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ABC News
7 days ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Do dogs actually need to wear jackets in winter in Australia?
As large parts of the country shiver through winter, making sure our loved ones are rugged up in their warmest clothes is a top priority. And for many of us, that includes our four-legged family members. But does your dog actually need to wear a jacket? According to experts, that depends on a variety of factors, including their size, breed and how cold it gets where you live. One of the main determining factors for whether your dog needs a jacket is how small they are, according to Susan Hazel, an associate professor from the University of Adelaide who specialises in research into animal welfare, behaviour and ethics. Dr Hazel says dogs that are less than 10 kilograms "and ones that are less than 5kg, even more so" are likely to benefit from wearing a jacket when it is cold, particularly if they are venturing outdoors. "Smaller dogs, because their body surface area to body mass has a different ratio, they will get cold," Dr Hazel says. Breeds including Italian greyhounds, French bulldogs, chihuahuas, toy poodles, pugs, Maltese and Yorkshire terriers are among those that can benefit from wearing a coat in colder weather. Shaun Naylor and his husband Benny Cole live on the Gold Coast, on the traditional lands of the Yugambeh people, and have recently welcomed Louis, a four-month-old Italian greyhound, into their family. Shaun said it quickly became clear that Louis "definitely needs a jacket" when it's cold. "He gets really, really cold as soon as the temperature drops," he says. "He might be sitting with us on a couch with a blanket and you might move the blanket and there's a breeze and he just starts to shiver. "We'll get up in the morning and take him out to the garden so he can go to the toilet, and as soon as you pick him up and move him away from the heater or anything, his whole body shakes. "We have had him less than two weeks and he currently has three knitted jumpers, one hoodie, a reflective woolly coat for when he goes walking and some pyjamas." Larger dog breeds — particularly those with double coats such as golden retrievers, labradors, huskies, German shepherds, border collies and Newfoundlands — are more easily able to regulate their body heat, even if they are out walking in cold or wet weather. "They really are wearing a heavy fur coat and even when it rains, the rain doesn't tend to get through that double layer," Dr Hazel says. However, some larger breeds with single coats or shorter hair, such as greyhounds, have low body fat, which means they don't have much insulation from the cold. "If your dog gets cold, it will shiver in the same way that we do if we get really cold, so people will know if their greyhounds are a bit cold," Dr Hazel says. If your dog is sleeping inside, there's generally no need to dress them in jackets or pyjamas overnight, provided they have warm bedding. Dr Hazel says there are more important considerations than a jacket if your dog sleeps outdoors at night, including a kennel that is protected from wind and rain. She says it's important they have "somewhere they can keep warm and [have] some bedding" and "not just a bit of concrete". "The smaller the dog, the more important that would be, and the colder the area, the more important that would be." Shaun also owns a Maltese–chihuahua cross named Dylan, and says he has "lots of fur, so I guess it's a little bit more for the people than for him when you put him in clothes". "But he does like to have a jacket when it's cold … he'll come to you and let you know he wants his jacket." Dr Hazel says, "dogs are people pleasers" and "if the dog tolerates it … [and] you're not using aversive methods", there is generally no harm dressing them in clothes. "You get the full range with dogs, with some of them that love wearing a coat, some of them that are ambivalent but put up with it and some that hate it." She says she would "never, ever recommend trying to force a jacket on a dog that didn't like it" and "if you did that, every time you did it, it's going to get harder and harder". Owners should also make sure any jackets or jumpers fit their dogs properly and regularly check that there are no ill-fitting straps, Velcro or other material that is rubbing on their skin and causing pain or discomfort. Mount Gambier vet Teresa Priddle recently told the ABC that jackets should always be taken on and off every day and it was worth "checking daily that it's fitting correctly and there are no rub marks".
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
The ACT wants dog owners to spend 3 hours a day with their pet. But quality, not quantity, matters most
By Susan Hazel Authorities in the ACT have released draft regulations for the welfare of dogs. One inclusion getting attention is a guideline 'requiring all dogs to have a minimum of three hours of human contact daily'. The purpose of this code is to help dog owners meet their obligations under existing animal welfare laws in the ACT, which see dogs as sentient animals. This recognises that dogs can experience pleasure and pain, and that these feelings matter. If we accept dogs are sentient then we must think about their welfare and how to provide for them the best life possible. So, will three hours of human contact guarantee a good life? Three hours across a 24-hour period is probably achievable for many people, once you factor in walks, pats, feeding time and some attention at home. But just mandating a certain number of hours isn't the answer, in my view. What matters most is what you do when you're with your dog to meet their specific emotional and physical needs – and how long you're leaving them alone. Countries around the world are taking more notice of the needs of dogs. In Germany, the law requires owners to walk their dogs twice a day for at least an hour each time. Swedish rules require that 'dogs must have their need for social contact satisfied'. Dogs are descended from the grey wolf – an animal which would certainly not integrate easily into a human group. But over thousands of years, humans have selectively bred dogs so they want, and even depend on, human contact. We've genetically selected dogs to want to be with us, and unfortunately this has led to many not coping well when they're alone. The ACT's new draft code recognises this, noting that 'dogs are social animals and must not be kept alone for long periods of time'. An estimated 14–29 per cent of dogs have problems related to separation from their owners. Signs of separation-related problems may include: 1) barking 2) escaping 3) destructive digging 4) destructive chewing. Other problems for inactive dogs might include being overweight, feeling bored or even getting depressed. It is likely the quality of time spent with our dogs is more important than the quantity. Some dogs like lying on the sofa bingeing the latest series with you. Others might prefer long walks, or a strenuous game of fetch. And dogs have different needs. A one-year-old dog might love going for a big walk, but a 12-year-old dog with arthritis may find that painful. Some dogs love chasing balls, and others would rather watch grass grow. What's more, the amount of time a dog can handle alone will depend on the animal. For some, only five minutes away from their human would be long enough to send them into total meltdown. What's important is what you do with your dog when you're together, to meet their needs. Complicating matters further, dog owners vary in how they want to spend time with their pet. That's why this guideline may struggle to find community acceptance. Good dog owners realise that what you do with your dog is most important, and needs to be tailored to the dog's emotional needs, rather than just mandating a certain time goal. That said, the draft code may prompt all dog owners (including not-so-conscientious ones) to consider whether they spend enough time with their dogs. And it may prompt people considering buying a dog to think about whether they can commit three hours a day. The regulation may also encourage people to think more about fun things to do with their dog, such as develop (or continue) a play routine. Creative play can help boost attachment between dog and human. If you can't manage three hours, just aim for what you can and try to carve out special time with them (perhaps by reducing your screen time where possible). The most important part is to see if you can observe what happens when they're alone (you could set up a camera). Try to make changes and seek professional advice if you can see their welfare is at risk. Effective rules also need to be enforceable. It is highly unlikely sufficient resourcing would be available in the ACT to check the time all dog-owners spend with their dogs each day. How this would be calculated and recorded remains unclear. But even if this three-hours-a-day guideline is dropped in the ACT's final code, it's prompted an important discussion and will overall improve the welfare of dogs.
