Free Parka goes over the head and closes with two touch-tape straps, per our product page.
What you need
- The coat, washed or aired if it smells strongly of packaging.
- Plenty of small rewards your dog loves. Dogs Trust suggests lots of your dog’s favorite treats; what they are is up to you and your vet.
- A quiet room with no rush to go anywhere.
Step 1: let your dog meet the coat on the floor
Dogs Trust suggests laying the coat on the ground with a few treats on it, so your dog can sniff and investigate it in their own time. Praise any interest. Battersea gives the same advice for a dog who backs away from a harness: put it on the floor and reward small steps, such as looking at it, stepping closer and touching it.
Do two or three short sessions until your dog walks up to the coat happily.
Step 2: head through the opening
Many dogs find it hard to have something pass over their head. Dogs Trust suggests holding the coat up and feeding a treat through the neck opening, then moving your hand a little further back each time so your dog pushes their nose and then their head through to reach it.
- Hold the coat still. Let your dog come to it; do not pull it over them.
- Reward the moment their head is through, then let them back out.
- Repeat until they push their head through eagerly.
For a coat that does not go over the head, start instead by draping it briefly over your dog’s back, rewarding, and lifting it off.
Step 3: rest it on the body, then fasten one strap
Dogs Trust says that once your dog is comfortable with their head through, you can lay the coat on their body, keep rewarding, and encourage them. Battersea’s harness advice is to move straps around the body before clipping anything, and to reward after each clip sound so it becomes familiar.
- Lay the coat on, reward, take it off.
- Fasten one strap or buckle, reward, unfasten.
- Add the next strap only when your dog is relaxed with the first.
If your dog is uncomfortable or retreats, Dogs Trust says to take the coat off and give them the treat anyway. Go back one step next time.
Step 4: let your dog move in it indoors
A coat changes how a dog feels when they move, and Dogs Trust notes they need time to get used to this. Its suggestion is scatter feeding: scatter treats on the floor so your dog walks around to find them while wearing the coat. A short game with a toy works as well.
Keep the first sessions to a minute or two. Battersea advises keeping sessions short and upbeat, and taking equipment off only when your dog is calm, so they do not learn that wriggling makes it come off.
Step 5: first walks
Once your dog moves normally indoors, put the coat on just before a short walk. Dogs Trust points out that if the coat going on always comes before good things, your dog will soon look forward to it at walk time.
- Start with short walks on dry days, then try light rain.
- Check the fit after the first few walks, when straps may have shifted.
- For a harness under the coat, use the leash opening. Raincoats such as the Kurgo Halifax Rain Shell and the Ruffwear Sun Shower have one, per their makers.
When to take the coat off
Take it off when you come back indoors. Best Friends’ warning about overheating applies here: a coat is for the cold walk, not for a warm house. Dogs Trust says to wipe your dog’s legs, feet and belly after a walk, and Battersea says to dry off wet, muddy dogs and give them a cozy bed away from drafts. A wet coat should come off straight away and dry before the next walk.
Check your dog’s skin under the straps and in the armpits when the coat comes off, especially in the first weeks.
Troubleshooting
- Your dog freezes in the coat. Battersea suggests taking the training back a step and rewarding even the smallest attempt to move. Scatter feeding helps.
- Your dog backs away when the coat comes out. Go back to Step 1. Battersea also notes that a different style can help a dog who has bad associations with one piece of kit.
- Your dog tries to bite or scratch at it. Check the fit for rubbing, then shorten the sessions.
- It worked indoors but not outside. Keep outdoor sessions short at first, and reward often.
The same slow method works for other gear. If your dog also needs boots for ice or salt, see how to get a dog used to wearing boots, and for cold-weather walks generally, see how to walk a dog in winter.
When to see a vet
Battersea says that a dog who avoids equipment altogether may be in pain, and to speak to your vet to rule out medical problems; it also suggests asking your vet if your dog has sensitive ears or stiff joints. See your vet if:
- Your dog keeps shivering even in a coat. Best Friends lists shivering, refusing to move, and curling up outside as signs a dog is not coping with the cold.
- Your dog starts to limp, or moves stiffly in the coat and out of it.
- You find red, sore or hairless patches where the coat sits.
Walking after dark? See how to walk a dog safely at night, from lights and reflective gear to route choice and when to keep the lead on.
FAQ
How do I get my dog used to wearing a coat?
Go slowly and reward each step: let your dog sniff the coat on the floor, feed treats through the neck opening, lay the coat on their body, fasten one strap at a time, then scatter treats so they walk around in it. Dogs Trust recommends this kind of gradual, positive introduction.
Why does my dog freeze when I put a coat on?
The feel of the coat is new and changes how your dog moves. Take a step back, reward any small movement, and use scatter feeding to get them walking. If they still will not move, check the fit and ask your vet whether something hurts.
Should my dog wear a coat indoors?
Usually not. Take it off when you get home, and dry your dog off if they are wet. Best Friends notes that coats can make some dogs overheat.
Can a dog wear a raincoat over a harness?
Yes, if the raincoat has a leash opening and fits over the harness. Train with both on together.