IF YOUR dog is a fan of playing in water or running through muddy puddles, the best dog drying coats are going to make your life a whole lot easier.
A drying coat is a dog coat that also works as a towel to keep your dog warm, dry and cosy and absorb the water and dirt to try to keep your house cleaner too.
Let's face it, in the UK things can get very soggy, very quickly – even more so when you add a dog into the mix.
Some dogs love nothing more than to roll around in the mud or play in the water so it stands to reason that if you take your dog to the beach, you might be faced with a backseat covered in sand.
Even if your dog doesn't like water, drying coats come in handy for keeping pups warm after a walk in the rain or after a bath. They're often made from cotton or fleece and look similar to towels.
We've tested the following dog drying coats and found out which ones are best for your dog.
Best dog drying coats a glance:
- Best dog drying coat with legs: Equafleece Hotterdog Fleece Jumper
- Best dog towel robe: Green Dogrobe
- Best dog drying coat for Spaniels: Lomond Dog Drying Coat
- Best dog drying coat with hood: Regatta Dog Drying Hooded Jumper Coat
- Best microfibre dog drying coat: Freckles Dog Drying Coat
We tested: Ruff and Tumble
- Classic Dog Drying Coat in Sandringham Blue, from £41.95 on Amazon — buy here
These drying coats are some of the best around. Ruff and Tumble uses a signature double layer of natural cotton towelling, making them different from other brands.
The inside layer wicks moisture from the dog's coat while the body heat pushes the moisture through to the outer layer of towelling cotton. This double thickness prevents the dog from sitting in a cold damp coat. This can help prevent arthritis.
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We tested these coats on both a small and large dog and they were so easy to put on. Both snuggle down straight away and were completely dry in a matter of hours.
The cotton towelling is highly dense, which prevents any snagging and offers maximum surface area for drawing moisture from the canine's coat.
They come in different styles. Our personal favourite is the multicoloured striped design.
Specs – Size: 26 x 4 x 26 cm Material: Cotton towelling
We tested: Equafleece
- Hotterdog Jumper (from Equafleece), starting at £18 from Amazon — buy here
This coat is 100% rainproof, breathable and warm. It's ideal for putting on your dog after a wet or cold walk or just to keep them warm at night.
The sleeves ensure a comfortable and even fit. They also insulate the joints without any tension across the shoulders or twisting around. There are no buckles or zips, which means this coat can also be used with a harness.
The Dog Jumper is also ideal for drying a wet dog, wicking away moisture from the dog's fur to the outside of the jumper. This means that they won't be sitting in a damp towel. Working dogs can also wear these to restore core body temperature.
It's a bit trickier than the previous dog to put on so it's best to be used with a calmer dog.
Specs – Size: 20.6 x 17.4 x 6 cm Material: Fleece
UOMIO Dog Drying Coat
- UOMIO Dog Drying Coat Bathrobe Towel (medium, from £20.99 at Amazon – buy here
This handy dog drying coat promises to absorb moisture quickly – helping save time on drying your furry friend after they've had a bath, been for a rainy walk or jumped in muddy puddles!
The coat is made from a warm and soft material and is easy to put on and take off to the magic tape, which also makes it easy to adjust the neck and waist to fit different sized dogs.
This dog drying coat is also machine-washable and fine to pop in the tube dryer too (on a low heat).
Specs – Size: 51 cm (medium) Material: Superfine fibre
Pawdaw of London
- Luxury Dog Drying Bag, starting at £39.99 from Pawdaw of London – buy here
Available in sizes extra-small to extra large, this luxurious dog drying bag makes it super simple to get your pup dry and warm.
It's made with a thick fabric that draws out the moisture from your dog to dry them off and keep them warm while the dirt and debris drops to the bottom of the bag so you can shake it out after your pooch has dried off.
It can also be used up to 6 times before it needs a wash – and won't smell or look dirty – which means less washing all round.
Plus, because it's a bag, there are no fastenings making it super easy to put on and take off.
Specs – Size: Length 55cm × Height 30cm × Neck 32cm (extra-small)
Lucky Paws
- Paws & Presto Rapid Dry Microfibre Dog Drying Coat, starting at £24.99 (medium) from Amazon — buy here
This microfibre drying coat is super absorbent and comfortable for your dog.
This "gown" features the company's super-soaking material, soaking up moisture 10 times faster than cotton towels. Through its advanced ultra-high-density capillary action, these drying coats can quickly dry dogs as they relax.
These super-soft dog-drying coats are great for a rainy day or trips to the beach. The material is luxurious with 400gsm circular woven fabric. No wet dog smell on your sofa in the future.
Available for different shapes and sizes of dogs, this coat is easy to use. One reviewer writes: "I bought this for my Cockapoo after using the towels. It dries him brilliantly and very quickly. I just clip it on after a bath or super wet walk and he shakes himself dry! This and a towel for his paws are the perfect drying combination."
Specs – Size: 30.8 x 20.3 x 6 cm Material: microfibre
We tested: Trover
- Original Red Bone Drydrying coat, starting from £32 from Trover — buy here
The service from Trover was personalised from start to finish and it really showed in the finished product we tested. The 100% polyester towelling effect fabric is handmade in Alderney in the Channel Islands. Any issues with things such as sizing, the company helps with straight away.
The coat itself is easy to slip on—which is handy as we tested it on an over-excited Cairn. It can be washed at 40 degrees Celsius (C) and is very quick to dry.
The coat has thermal properties, which helps if you have a working dog. Senior dogs can also benefit from this coat or those who frequently use hydrotherapy.
Specs – Size: 25 x 25 cm Material: 100% Polyester lambs wool fleece
We tested: Freckles Lomond Dog Drying Coat
- Lomond Dog Drying Coat, starting at £16 from Freckles Designs — buy here
This drying coat is perfect for those wanting to use them for the first time. It has a classical shape with a hook and loop fastening at the neck and waist strap for quick removal. It can also be easily adjusted.
The coat has a microfibre towelling inner and polar fleece outer layer, perfect for warming or drying dogs after exercise or dog sports. If you need to get your dog dry after a walk in the rain or a swim, this is also the coat for you.
It's also machine washable so if your dog decides to roll in some mud or fox poo while it's drying off, there's nothing to worry about there.
Specs – Size: 35 cm long (extra small) Material: Polyester / Microfibre
Dogrobe
- Green Dogrobe starting at £22.95 from Dogrobes – buy here
This fashionable dog-drying coat is great to get on your dog after their bath or after a hydro session. This cosy dog towel can help your dog stay warm and dry after rainy exercise.
It quickly wicks away moisture and traps air and body heat. It also has a cosy turtleneck to keep the dog's neck warm.
It has a tie fastening with no Velcro or plastic clips. This makes putting coats on and off wriggly dogs a lot easier. You can also wash and tumble dry these coats, making them easier to manage.
Specs – Size: 41 cm long (mini) Material: Absorbent cotton
Regatta Dog Drying Hooded Jumper Coat
- Regatta Dog Drying Jumper Coat Hooded, £19.95 at Regatta – buy here
Keep your doggo extra cosy with this hooded Dog Drying Jumper by Regatta.
For just under £20 (on offer), it's silky soft, made from towelling fabric, with a velcro strap to keep it securely in place.
The hardwearing fabric is quick-drying and moves moisture to the surface to ensure your pup stays dry and cosy.
Choose between red or grey and four sizes from small to extra-large.
Specs – Material: 100% Polyester
Collared Creatures
- Collared Creatures Superior Perfectly Practical Dog Drying Coat, £29 from Collared Creatures – buy here
This coat is practical, and designed with dogs in mind. These drying coats come with features such as a waterproof zip on the front, a folded-down collar and a hole for attaching leads.
This coat has a snug fit for maximum contact with your dog's fur, ensuring that the dog dries quickly. Thankfully, these coats are easy to take on and off—it slips over the dog's head and the underbelly strap goes between the dog's front legs, with awrap around the waist.
The coat is made from 358gsm microfibre cotton towelling inner and a 300gsm fleece outer layer. It's also machine washable, meaning it can be cleaned straight away after a muddy walk. It can also be tumble-dried on a low heat.
Specs – Size: 35 x 43 cm (extra small) Material: Microfibre cotton
NASH
- Bamboo Drying Coat, starting at £40 from NASH — buy here
This dog coat is made from premium Bamboo, bringing both sustainability and efficient drying to your dog's life.
It has an easy slip over the head hole and a secure adjustable hood and belly strap for maximum coverage. Perfect for those wet walks or getting back into the car after a day at the beach.
These coats are handmade in Britain and use a twin-layer design to create a fast-wicking, moisture management system. This means it's super absorbent and breathable. It absorbs 60% more moisture than cotton.
It is available in a choice of five colours with a range of sizes for every breed.
Specs – Size: 27 x 35 cm (XXS) Material: Bamboo towelling
Dog Robes
- Dog Robes Drying Coat Limited Edition Stag, starting at £32.95 from Murphy and Bailey — buy here
Forget a dog-drying coat, your pooch needs a dog-drying robe. This limited edition drying robe from Murphy and Bailey will allow your dog to live the high life they deserve.
The brand started in 2004 and designs and manufactures all its products in the UK. The Dog Robes themselves have a soft extra long loop of towelling to dry dogs quickly and protect surroundings from the soggy shakedown.
This 3-in-1 robe dries, warms and comforts making stressful outdoor adventures or baths a thing of the past. It has a decent-sized head hole and long belly ties.
There are no Velcro fastenings to clog up with dog hair and other debris. It is also designed with an overhang at the back to help dry the back legs easily.
Specs – Material: Polyester / Cotton
Freckles Dog Drying Coat
- Freckles Dog Drying Coat – Original, from £16 from DForDog – buy here
D For Dog has a form that you can fill out with all the details of your pooch, so you can find the perfect drying coat for them.
You can select the size, dog breed, and all the measurements for a tailored fit – and choose from six colours.
Whether it's for after a bath, swim or cold, wet walk,the Freckles Dog Drying Coat is super absorbent and will get your pup dry and warmed up in no time.
The coat is designed to fit snugly and is fully adjustable with a Velcro fastening at the neck and at the waist.
Best of all, as your dog dries the microfibre towel will also dry off with your dogs heat so no soggy towel to deal with afterwards.
Specs – Size: 35 cm (extra small) Material: Microfibre towelling
How much are dog-drying coats?
Depending on the material and size, prices can vary. It also depends on where you buy the coat from.
You can also pay more for tailor-made coats or coats that are made from expensive materials.
We found that on average a microfibre coat for a small to medium dog coat is around £40 to 50 on average.
Where to buy dog-drying coats in the UK?
Some stores such as Aldi sometimes have dog-drying coats on sale as part of their special sale events. But normally you would find dog-drying coats either in specific canine shops online or at pet stores.
These are the best places we have found:
- Amazon
- Pawdaw of London
- Trover
- Freckles Designs
- Dogrobes
- eBay
- Collared Creatures
- NASH
- Murphy and Bailey
- DForDog
Are dog-drying coats any good?
If you're willing to pay around the £50 mark, you're looking at buying a decent dog drying coat. Anything below this, unless it's for a smaller dog, will not be up to the standard of the drying coats we tested.
For us, the Ruff and Tumble dog drying coat was one of the best coats on the market, followed by Trover.
What to look for in a dog drying coat
Think about how easy it will be to put on your particular dog—each dog is different. You also need to see how it fits and whether you might need to size up from your usual sizing.
Check out the material too. Towelling cotton or microfibre is cheaper than Bamboo. However, the latter absorbs more moisture, quicker.
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Also, check the fastenings on the coat. Does it have Velcro, which might catch hairs or fibres in the wash? Or does it use buckles which can take longer to put on a dog who might not like waiting around?
How long should I leave a dog-drying coat on?
This depends on the dog and how wet it is. The general recommendation is between 20 minutes and an hour but if your dog's really wet, give it a towel dry first.
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