Welcome to the Fine Dog Living weekly newsletter – curated content from the FDL Facebook group + a little editorial riffing by me, Lisa Murnan.
Best winter coats
Mia G. has moved from NC to Ohio and needs a new winter coat. Like, a serious winter coat. She says: “I would like something durable enough that I don’t have a panic attack every time a dog jumps on me or I brush up against a twig while hiking. Do any of you have suggestions for a make and model for a WARM coat that will last?” (Preferably a “puffy” with enough mobility to play disc in.)
Recommendations:
I love my Carhartt winter coat, it wasn't cheap but it’s held up to everything the dogs and I have thrown at it. It’s water-repellant, and cozy without being crazy bulky. Lots of pockets. When we had freezing weather, I was able to wear a t-shirt underneath and I was still super warm…. it’s been a few years since I bought it but I am pretty sure it was this one, DUCK QUILTED FLANNEL-LINED ACTIVE JAC. I went with a men's version bc I was working at a doggy daycare at the time and wanted it roomy so I could stick the tiny dogs in there and move around 🙃
I have a Carhartt of the same model [as above] and it is nowhere near as warm as my down jackets…. I will say though I enjoy having it in my closet. Most days it’s the perfect jacket for me in Colorado. Just on a really cold day I would pick something warmer.
Let’s Go Design, it’s specifically made for the dog owner, it’s 4 jackets in one...it can be a rain jacket, a vest, you can wear the fleece liner by itself or you can wear all of it as a heavier coat.
K-Rosco Dog Walking Utility Jacket ($290) by Let’s Go Design
I have the Arrak AKKA softshell jacket and love it enough that I'm debating getting their Original Winter Jacket. If I lived somewhere with cold winters and lots of snow, I would get it for sure….For the Arrak coat, I have full flexibility. I could easily train obedience, play disc, run flyball in it if needed.
Arrak AKKA (Women’s on left, Unisex on right, each $160)
I love all my stuff by Outdoor Research, holds up well to the dogs and if you surf their clearance bag with past season colors etc you can get awesome deals sometimes. Mountain hardware products are another good option.
I love everything from Columbia. It’s survived my two Malinois puppies so far and I never worry about scratches or catching on things.
Columbia with the reflective lining. Bar none. Best for almost all OH winters
My North Face winter coat is awesome. I’ve had it for more than a few years now, it still looks brand new. Holds up to animal nails, hiking, dog sports, rough use and a clumsy wearer 😉 Mine is quite warm, waterproof, but not too heavily insulated so it’s fine to move in. I live in NJ
I like my Carhartt. I got a new one last winter because my 15-20 year old Carhart finally bit the dust. I got the winter one and it holds up to everything.
I just got two Carhartt sweatshirts and have found out they have a small cell phone pocket inside the front pocket and it is both strange and awesome.
LL Bean, Land’s End, and Eddie Bauer not on have really nice winter coats, but they also have the best satisfaction guarantees. I know people who have had their coats for years and then tore a pocket or had a zipper issue or something, and the companies just replaced the coat for free. Carhartts are really warm and durable, but I can’t fathom doing disc in one— the mobility really isn’t there.
LL Bean. I moved to Maine in 2011 and bought a winter coat from them first thing. I still wear it for the entire winter and it is still in perfect condition! I’m so impressed and highly recommend it. Well worth the money.
Poor Mia never did get a good puffy coat recommendation. Although I’m now going into an online winter coat shopping rabbit hole, see you guys later…
Mini Great Dane?
Kat K. posted a hilarious picture of 9-pound Winston’s Embark results:
When Kat showed these to Winston, he fainted:
Many people commented that Embark may have mixed things up (ya think?) and that Kat should contact them for a do-over.
Top comments:
I bet someone else is currently looking at the results for their 80lb dog and thinking there’s no way they are part Yorkie
My 1st guess was Great Dane 😂
Mini Great Dane?
Clearly the Supermutt is strong with this one.
Do you have other dogs? They tell you with other dogs in the house no playing with each other or toys or food or drink at least 30 mins before swabbing. (Editor’s note: Kat does have 2 Great Danes and although Winston did not interact with them at all before his test, “they do lick him a lot” 😂❤️)
If multiple dogs’ DNA is present, the DNA cannot be read at all, so this is not a case of cross-contamination. My guess is that this result belongs to a completely different dog, and this dog's results were sent to another dog... lol.
Even if you have other dogs, Embark is able to detect if there’s DNA from multiple dogs in the swab. You’d get a notice of contamination and you’d have to send another sample in. They won’t run it. I hope they get back with you quickly about this, because I’m 100% sure this is a mix-up. 😂
They have great customer service. I bet they will rerun it and maybe even send you a new swab for free.
And *this* is why I would never spend money on a DNA test for a dog. They can say pretty much anything and there’s no way to know how accurate it is/isn’t.
I ran my two cross breeds last year for fun. They are both F3-7 of 5-6 known purebreds - and both came back perfectly identified. Except the JRT portion of both - but the "super mutt" portion was exactly the right percentage, and both dogs share the same JRT.
Now I’m super curious what he is tho! Bc Winston is suuuuuuuuuper freakin cute
Best no-hassle morning boots
Jean H. asked, “I need recommendations for early morning boots. They need to slip on/off easy without socks, shearling or faux fleece-lined, and waterproof.”
Top recommendations:
They aren't lined, but Muck boots are my go to and they are insulated. Got them for early morning chicken chores and now they're my cold weather hiking boots too. Comfy and totally waterproof.
I use Muck boots and add a shearling ugg insole. Perfect combo for me!
A couple different styles of Muck boots from the Zappos website. If you want the “Green Veggie Print” 🥬 ($110) you’re going to have to go with Women’s.
Fleece-lined Crocs but Sorels for the really cold days.
When it's really cold and snowy I use my Sorels, they are soft and easy to slide on and off….I have Caribou Sorels, but I have a narrow foot so I can slide my feet in and out even though they are tied.
Samantha H. declared: “Few things envoke more chaos than accidentally bumping into your dogs' leashes 😮🙁”
Other things that cause chaos:
Doorbell ring on the tv, or when I put the footstool down on the chair. They all go crazy 🤦
Putting on pants gets everyone wound up in my house.
Walking towards a door. Sometimes getting up out of chair.
Bumping the treat jar
The three loud beeps when I shut down the computer raises everyone’s hopes.
Bumping the doorknob. My coat pocket caught it today and up the house went
When I close my pop socket on my phone... first world dog mom problems. 😂😂😂
I swear my dog can read my mind I can be sitting thinking about walking her (this is different times each day) and get up she stares me down to evaluate where I’m going.
Quarantine has made pants the signal of something exciting.
Breathing
(The one about pants and quarantine was especially funny…I never even thought of that connection!)
Meme of the week
Thanks to Julie M. for making us laugh with this.
Some of the comments on this one were hilarious…apparently this has really happened to some of you. (Carol C. made me lol with this one: “I may or may not have left my son behind and drove to his practice without him...”
