Best Dog Raincoats

It was pouring down rain in Paris late last September and the coat we had brought for Sparkles, while warm, wasn’t waterproof. So we put her in her stroller, zipped up the cover, and trudged off to Michette, a pet supply store about half a mile away. It carried dozens of dog raincoats in all styles and colors. Sparkles waited patiently as we tried them on her, looking for one that fit and wasn’t too difficult to put on. Finally, we threw ourselves on the mercy of the clerk. She quickly found just the right dog raincoat, in classic navy with plaid trim and a detachable fleece lining for warmth, from an Italian label called Fashion Dog. I mean, what else are you going to buy for your Cavalier in Paris? It fit great, was easy to put on and take off, and stood Sparkles in good stead through heavy rainfall in Bilbao, Madrid, and the south of France.

That brings us to my first piece of advice in the search for the perfect pet raincoat: if possible, buy in person and ask for advice regarding fit and features. Two raincoats we reviewed might well have featured in the Goldilocks tale: one was too big and one was too small, even though we selected them based on the listed size parameters.

Unless you’re in a large city, though, you probably won’t have access to multiple pet supply stores with a variety of woof-wear and knowledgeable salespeople. It’s just hard to tell from photos how a particular style will fit your dog, so be prepared for some trial and error if you’re ordering online. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for finding the best dog raincoat for your particular pooch’s needs.

What We Looked for in a Dog Raincoat

Fit: A good raincoat should be easy to put on and fasten, comfortable for the dog to wear, and provide good coverage from rain, whether in the form of sprinkles, showers, or a full-on downpour. We looked for the click-and-go ease of quick-release fasteners. I try to avoid Velcro fasteners because it’s easy for dog fur to get caught in them and painful to remove. Ease of movement is essential. Finally, will the dog be able to pee or poop while wearing it without soiling the coat or themselves?

Ease of cleaning: We checked whether raincoats could be machine-washed and dried and how quickly they dried after getting wet.

Extra features: A pocket for holding treats or poop bags is a nice touch. Some raincoats had hoods, which generally did not stay on well and were disdained by dogs. Reflective trim is an important safety feature.

The Best Dog Raincoats

Whole Dog Journal Rating	Product and Maker	Price	Sizes	Notes
	Ruffwear Sun Shower Dog Raincoat	$64.95	XXS-XXL	Our best overall pick. Easy to put on; fits well; comfortable for dog; offers good coverage.
	Fjord Raincoat 2.0	$94.99-$99.99	24-90	Best for athletic dogs. Easy to put on but access for the leash is inconvenient. High quality with price to match.
	Golden Rainpaw II	$69	8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26	Best for tall or long-bodied dogs. Strap is difficult to adjust, but coat offers good coverage. Doubles as a post-bath drying coat.
	New York Dog Harness Raincoat With Reflective Trim	$39.95	8, 10, 12, 14, 16	Back is too short for good coverage. Hood is cute but not functional. Made well.

Best Overall Dog Raincoat: Ruffwear Sun Shower Dog Raincoat

This cheery yellow raincoat in an XS size—fitting dogs with a 17- to 22-inch girth—was tested on Charlie, an 18-year-old terrier mix who weighs 20 pounds. Features of the Ruffwear Sun Shower Dog Raincoat include side buckles, a “storm collar” that folds upward for extra protection, and leg loops for a secure fit. Beyond the bright color, vertical reflective accents at the back, middle and neck provide additional visibility on dreary days or in the evening.

Charlie’s owner, Jennifer, said the fit was good, although she had a little trouble finding where the fastener attached on one side of the coat. (I had the same issue when I tried it on Sparkles because it’s covered by a flap.) I had originally requested Ruffwear’s Cloud Chaser for testing, but they suggested I try the Sun Shower instead, saying “It offers the same protection from precipitation and wind as the Cloud Chaser, but it features better coverage along the length of the dog—protection from mud and dirt—and is more breathable in moderate weather conditions.” Since it is July and not raining in California as I write this, I was happy to make the substitution.

Jennifer used a hose to test how well the coat kept Charlie dry and said only his feet got wet. It did take a little while for the coat to dry afterward. Jennifer said, “The water beaded up on the coat and just stayed there.” She loved that it was lightweight and that a double flap in the back offered extra coverage. Neither Charlie nor Sparkles minded the leg loops. Buyers said, “Great rain jacket! Provides very good coverage and fits very securely. Also looks fantastic” and “Fits perfectly. Love the color and the fabric is top quality.” A pocket for holding poop bags or treats would be a plus, but it’s not a must.

Best Raincoat for Active Dogs: Fjord Raincoat 2.0

Scandinavians know weather. The Fjord Raincoat 2.0 was designed in Norway, inspired by the changeable weather of the fjords, moving from sunshine to heavy rain in minutes. We tested it on Dante, a Lagotto Romagnolo who lives in sunny Southern California. It was easy to put on with quick-release buckles that fasten around the belly, and it fit well, thanks to leg straps that keep it from flapping around. Dante didn’t mind them and ran around freely while wearing it.

His owner, Tamela, made it rain with the hose, and the water beaded right up on the fabric, keeping covered areas dry. The high-necked design protects that area as well. There’s no access slit for a leash at the neck, but there is one mid-back, making it suitable for dogs wearing harnesses, although one buyer complained about its placement. Cinch points allow the fit to be adjusted at the head, neck, and tail. Reflective strips aid visibility in a gloomy Norwegian wood or on night walks.

Overall, buyers who reviewed the coat online were pleased with their pricey purchase, with some caveats. One wrote: Fits my dog so perfectly! I didn’t expect the jacket to be so lightweight. I also love the buckle and the adjustable elastic straps. My dog stays dry and comfy, even in windy conditions. Another says: “Five stars for being a real raincoat, not just a nylon coat that doesn’t shed water. But the access to connect the leash to a harness under the coat is less than wonderful. Works okay if the dog is always out in front. If the dog is behind, as mine often is, the leash pulls the coat forward off the butt. I’ll have to put the harness on top, adjusting the size every time, or get a second harness just for over the raincoat.” Some reviewers didn’t like that the strap wraps around the outside of the coat, exposing it to rain. Tamela solved that problem by strapping it underneath and laying the jacket over it.

Best Raincoat for Tall Dogs: Goldpaw Rainpaw II

We had some issues with the Goldpaw Rainpaw II, but it had potential good points as well. This was a difficult raincoat to test because it didn’t fit any of the three test dogs well. I requested it in a size 14, which should have fit a 15- to 25-pound dog with a 19- to 23-inch chest. Sparkles has a 19-inch chest and weighs 15 pounds, so I thought it would work for her. The adjustable strap had to be cinched all the way to get it to stay on well. Because the strap is thick and stiff, it isn’t easy to adjust, so that’s a possible frustration for buyers.

We also tried it on Charlie, who weighs more, to see if it would be a better fit, but even tightened it slipped and slid as he moved. I ended up testing it on Sparkles and it stayed on well during a walk. When I put her in our walk-in shower to simulate rain, the coat showed its benefits. This isn’t a full coverage dog raincoat (no leg coverings), but because of its length and the shawl collar design, her neck, back, sides, and half of her tail stayed dry. That’s a plus, and it mirrors what commenters who had purchased it said: “The design is great at keeping the chest and most of the underside clean and dry” and “It covers all but his head and keeps him dry. I especially like the belt because it does not come undone as Velcro will.”

The material is lightweight and stretchy. None of the human testers especially liked the feel of it, but it clearly keeps dogs dry and is lightweight enough to be layered over another coat for additional warmth and weather protection. It’s machine washable and dryable.

We Also Tested: New York Dog Harness Raincoat With Reflective Trim

This red dog raincoat with hood was selected for a Lagotto Romagnolo, whose owner liked it for the built-in harness. I requested it in a size 16 for dogs with chest measurements of 23-27 inches and weighing 25 to 35 pounds. Dante weighs 35 pounds, so he was at the top end of the size range. The coat’s length is 15 inches, and it did not cover his rear—not even close—and was short on the sides. I noticed the same problem on the dog modeling the coat on New York Dog’s website. A buyer review says: “Doesn’t really cover from rain but works well as a windbreaker and doesn’t pull on the neck.” We tried it on Sparkles, and it covered more of her rear end, but still not quite all the way to the tail. The hood is cute, but a brief shake of her head had it off, so I wouldn’t rely on it to keep ears dry. Charlie, a 20-pound terrier mix, also tried it on and was not fully covered.

Unusually, it fastens with a zipper, which operated smoothly. That wasn’t too much of a problem for Dante or Sparkles, but I can imagine that a lot of dogs wouldn’t sit still for being zipped in, and for longhaired dogs, you have to be careful not to get fur caught in it. The harness is adjustable, but there are no rear leg straps to help the coat stay on the dog. We did not test in “rain” because it was obvious that none of the test dogs would be fully protected.

On the plus side, the reflective trim is useful for night walks, and it has a pocket with a snap closure on top that can hold treats or poop bags.