Dog Gear of the Year
A review of the best dog product I found this year
Sometimes we discover a product when we think ‘where you been all my (dog’s) life?!’ and this happened to me this year. Here is an honest, unprompted review of it, as well as an honourable mention for some other things I use with a longer track-record. Please note, I have no affiliations and receive no incentives with any products mentioned. So, without further ado, let’s dive in with my Dog Gear of the Year!
1. Gear of the Year winner! Pawfect4Pets Waterproof Dog Jacket with Harness
I explored the question of whether you should invest in a dog coat in an earlier blog post (November 2022). For those with puppies, senior dogs, smaller or slim breeds, or arguably most dogs in the winter months, it can be a good idea. If you are looking around for one, this is a great coat.
With my adult springer, who feels the cold, I felt I had never really solved the issue of having a jacket appropriate for him. I use a raincoat for him for downpours when we just have to get from A to B, and also a thermal coat just for very cold temperatures on a walk. Neither can handle the other job, and I was never completely happy with the job they did do. This Pawfect4Pets jacket solved all our problems in one go. Although it hasn’t been especially cold or wet so far this autumn, we have already tested it three times and the results have been very encouraging.
Here is what I like about it:
- It appears very well made, with quality stitching and fabrics for the price.
- It is very, very reasonably priced, proof that you can still buy high-quality products for your dog on a budget, if you shop around.
- It provides both warmth with a padded soft fleece inner lining and a ‘waterproof’ shell outer layer.
- Every dog shape and size is different, but I finally found a coat that actually fits my dog: the front leg openings and chest are not too tight, and the top reaches almost all the way down his back to his tail. The result is compact and snug without being too tight, so allowing freedom of movement.
- Easy on-off with a zipper so your dog can step into it – nothing has to go over their head.
- It’s a handsome design – it actually looks good rather than awkward and comes with a good range of colour choices.
- It’s light, breathable, machine-washable, and air-dries quickly.
- And for me the star inclusion: a built-in, fully adjustable harness with reflecting stitching, sewn around the outside of the jacket.
For the two of us, it ticks every box. My dog actually seems to enjoy wearing it, which never used to happen!
The problem it solves
So many pet products try to invent a problem that doesn’t really exist. This is not the case with the Pawfect4Pets Waterproof Dog Jacket. It genuinely addresses a need. For me the biggest problem it fixes is where to attach the lead so your dog is both safe and comfortable when wearing a coat. Attaching the lead to a collar or a chest clip of a harness inevitably means pulling the front of the coat down. If there is an opening on the back, it would rarely coincide with where the harness’s back clip sits. Both would involve a degree of ‘faff’ as well. Now I simply clip the lead onto the coat and away we go.
Safety and quality of construction are my highest priorities, and the quality of the sewing looks high and the material appears strong. The all-important adjustable clips fit tightly and have a re-assuring click sound when engaged.
A few things to note
I cannot comment on durability as I have not owned it for long. That said, I used to do some training walks with another dog who had worn one of these for several years, and it was always reliable for us and still going strong.
Describing this as ‘waterproof’ may be a stretch, and no Hydrostatic Head measurement is given. Having tried it in light rain, it certainly kept my dog dry. ‘Water Resistant’ it certainly is.
The lightness of construction has to come at a price. I’m not sure how tear-proof it would prove to be if my dog was in sixth gear diving in and out of hawthorn hedges. But this would be an unlikely scenario in the weather conditions we would be using it.
The sizing is very accurate and with a good range, though I do not think the largest dogs would be accommodated. The sizing goes up to 5XL and my springer (quite tall and long) fits a 4XL with a little room to spare, so I would imagine anything much larger than a golden retriever will be too large for this jacket.
And although I trust the harness construction and strength, I would not solely rely on it if your dog pulls like a train. If that’s the case, you could double-up with a collar. But more recommended would be some training – I am here for just that!
Most likely Uses
For me, the Pawfect4Pets Waterproof Dog Jacket is ideally suited for wintry conditions that are not too extreme. If things were extreme, you might be thinking twice about a walk anyway. But in heavy rain I would still opt for a dedicated raincoat. Otherwise, I can envisage a wide range of conditions that this coat is ideally suited for:
- Cold conditions from dry to windy to light snow
- Cold, squally drizzle or light rain
- Damp, humid (cold), muddy conditions
- Mist, fog, ‘wet air’
- In other words, storms excepted, winter!
Overall the Pawfect4Pets Waterproof Dog Jacket provides good all-round protection against the elements, namely cold, wind and rain. And an easy, safe, flexible one-stop solution instead of using multiple items of gear to go for a walk. Hi-5 those paws!
Here is the product page:
Waterproof Dog Jacket with Harness | Pawfect4Pets
And my original post about dog coats generally:
Does my dog need a coat? – Blog – Dog Citizen | Eastside Tails
2. Honourable Mentions
I intend to review all of these together in more detail in a future post. They are all items my dog has used for many years and have proved reliable for us. So, in no particular order, here is a brief mention…
- Ruffwear Front Range harness. Not cheap, but for me, still the gold standard in strong, durable, light, comfortable, and easy on-off harnesses. Won’t suit every dog but a great all-rounder.
- PcEo Tilar LED Light Up Dog Collar. Inexpensive, long-charge and reliable brightly lit collar for dark walks.
- Swauswauk Dog Seat Belt. Heavy duty, anti-twist, anti-shock seat belt with locking rotation carabiner and additional isofix attachment.
- Fat Face Danish Design Dog Snug Bed. Really plush and soft, fun patterns, made from recycled materials and still available for a very reasonable price. Has kept its shape over many years.
Feel free to drop me a comment about a piece of dog gear you couldn’t live without!
Disclaimer: I have no affiliations and receive no incentives with any of these products. Nor does my endorsement come with any guarantee regarding any product. Nor do I accept any responsibility or liability regarding any product mentioned.