Does My Dog Need a Coat?
30-day returns·First exchange free·Designed in Denmark
Winter guide · 9 reasons
Is your dog cold on winter walks?
Your dog can't tell you it's cold. It shows you – it shivers, slows down and wants to go home. No dog deserves to freeze on its walk. Find your dog's score in the cold chart, and read the 9 reasons a good coat makes winter better for small and clipped dogs.
★★★★★4.8 out of 5 · 225 reviews of Nora
The Staey cold chart
When does your dog need a coat?
Find the temperature and your dog's size, and read the score. The higher the number, the more your dog needs warmth – and the shorter the walk should be.
| °C | SMALL DOGunder 10 kg | MEDIUM DOG10–25 kg | LARGE DOGover 25 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16° | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 13° | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10° | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 7° | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 4° | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 2° | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| -1° | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| -4° | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| -7° | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| -10° | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| -13° | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| -15° | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| -18° | 5 | 5 | 5 |
- 1No riskJust go out – the fur handles it
- 2Risk unlikelyLight coat for small and short-haired dogs
- 3Potentially unsafeTime for a coat on walks
- 4DangerousLined winter coat and shorter walks
- 5Life-threateningOnly short toilet breaks and the warmest coat
Adjust the score
- +2Rain, sleet or wet fur
- +1Toy and miniature breeds
- +1Puppy under 6 months or senior
- −1Nordic breed or thick, dense coat
- −1Dog is used to the cold
No thermometer? Look at your dog.
If you recognise one or more of these signs, your dog will most likely benefit from a coat.
- 01Shivering or trembling
- 02Hunched posture, tail tucked in
- 03Lifting paws or walking slowly
- 04Wanting to go home early
Source: Tufts Animal Care and Condition (TACC)
Did your dog score 3 or more?
See the lined winter coatsNora from · Vera with harness from · 30-day returns
What is actually true?
Myth or fact
-
×
Myth
Dogs have fur, so they don’t get cold.
staeyFact
Fur insulates very differently. Small, slim and short-haired dogs lose heat quickly and may need a light coat from as early as 7 degrees.
-
×
Myth
As long as your dog keeps moving, it stays warm.
staeyFact
Movement helps, but most walks have pauses. When your dog waits at a crossing or stops for a long sniff, it cools down quickly – especially puppies and older dogs.
-
×
Myth
Rain makes no difference when it isn’t freezing.
staeyFact
Wet fur insulates far less than dry fur. In rain and wet snow, even dogs that usually cope well can benefit from a coat on the walk.
-
×
Myth
A little cold is no big deal.
staeyFact
Cold takes the joy out of the walk. A dog that's cold walks less, sniffs less and plays less – and the walk is often the best part of its day.
Why a coat makes a difference
9 reasons your dog will enjoy winter walks more in a good coat
Part 1
Is it my dog?
01
Your dog isn't being dramatic. It just isn't built like a husky.
A husky has a thick double coat made for snow. A whippet or a French bulldog doesn't. Short fur and a slim body lose heat quickly, and small dogs walk close to the cold, wet pavement. So when your dog stands shivering at the gate, you've read it right.
Find your dog in the cold chart
02
The groomer took the winter coat home.
Poodles and doodles are clipped all year round. That's practical in the living room. But with the fur goes some of the insulation your dog would otherwise have had in January. A coat gives back the layer that was clipped off.
Fits perfectly and looks great on our Cavapoo.
Sabine T. · Verified buyer · Nora, Moss Green
03
Puppies and older dogs have less warmth to spare.
A puppy can't yet hold its temperature properly. An older dog often has less muscle, stiffer joints and walks more slowly. The cold chart adds 1 point for both. If your walks have got shorter this year, the cold may be part of the reason.
I wasn't sure whether the coat would be too small for my Havanese puppy (5.5 months, 4.1 kg). It fits quite loosely and still has room to grow. She let me put it on her without any fuss.
Marion T. · Verified buyer · Nora, Moss Green
Sounds like your dog?
30-day returns · First exchange free
Part 2
Why Nora and Vera?
Nora and Vera are designed in Denmark, and we always start with the dog: how it moves, where a coat can rub, and what makes it freeze at the door. Only then do we design the coat – for the winter we actually have: rarely crisp frost, mostly slush, wind and darkness by late afternoon.
04
Wet fur doesn't keep anyone warm. That's why Nora is water-repellent outside.
Rain and slush flatten the fur, and then it holds very little heat. The cold chart adds 2 points when the fur is wet – the biggest adjustment in the whole chart. Nora has a water-repellent outer fabric with a soft, padded inner layer and a cosy fleece lining. Vera is lined and has the same water-repellent surface.
We love this coat so much! It stays completely dry on long snowy walkies and my dog also stays warm and is feeling so comfy in it.
Marie W. · Verified buyer · Nora, Moss Green
05
Nothing that rubs or pinches.
A coat that rubs is a coat your dog wants out of. Nora has no leg holes, so nothing presses into the armpits. It goes over the back and closes with wide velcro straps on both sides and around the chest, so you can adjust it to follow your dog's body instead of shifting around. A dog that doesn't feel its coat soon forgets it's wearing one.
It keeps her warm, is beautifully made, and looks great. The price–performance ratio is fair, and last but not least, the jacket doesn't slip out of place.
Paulina A. · Verified buyer · Nora, Taupe
06
Vera: the harness sits inside the coat, so nothing slides.
A coat over a harness can slip to the side, and then you're adjusting it in the rain. On Vera, the harness is sewn in underneath. You zip along the back, click the quick-release buckle and go. If your dog already has a harness you're happy with, choose Nora – it has a zip on top so the harness and lead can come through.
I ordered it for my Frenchie and it is absolutely perfect. It is so helpful to have the harness directly included!
Nina T. · Verified buyer · Vera, Sage
Your dog deserves to enjoy winter too.
Find the coat that suits your walks30-day returns · First exchange free
Part 3
Is it worth it?
07
A coat for many winters.
A good coat shouldn't give up after one season. Nora and Vera are made to keep working through rain, slush, snow and the washing machine – winter after winter. 225 dog owners have given Nora 4.8 out of 5, and Vera has 4.7 out of 5 from 68 reviews.
The coat fits perfectly, and I was able to exchange it without any problems. The quality is excellent, the Velcro fasteners seem durable, and the fabric is high-quality. I'm thrilled and would definitely buy the coat again.
Sina P. · Verified buyer · Nora, Reflective
08
Measure in two places – and exchange for free the first time.
Size is what most people are unsure about. Measure the back from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, and measure the chest at its widest point. Compare with the size guide on the product page. If you get it wrong, your first exchange is free.
After initially ordering the wrong size for our toy poodle, the exchange process was very easy. The jacket now fits perfectly and looks fantastic, thank you so much!
Michael W. · Verified buyer · Nora, Espresso
09
Nora or Vera? Let your walks decide.
If your dog already has a harness you're happy with, choose Nora. If you want coat and harness in one, choose Vera. Do you often walk in the dark? Then take a look at Nora Reflective: the whole outer layer reflects light, and in daylight it looks light grey.
See Nora Reflective
Compare
Why pay for a coat – or a little more for Nora or Vera?
Your dog can't choose its own coat. You can. Here's what the difference means for your dog.
| Nora | Vera with harness | Cheap coat | No coat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warmth | Soft padding and fleece lining | Lined | Often thin – check the label | Only the fur |
| Stays dry | Water-repellent outer fabric | Water-repellent surface | Varies | Wet fur insulates poorly (+2 in the chart) |
| Fit and comfort | No leg holes, adjustable velcro and drawcord – follows the body | Harness sewn in and fully adjustable – stays in place | Varies – check how it closes | – |
| Getting dressed | Over the back – no paws through holes | Zip along the back + quick-release buckle | Varies | – |
| Lasts | Made for many winters | Made for many winters | Varies | – |
| Price | From | From | Lower | Free |
| Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 (225) | 4.7 out of 5 (68) | – | – |
| Returns | 30 days, first exchange free | 30 days, first exchange free | Varies | – |
| What your dog gets | Warm, dry walks in a coat that fits – winter after winter | Coat and harness in one that stays in place – winter after winter | A lower price – but check lining, fit and returns | A dog that wants to go home |
The winter coats
Nora or Vera?
Choose Nora for maximum warmth or if you use your own harness. Choose Vera for coat and harness in one.
Our warmest winter coat
Nora Dog Coat
★★★★★4.8 out of 5 (225 reviews)
From
- Warm and comfortable – soft padding and fleece inside, water-repellent outside
- Nothing that rubs – no leg holes, and wide velcro straps that follow the body
- Zip on top for your own harness and lead
Taupe, Moss Green, Espresso, Espresso/Sky Blue, Midnight, Storm and Reflective
30-day returns · First exchange free
Coat and harness in one
Vera Dog Coat w. Harness
★★★★★4.7 out of 5 (68 reviews)
From
- Stays in place – the harness is sewn in underneath, so the coat doesn't slide
- Zip along the whole back and a quick-release buckle
- Lined and water-repellent, machine washable at 30°C
Sand, Sage, Charcoal, Chestnut, Dusty Blue and Herringbone Mocca
30-day returns · First exchange free
Reviews
What other dog owners say
4.8
★★★★★
225 reviews of Nora
Beautiful, high-quality coat. It keeps Chewie dry and nice and warm. I would buy it again any time.
Paula W. · Verified buyer · Nora, Taupe
The jacket is in a really good quality and my dog absolutely loves it!
Muriel S. · Verified buyer · Vera, Sand
Our second coat. Great quality. Washes really well. Perfect fit.
Andrea E. · Verified buyer · Nora, Reflective
Verified buyers. Some reviews have been translated. Read all reviews
Returns and exchanges
If it doesn't fit, exchange it. The first exchange is free.
You have 30 days to return from the day your parcel is delivered. If the size is wrong, your first exchange is free. Returned items must be unused and in their original packaging. Questions about size? Write to mail@staey.dk.
30-day returnsFirst exchange free
Good to know
FAQ
At what temperature does my dog need a coat?
It depends on the dog. In the cold chart, small dogs already score 2 at 10°C and 3 at 4°C. Large dogs only reach 3 at around 2°C. Rain and wet fur add 2 points. Watch your dog, not just the thermometer.
Which size should I choose?
Measure the back from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, and measure the chest at its widest point. Compare with the size guide on the product page. Your first exchange is free.
Can my dog wear a harness with the coat?
Yes. Nora has a zip on top, so you can bring your own harness and lead through. Vera has the harness sewn in underneath, so you don't need an extra one.
Can the coat be washed?
Yes. Close all zips and velcro and wash Nora on a gentle cycle at max 30°C with a low spin. Use a mild detergent and no fabric softener, and lay flat to dry. Vera can be machine washed at 30°C.
Can my dog wear the coat all day?
The coat is for the walk. Take it off when you get home so your dog doesn't get too warm, and let a wet coat dry before the next walk.
Does Vera work for male dogs?
Yes. Vera is designed so male dogs can pee without any problems, and the leg straps at the back can be removed.
Ready for winter
Give your dog warm walks all winter.
Nora if your dog needs maximum warmth or has its own harness. Vera if you want coat and harness in one.
30-day returns · First exchange free
Nora and Vera winter coats★ 4.8 (225 reviews)
See the coats