I can't afford to have the heat as high as I would like in my house. My mini poodle, Molly thinks she is cold if it goes below 80'. I am looking for any ideas or free patterns available for fleece coats to make to keep her warm. I can't afford to buy an expensive pattern at the moment and I really don't know how to sew much besides quilts. Any ideas would be very welcome. I can't hold her all of the time and that is what she wants right now when she thinks she is cold. Thanks!

I PM'd you.

You could use fleece, cut it to fit around the dog, and add straps with adjustable clips to hold it on, one strap on the chest and one by her front and her back legs. That should work until you can find a pattern. I'm sure someone will be able to help you.

Here is an article that has links to several different ones, including one made of fleece. It seems fairly simple.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ts.html?cat=46

I found this on the internet:

www.barlowscientific.com/technotes/home/sweater.htm

I have no sew fleece blankets videos on my site. there is also a pattern at Joanne's it was 99 cents...I almost bought it for dog coats. they have 5o percent sells all the time...

http://www.barlowscientific.com/tech...me/sweater.htm

http://www.marthastewart.com/article...c=related_test

http://prettylittlethings.typepad.co...ittle-pig.html

http://www.saunalahti.fi/glottis/quickcoat.htm

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/199...ives/26?p=2687

Maybe a thrift store down comforter or sleeping bag crumpled up into a warm bed with it made sorta like a cave she could climb into and cuddle up in and keep warm by herself? I used to have a Boston Terrier who insisted on being covered up when she wanted to take a nap, she would drag her blankie around and whine till someone would cover her in her bed.

Miniature and toy poodles need to be warm, I have 2 now and had 2 before these, since 1981 I've had toy poodles. Poodles are high maintenance dogs. Need to be groomed at least every 2 months, for cleaness and for well being, in cold weather don't have her body shaved, ask for a puppy cut. Maybe buy her a dog bed and wrap a blanket around the side to make it taller. If it gets really cold make sure if she goes outside to bring her in after business is done or paper train her inside.

A quick fix for a small cold dog is to find an old jumper (sweater) Mens are usually a good fit. See if the cuff of one sleeve fits over her head and is not too tight around the neck. Cut off the sleeve. Measure it up against her, mark where the front legs go, snip a hole for the legs, put it back on the dog and trim the length to fit. You can then oversew or bind the leg holes and the bit you cut off the back. One old jumper makes two instant coats and you can use the leftover bit for another kind of pattern.

Thanks for the wonderful ideas. I just wasn't sure how to keep her as warm as she wants to be. I have never had a dog that was cold before. She is so funny, I told her she needs one of those baby carriers where you hold them next to your chest. She wants to be held, but not on my lap. She wants to lay right against my chest. I wondered if it was so she could feel my heartbeat, but I don't know. She is the first dog that I have had that has to sleep under the covers right next to me. I worried at first that I would lay on her, but she moves quickly enough that I dont hurt her.
Thanks again, I really appreciate the help.

I used a heating pad on low heat and placed it on their beds pillows. Did not hurt them and was enough to keep them cuddly. Still do this for my other pets. And most of my pets have their own sweaters I buy at the pet stores. Hope you get her warm.

My poodle is like that, has his own blankie he sleeps under and he likes to cuddle against my chest. I keep a "warming throw" on the couch that turns itself off after 10 hours. He and my chihuahua sleep on that all the time. They let me know when it's time to turn it on, too! They cost $30 at Wmt, but may be cheaper somewhere else. I also made a big dog bed with two of the cheapie fleece blankets sewn together filled with batting scraps. It is very fluffy and they love to snuggle down in it, also.

I keep a mattress warmer on my bed year round to help with my arthritis and fibromyalgia, it helps me and is their favorite place to nap.

My daughter bought baby tee-shirts and sweaters at the GoodWill store for her elderly dog, kept the shirt on her all the time, and layered sweaters for going outdoors. Easily washed, and comfortable for the dog. Hope this helps. piecefully, the old one

I have a Great Dane that sleeps with me. She needs to be right up against me. They are called Velcro Great Danes. I made her a fleece coat with flannel lining for winter as she gets cold outside. Some dogs just need to be close to their "master" more so than being cold. But I would have blankets or pieces of fleece handy for her to cuddle in. My dogs love to have blankets to nest in.

When I fostered small dogs, I would cut the arms off old sweaters the length of the dog's body and then cut two holes for the front dogs. They kept the dogs warm and stayed on the dogs also. I also used a heating pad on low with a folded towel over it. You have to be careful that the cord is completely hidden as some dogs will chew the cord and then......bad news. I have a Boston Terrier who is 29 pounds who is freezing and I love the inside temp at 68 so she is always in her sweater. I use the body of a child's sweater for her. Good luck.

Know exactly where you're coming from. Over 30 years we had 5 Danes. Adored every one and every one had to sleep with us. Last one was 183 lb and insisted on sleeping in the middle, often sharing a pillow. I got the back, my husband got the front (including the paws across his shoulders). Didn't matter how we started out, by morning we were three in a row. My husband was in the Marines and often away for a year but I can truthfully say I never slept alone!

when i got my fat cat he was so cold he cried all night. i filled a large tupperware with hot hot hot water before his bedtime, covered with a towel and tucked the ends under. i plopped that cat right on the heated tupperware. he slept through the entire night. i'll bet if you dressed your dog in a baby or child sweatshirt and then plopped him on a hot water container, he'd be as warm as toast. covered with a blanket, he'd be toast.

Don't have a pattern, but my mom has a mini daushound and she made a sleeping bag out of polo fleece. She doubled it to make it extra thick, stitched up three sides, turned down the top. The dog loves it. She goes in by herself to sleep when mom watches tv and bed. She used to have to hold her alot as well. Good luck!! :lol:

http://www.barlowscientific.com/tech...me/sweater.htm

http://www.marthastewart.com/article...c=related_test

http://prettylittlethings.typepad.co...ittle-pig.html

http://www.saunalahti.fi/glottis/quickcoat.htm

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/199...ives/26?p=2687

Thanks Pocoellie for posting these links. I have wanted to make my 'Baby' a coat that fit her better and I think these site will do the trick.

why not knit her a coat in say mohair, that will trap the heat AND you could make her a reflecta bed --------I have made several, you buy the "wadding" which is made up of a tin foil/fabric mixture and messy but easy to do , the cover is fleece and reflects their body heat back to them.
I also give my oldies wheat bags [at a lower heat] these are v comforting to them.

Tink is the same way! I bought a dog carrier that you strap on your chest like a baby carrier and she thinks it is great when I sewing. I have her next to my heart, and it is hands free. Tink also has her own fleece blankets on the sofa and in the family room and she burrows into them as needed. She also has her quilt on the bed and lifts the blanket with her head and completely covers herself. I made it with flannel squares on 1 side, satin on the other with polar fleece as the batting. Nice and warm!

Great question and answers. The other night as I put my HEAVY irish knit sweater on to take out our 6 month old labradoodle I thought even though Jilly had longish curly hair she must be cold. I wanted to make her somthing to keep her warm. Thanks for posting all the links.

Can I ask what weat bags are? Is that like a heating pad?