coats....

[Krista]

Okay guys I don't like the way any of the coats I have tried fit our low and long puppers.

I really like the "blanket" or "cape" style fleece coats that attach with velcro around the neck/keel and under their chest right behind their front legs. Do you all know what I'm talking about?? The problem is that on my lean minis if the coat is the right measurement down their back, it is too big around their girth and does not fit right. Also the hole for the leash is at collar level, but I use harnesses.

The Dachshund Delight Dachsalog is not making sweaters now since they have no one to make them and the is the only palce I have seen a coat/sweater designed for the dachsie body.

SOOOOOooooo This is my plan. I'm going to try and make them coats out of polar fleece based upon a coat I have that does not fit right. Has anyone else tried this?? Maybe I'm crazy, but I think this will work well and the one I have does not look like it would be too hard to make.

Anyway, If you have any advice of have seen anything that might help me do this, I'd appreciate your input.

I want to have them ready for the Midwest Dachsie Festival on October 14 in case is is chillier than normal.

here is a link to a coat that is similar to the one I'll be using as a guide. What do you think????
http://www.pets.com/cgi-bin/puppy/products/detail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=YES&oid=38911&animal=Dogs&parOid=-14893&parPage=1

[Mrs.F]

Hi Krista,
I made Penny a fleece jacket - she kept walking out of the sweaters. I used ribbing under her belly though, to keep it snug rather than Velcro. I finished all the edges with decorative stitching because I really enjoy that type of thing, but the fleece fabrics and ribbing (like cuffs and necks on sweatshirts) don't ravel so they don't have to be hemmed if you don't want to hem them. I need to get busy and make a coat for Maggie. She came to Maine in late April after the frigid Jan-Mar weather, so all she has is a little WalMart sweater and a sock sweatshirt.
I cut a large sock down for each pup (Husband's acrylic hunting socks). I just cut slits for the front legs and these "sweat shirts" were warm and fit snugly enough that even my peanut Penny didn't worm her way out of it.

[Augie Dog]

by looking at the dog in the pic on pets.com I see a problem. dachsies are longer than the dog wearing it, the back end would either flop to one side or the other and not cover Aug's back end. hhhmmmmmmmm a second velco somewhere on the back end or belly?

[Krista]

I actually don't think that will be a problem. the strip connecting under the girth will be about 3 inches wide on the one I"m already making in my mind. if you velcroed any further down, little boys might get urine on the coat. I have seen large dogs wear this style with no trouble, due to the nature of the fleece fabric, now with a less substantial fabric, I could see that happening. Also, I plan to let it drape doen a little farther on their hind quarters than the one pictured, for added warmth and staying power. I'll let you know how they work out of course, but it might be a while before I get to them. Maybe I'll post a picture.

Heidi, thanks for the tips. I plan on using a surger to finish the edges. It worked very well on a fleece shirt I made.

[Krista]

Hey Augie's Dad,

A lady on another BB gave me an idea to keep the rear end of the coat stable -sew loops or fabric or elastic to the underside of the coat which the legs will go through. I guess many dog sweaters have these. I think that is a great idea, and will not be in the way when they do their business.

[Augie Dog]

would the back legs be like part of the polar flease <sp> or like elastic loops?

Just trying to envision it...... It's something I'd like Aug to have during the cold northeast winters.

[Krista]

I'm thinking elastic would work better. I saw a dog sweater with those loops on it today. They were less than 1/2 inch wide and are only there to secure the coat -not for added warmth. They would be attached to the coat in the underside of the side just before the leg and on the underside of the back edge so that they would span the leg across the widest part of the thigh area -but be out of the way of peeing/pooping.

Maybe someone has a picture of a dog coat or sweater with these loops and could post it. At any rate, I hope to have mine made sometime in september and will post a picture of them then. I have no doubts that this will work perfectly for my little guys.

I have already altered the pattern of the coat I have using a cutout from one of my hubby's old sweatshirts as a test.

[isobelsmom]

I got Isobel a polar fleece coat last winter, but as you found Krista, if it fits the back everything else is out of whack. She was walking out of the arm holes and the first time (thank goodness it was inside the store) she took a rather nasty nose dive.

I had a friend sew between the arms and under the belly, gathering the excess material together and it fits like a dream now. Isobel adores polar fleece. I think she thinks it was created just for her very own comfort.

I cannot sew, even if my life depended upon it. This coat closes with velcro down the back and in the collar area. Keeps her very warm!

Good Luck with yours! Who knows, maybe you will get custom requests!

mary