I've been to the vets today. Now I need help.
 

I have visited the vet with my youngest dog. She is going to be cut very short in ten days time. This cut is so short he suggests I make a quilted coat for her . Do any of you have pattern or now where I can find one. Fudge is a bishion frise small and aged 1year. Help I have ten days only.

http://sewing.about.com/od/freeproje...-Small-Dog.htm

I didn't click on the pdf to see what size this is, but I googled dog coat free pattern. There were other sites too.

Probably google will help!!!!

My dog loves her fleece shirts (posting info picture on left) -- I used a Vogue pattern -- the last ones I made are mock turtlenecks -- the pattern was a bit pricey, but with a Joann's coupon or pattern sale, the price was more reasonable -- the shirt is very easy to make and takes little time even making one for my 90+ lb lab -- but of course, there are free coat patterns....

Thank you I am hoping it will be very well quilted not one piece as it needs to keep he warm.

I am a professional dog groomer. Unless the dog will be living outside, he really doesn't need a coat to keep him warm. You can cover him with a blanket but unless he is used to wearing a coat, he could rub his front leg pits very raw the area around his neck also. Since the Vet reccommended the dog to be clipped short, my guess is that his coat has become very matted and tangled and that is the only option. I would strongley reccomend that you seek the help of a good groomer and get help in proper brushing and COMBING techinques. I tell all my clients that 10 minutes a day EVERY day, will keep your dog tangle free and he will look fantastic!! He can not groom himself.....that is your job and since he is only a year old, you have the next 12-15 years of coat care ahead of you. That said, you can try fitting a baby tee shirt on him for a quick fix. Run a drawstring around the dogs waist area, so it will not drag the ground or get wet with urine when he goes out. In 4-6 weeks, his coat will be about an inch long and he will be ready for another grooming. Most people can manage to control an inch of coat on their dogs and not run into mats and tangles. Good luck

Hi Dottymo,
My avatar, Tinkerbelle is always cold.....she is a Chihuahua. I made a Simplicity #3939 pattern for her. I used view A which has 4 little legs outof fleece..for the ribbing at the edges...I recycled some from a sweatshirt that I cut off the long sleeves. She loves it.

There are other views with short sleeves on this pattern...VERY easy to sew. Calls for 1/2 to 3/4 yards of fabric.

The dog may also have allergies. My vet suggested keeping our Cocker groomed short as pollen gets in his fur and makes him scratch.

our min pin has such short hair, he wears a sweater all winter long, he weighs only 7 lbs., he also lays on the register when the blower blows. Sweaters seem to work better for him. We had a rat terrier that was bigger that I made fleece coats for.

You can get a dog coat pattern for only $1 at Wal Mart.

Around here, you can get a dog coat on sale at Wal Mart because spring is coming (I hope). I made one for my cat, who
had to be shaved, out of fleece. Just one piece, binding, and velcro. Nothing fancy, as I didn't think he'd wear it. Put
it on him, he wiggled a bit, and wore it the rest of his life! The pattern was Simplicity, but you should be able to get one
free on the net.

For greyhounds, whippets, Italian greyhounds, we usually use fleece -- single layer for indoors, double layer for long walks outdoors when it's very cold. Most common is a vest-like pattern (no legs). Legs do help keep it from sliding around as much but some dogs find them uncomfortable.

The one downside to fleece is static! Dryer sheets are your friend. If the dryer sheet chemicals bother the dog, you get less static with cotton flannel or all-cotton knit.

Hope your pup is well and that you have fun making some coats!

That looks like a pretty nice pattern and the part that goes under the belly is fairly wide - I think that's a plus as it gives a little more warmth and protection to the belly. I think you could modify it to include protection for her chest. Look at the picture in this link and how the coat fits the dog. I have something similar for my dog and the coat goes over his head, down the front of his chest and then comes up on either side to velcro close. It protects his back, chest, and tummy. http://www.gundogsupply.com/avery-bo...-dog-vest.html

When my dog had some "fatty tumors" removed, the vet told me we had to keep her from scratching at the stitches OR she would have to wear a cone. I went to the thrift store and found a fleece baby sleeper. Cut it to fit her and used velcro to hold it together. Worked like a charm.

Twinkie, sorry, cost of air fare from UK but too much . Thank you I had a good laugh.

The vet wants her coat short because she has a skin allergy and because she is a bishion frise and growing her second coat he is finding difficult to get to the skin. That is why sh needs the coat to go outside in. At present in UK having minus temps. And snow.

I breed yorkies, and I have made coats from fleece. They do not rub their under arms. I designed my own. They aren't difficult to make.

I had a larger dog, for those who may need something in the future. I used a child's sweatshirt, cut the sleeves a little shorter and used a big diaper pin to snuggle it up over her back. She loved it!! Not so fashionable but kept her warm when we went camping.

You should never cut dogs' fur. It warms them in cooler times and cools them in the hot months. Why are you cutting the dog??? I have Corgies. I was warned NOT to ever cut their coats! By the breeder. I never dream of it, ever. They would get sunburned without their fur. No, I don't have "outdoor" dogs, would never dream of it either.
Sandy

Eleanor made a couple of coats for her dogs. Her is her directions

http://vimeo.com/28132887

Hope this helps. I have never made one but she made it look simple. Good luck!

Oh my gosh, the visual in my head was hysterical. I read "vet" and "cut short" and the first thing that popped in my head was that the dog was going to have some sort of amputation! Whew, I'm so glad it's only the FUR that will be cut short!!!

This reply has nothing to do with grooming but thanks for the reminder about the vet. We had a 9:20 appt. when I was looking at this post the first time this morning at 8:50. We made it on time since we live only 5 minutes away. My girl Bianca will now be able to handle her arthritis. She and her sister are 9 years old. Anyway thanks for the unintentional reminder. BTW my neighbor has a hairless dog and she puts preemie and newborn shirts on it. His name is Harry. LOL!

Dottymo: Fleece is very warm.

I don't have dogs but I have made coats for my young alpacas. I use two layers of fleece (medium weight - Joann fabric) and 3" heavy duty hook and loop tape. It looks like others have posted several options for patterns. Good luck with this project.

I have made several coats out of fleece for a friends dog. It a Simplicity pattern number 3939 and Eddie Bowser is the style I used. I liked it because it has leg coverings for all 4 legs. It is pretty easy to make. I made several for him because when the weather became cool in Houston (we're not talking freezing) he would insist on wearing it inside the house and outside and he needed a fresh one when the one he was wearing was getting too doggy in scent.

A quick easy cheap way to have a coat that I use, take the sleeve of a sweet shirt. Use the cuff to go around the neck, seam on stomach and shorter on bottem than top [ATTACH=CONFIG]404579[/ATTACH] and cut who holes where legs go. They are soft and warm, easy to make, you can surge or fold under edges and you can make two with one sweat shirt and have one to wear when you wash the other one. We have bunches of dogs (raise Rat Terriers) and that ishow I make coats. Even take ribbing and body of shirt to make shirts from small to large. Make sure you make holes for legs large enough but we hve some dogs who love them, and they are warm an not much to get caught on things.

I live in Florida and usually dogs do not need coats, I have pugs with short hair, but when I was visiting in Va and snow was on the ground I purchased some neat quilted fleece coats from Pet Smart or Walmart, can't remember which. Light weight baby T shirts slightly modified would work for inside and then add coats if the weather is cold outside or especially windy. Hopefully the de furring of your fur baby is temporary,
Pat

You mentioned skin allergies, and I will tell you that one of my pugs had terrible allergies on her paws (we thought from grass) and lots of ear infections. After doing a bit of reading and chatting with other pet owners I decided to try them on a grain free diet and now feed them only Wild or similar brands with NO grain, there are NO problems now, and they have been on this diet which they both love for about a year. It has also helped with weight control since pugs tend to be PIGS and we now feed only that food and some of the pellets if they are due a treat.
Pat

DottyMO - good luck with your little fluffs skin allergies. We have 3 fluffs but fortunately no skin issues. When the groomer talks about matting, please pay attention. The short haired dogs discussed on here don't have to worry about that. One of our dogs is cold all the time and before I knew better I let her wear her 'running suit' (covered all four legs) too long. Even with using DMat, working out those mats was no fun for either one of us!

My sister's first Bischon frise had tremendous allergies, and would chew off all her fur if she could. My sister used the baby tops (undershirts) for her dog. She had to use them all her dog's life, and plenty of medication to help her as well. I would think that the undershirt, or small baby tops would be enough while inside. However, I am sure your dog goes outside too. I don't know if you have pet shops, but they do in the states. A quilted vest one with velcro that helps it fit right seems to work best on my cold natured dachshunds. If you don't have any shops there, perhaps you could go online and order one. I don't know how long it would take from where ever you order it, but you might be able to sew one more quickly. Good luck.

I have a 5 lb Yorkiepoo and her fur has to be cut every so often. During the winter months I keep it long because she gets cold. I've bought her some cute little coats on eBay. She loves her coats and sweaters, she comes running if I pick one up because it means she's going out. She's never had a problem with any of them making her raw anywhere.

You scared me!! When you said "cut short" I don't know why, but my mind interpreted put to sleep. Whew!! One of the first answers to your query came from the groomer. Her advice is right on. A soft tee shirt with a drawstring. I have 5 dogs and only one wants/needs a shirt and she's 12 years old. But, they're indoor dogs.

What ever pattern you make, I hope you make it a little longer than the dog. I made an ultra suede with fleece lining when Socrates was a year, and it fit fine. The next winter I put it on, and it was short. At a year old, the dog is still growing. I used the Simplicity pattern.. Since Socrates is not a foodie, he is scrawny, and gets cold easy. My attitude is, if I am wearing a winter coat, so is he..

DOTTYMO,
Are you feeding your dog a dry food with corn,wheat or soy? My golden retriever had skin allergies and hair loss, about
a month after I switched her to a grain free dry food, her fur began to grow back and the skin allergies finally began to clear up. I suspect she is allergic to either corn,wheat or soy.
Sharon

My late dog Stitches, (see Avatar) had a short haircut every Spring. Invariably the weather would then turn cold for several days and the house could also feel chilly and damp. I took a piece of polyester polar fleece and made him a cape of sorts. It buttoned around his neck with a wooden toggle button and a loop. I also made a fleece strap of sorts with velcro to fasten midway between his chest and upper belly. it worked well and it was my own invention.

If you crochet, here is a pattern for it. There was other ones too, I believe
http://www.favecrafts.com/Pet-Croche...ochet-Pattern#

If yu go to Joann's they have a lot of patterns for dog. good luck

Fudge was the smallest in a litter of 7 ,, hand fed etc. now adays she looks and acts like a very lively and intelligent teenager. Full of life and after starting life as a fussy eater now adays eats anything. She has, vets, some kind of mite which came from her birth. This causes dry black flaky skin. Under her double white bishion coat you can't see them that, is why she has a num bet one or less so the patches are. Visible.

OK, first off if your vet said to cut the hair very short, your vet knows better than anyone what your pup needs.

I have a rescue 'mutt' name Tramp. He is a wonderful old soul and sweet as can be but he is very cold natured. I live in Florida and sometimes he gets cold in the summer from the A/C and wants to wear his sweaters ALL winter long. Please remember, hot air rises, cool air falls. The lower to the ground he is the colder he gets.

That being said, you've gotten some really good ideas for coats. For Tramp ... he 'prefers' the polar fleece. In addition to having a sweater on his 'daddy' (my DH) has a chair in our bedroom for Tramp (to keep him off the floor) and covers him up when they 'turn in for the night'. We keep a piece of polar fleece on our bed for our other rescue, Benji, to sleep on so he doesn't get jealous!

Loved this video, she is a character! Love her happy go lucky attitude & when she threw the strips"out of the way" ROFL.

Do you already have a coat or sweater for your dog that fits well? I made a coat for my JRT by copying one we had that was lightweight and fit her well. I used two layers of fleece and some velcrro for a closure tab under the belly. Its fits her well and I even used a tab from a clothesline cord to make the leash hook. It cost me under $7 to make. It's also washable which is important for a dog cost. Hope this helps you.