Dogs are generally able to withstand some bad weather. They have fur, and rain isn't going to make them melt. But small dog breeds are not as hearty as their large dog breed relatives, which is why you might want to dress your dog in a jacket. According to the American Kennel Club, that includes small breeds, like Chihuahuas and French Bulldogs, who don't generate much body heat; low-to-the-ground dogs, like Corgis, who might brush their belly on snowdrifts or through slush; dogs whose hair is clipped short, like Poodles; and lean-bodied, short-hair dogs like Greyhounds and Whippets, who might get chillier than hairy breeds like Huskies. (Your Husky or Chow Chow does not need winter clothing.)

"Outerwear should fit the activity you're doing," says Megan Conrad, MBBS, a veterinarian at HelloRalphie.com (a HearstLab company) who lives in Portland with her Terrier-Chihuahua mix. "For example, my dog has a raincoat if we choose to walk on a rainy day. A regular dog coat that wasn't waterproof would not benefit her if she still got soaked to the bone. On the other hand, if you're out in freezing temperatures with no precipitation, you might want your dog in a genuinely warm coat."

In our Good Housekeeping Institute Pet Lab we evaluated a dozen dog jackets to look for materials that can deliver on the promise of being warm, waterproof or both. To rank the best dog outerwear, we also took into account factors like how easy a jacket was to put on a dog, and we enlisted tester families to try them. We discovered that many owners don't want to slip their dog's legs through jacket holes — that can make putting on a coat a chore. They prefer coats that wrap on and hold with hook-and-loop closures. (Which is good for ease, but note that those strips do attract and hold on to dog hair, too.) We looked for coats that come in a wide variety of sizes or that are highly adjustable, and put a premium on coats that work easily with a harness. We narrowed it down to the best dog jackets for cold and rain.

Our top picks:

Our pet-obsessed home care experts and engineers test everything needed to keep pets and their owners happy, from the best dog toys to the best dog beds to pet cameras. At the bottom of this guide you'll find more information about why you might need a dog coat or rain jacket, as well as more details about what to look for in a dog jacket.

Kuoser

amazon.com

$31.99

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Since this conforms with elastic and has some stretch, it's one of the few dog jackets that fits most breeds well. (Though we still got it wrong: We ordered a small for Rocky, a 26-pound Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and he needed a medium.) The coat wraps around and holds tight with hook and loop closures. There's a button hole at the neck that you can use to attach the dog's leash to their collar or harness. We appreciate that there's a bit of a neck warmer and that it comes in so many fun plaid colors.

"I like that it uses cotton against the body for softness, and that it has a down alternative fill for more insulation," says Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Executive Director. A huge plus of this coat that it is reversible: Flip it so the solid color shows, and it's water-resistant.

This dog jacket's popularity on Amazon (more than 30,000 five-star ratings!) is also impressive. It's a lightweight coat perfect for chilly-to-freezing walks, but if you live somewhere that is regularly below freezing, you might want something a bit warmer than this.

Primary

primary.com

$26.50

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You probably own a puffer coat that you love. Now your dog can have a puffer, too. In the half of the country where winter days do not mean literally freezing temps, this is the perfect lightweight but wind-resistant option. It's water-resistant, too, in case there's some precipitation, and comes with a hood that can snap out of the way. A small hole at the neck lets you easily attach your leash.

Primary’s kids pajamas won one of Good Housekeeping's 2022 Parenting Awards because our textile experts loved the high-quality fabric. "We also like that the brand is basic yet not boring — gender neutral designs don’t always need to be gray!" Lexie says. You or your kids can twin with the dog if you buy the human-sized puffer coats. Also, we like the price. But know that there's a cute rainbow version of the dog puffer for about $5 more.

Hurtta

amazon.com

$80.00

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The Finnish manufacturer of this dog parka grades it as appropriate for walking in temperatures from freezing to 20 degrees below. Online reviews from families in states such as Colorado, Maine and Alaska say that this makes winter life with their dogs better. We like that it has a hole that lets you attach a leash to a harness that's underneath the jacket. Meanwhile, the collar can pull up and keep your dog's neck warm.

A Lab named Ronan tested the 20-inch size. "It's so easy to put on and adjust the girth, and he absolutely loves it," reports the dog's Brooklyn-based owner. Soft elastic straps hold the coat down in the back, but users are divided over whether those back straps help or get in the way. Plenty of users simply cut them off if they don't feel they are necessary. But Ronan's owner loved them. "Usually my beef with coats is that they move around while the dog walks," she says. "This one stays in place."

"Overall, the high quality construction of this dog coat feels similar to the human winter coats I've evaluated — impressive!" says Amanda Constantine, Home & Apparel Reviews Analyst for the Good Housekeeping Institute. There's a reflective lining for warmth, but she cautions that it might crack and peel with many washings. "The drawstrings at the neck and in the bodice are simple to use but will need [to be] tied off to keep them secure and in place," Constantine notes.

Canada Pooch

petco.com

$37.99

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This jacket protects a dog well from the rain. It's billed as water-resistant, but a run through our Lab's rain-simulation machine showed that only a few drops snuck through at the hole where the leash attaches to your dog's harness or collar. Many online reviewers note that it keeps a tummy dry on low-to-the-ground breeds.

Margo, a French Bulldog, wore a size large (18 inches) that fit well and covered from ears to tail (a rare fit victory!). It has two little treat pockets on the back, and a soft cotton lining. You might see a note about the coat's outside material containing a phthalate. Lexie says you needn't be alarmed; it's safe enough in a dog jacket. If you're worried, wash your hands after you handle the jacket, which you're likely to do anyway after being out walking your dog. "I like that this dog coat has reflective trim, since visibility can be poor in wet weather," Lexie says. That also makes your pup easier to spot when you're on a run together.

Carhartt

amazon.com

$39.99

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The Carhartt line is famous for its durable canvas garments, especially work pants and overalls. It follows that its dog jacket would be a practically indestructible chore coat for your hard-working best friend, making it ideal for the great outdoors. "We've had this for a couple years now and it's still in perfect condition," an online reviewer notes.

Lexie says, "This type of material will likely feel thicker and more sturdy than the polyester-based coats. Carhartt is a go-to workwear brand and recognized for their quality garments." It's easy to slip on with just two hook and loop closures, one around the neck and one around the belly. Note that there's no hole for attaching your leash to a harness or collar, so you'll need to put your dog's harness on over this jacket.

"The corduroy material around the collar is soft but will definitely attract quite a bit of pet hair," Constantine adds. This warm coat isn't waterproof but it is water-repellant. Our tester Lab-Pitbull mix, Daisy, loved wearing it — and her owner says she usually dislikes dog coats. One (very unproven) theory: The coat's weight might serve to calm a normally nervous dog like Daisy.

We scoured online reviews and ultimately pursued testing a dozen dog jackets with six dogs and four families in Brooklyn and New Jersey. We asked them to report on fit and how easy each jacket was to put on. Then we had our Good Housekeeping Institute textile experts double-check the fabric of the dog coats for strength, warmth and water resistance. We also checked the closures for strength and durability. Finally, our experts ran the rain jackets through a rain-simulation machine to be sure they were waterproof.

Lexie shares these suggestions for shopping for a dog jacket:

✔️ Most dog jackets are polyester, and that's good. "It's versatile for various weather conditions, and durable and lightweight. Some dog jackets have cotton components as well for more of a high-quality and substantial feel."

✔️ If you have cold weather, look for insulation. "For added warmth, look for coats that have an inner fill. You won’t find down fill as often in dog coats like you do with human outerwear, but polyester down alternative is a great option for adding lightweight warmth as well."

✔️ A lining can also add warmth. "Depending on how warm you need the coat to be, you can opt for a coat with added warmth on the side that faces the body. Reflective liners and fleece are both great for trapping in extra heat."

✔️ Check for easy closures. "Hook-and-loop closures are most common and easiest to get on and off. They’re also better for finding the right fit because they can be easily adjusted."

✔️ Added features are not strictly necessary. "Some coats have hoods, some have pockets. These may not be necessary but are worth keeping in mind when you’re deciding what type of coat (and how much coverage) you need for your dog."

A note on fit: We did our best to measure the dogs who tested our coats — three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels of varying weights, one French Bulldog, one small Lab and one medium Lab mix. The fit was incorrect almost every time, mirroring the complaints of many online reviewers: When it comes to dog coats, fit is hard to get right. Order at least two sizes, and be prepared to send one back.

Do a little research on where your dog's breed or breeds (if it's a mix) originated from to get an idea of whether you should wrap it in a jacket. "There are so many breeds now, and many are not meant to withstand cold and rain," Conrad says. "Breeds that originate from warmer climates are being owned by people in colder climates and need some extra care when it comes to handling the elements. A great example is the Chihuahua, which originated in Mexico but is owned by people worldwide. Chihuahuas are not built for freezing temperatures!" (Conrad knows this firsthand: Her own pup is a Terrier-Chihuahua mix.) Often you can tell the breeds that originated in warm places just from their name: Australian Cattle Dogs, for instance, and Afghan Hounds.

Other reasons to get a dog jacket:

Your dog is small. "Many small dogs do need a jacket in the winter, like my small dog," says Conrad, who lives in Portland. "But not all of them need one. Small dogs with long hair, such as the Pomeranian or the Spitz, may not need a jacket since they already have thick coats."

Its hair is short. "Some large dogs with short hair such as Pitbulls, Weimaraners and Greyhounds may get cold and need a jacket for activities in the snow and rain," Conrad says.

You've got a senior dog. "Dog jackets may be helpful for senior dogs as they age and become more sensitive," Conrad says. "But some large breeds with heavy enough coats, such as Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, may not need a jacket even if they are older." They might generate enough heat on their own!