What Should a Small Dog Wear Each Season? Boo’s Closet, Year Round

Illustration of four cartoon small dogs dressed for winter, spring, summer, and fall — Four seasons, four pages, one rule: the dog decides.

Boo had an outfit for every kind of weather. The famous teddy-bear clip that made him Boo also meant he felt the weather more than a full-coated Pomeranian does, so his closet followed the calendar: tiny hoodies when it was cold, Pawz boots when San Francisco was wet, and the orange t-shirt the rest of the time. What a small dog should wear each season is a question his owner answered nearly every day, and the happy answer changes four times a year.

This page is the front door to the seasonal half of Boo’s Closet: dog clothes by season, each season with its own page, the gear it actually calls for, a few picks we think Boo would have loved, and a plain word about the days when the best outfit is none at all. The seasons not written yet are marked as coming.

So, what should a small dog wear each season?

A layer when the weather asks for one, nothing when it does not. In winter a short-coated or clipped small dog is happiest in a sweater or coat, often with boots. In spring, a raincoat and something for the mud. In summer, shade and water do the work, with a light sun layer for a thin coat. In fall the sweater comes back out at the first cold snap. Your dog’s own signals set the edges, and they are easy to read once you know them.

The four seasons, four pages

Illustration of a West Highland terrier in a navy puffer coat and rubber boots

WinterBoo's hoodies and Pawz boots are the starting point. The layers in the order to buy them, the truth about boots, and how to measure.

Illustration of a dachshund in a yellow raincoat and rubber boots

SpringRain, mud, and the spring shed: a slicker that fits, boots or a paw cleaner, and the right brush for a coat that is shedding or growing back in.

Illustration of a Chihuahua in a cooling bandana and straw sun hat

SummercomingHeat, the summer-cut question, and whether a cooling bandana or vest earns its place. Mostly, it is about shade.

Illustration of a Shih Tzu in a mustard knit sweater with falling leaves

FallcomingThe first cold snap, the sweater that comes back out, and the walk that is suddenly dark at five.

Why Boo’s closet changed with the weather

Boo’s short clip gave him the look the whole world fell for, and his closet followed the weather. His owner’s answer was cheerful and practical: a hoodie when it was cold, Pawz waterproof boots on rainy days, and the orange t-shirt the rest of the time. Everything on the season pages, apart from those Pawz boots (the one linked product that is the exact item he owned), is what we think he would have picked for a small dog today, and each page says so near its list. What a clip does to a double coat is on the Boo Cut page.

One rule for every season

The dog decides, and a happy dog is easy to spot: it walks, sniffs, plays, and takes treats as usual within a couple of minutes of getting dressed. Panting, seeking a cool floor, or slowing down on a walk means it is time for a lighter layer, whatever the month. Shivering, a tucked posture, or a reluctance to go out means a layer, even in a season that is supposed to be mild. The method for getting a dog used to a garment, and the full list of signals, are on the clothes page. Sizing is a tape measure and the brand’s chart, and the winter clothes page has the measuring guide every season page points to.

The holidays are the other half of the closet, and they have their own hub, Valentine’s to New Year’s Eve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do small dogs need clothes all year?

No, and most are happiest without them in warm weather. A layer is worth it in cold weather, sooner for a clipped or very short-coated dog, and rain gear is worth it in wet seasons. In summer the answer is mostly shade and water, with at most a light sun layer for a thin coat.

Which season does a small dog need clothes the most?

Winter, by a distance, and most of all for a short-coated or clipped small dog. Spring is second because of rain and mud. Summer and fall are mostly about reading the dog and the thermometer.

How do I know if my dog needs a layer today?

Watch the dog, not the calendar. Shivering, a tucked posture, or reluctance to go out in the cold means a layer; panting, seeking cool floors, or slowing down means it is time to take one off. A dog that behaves normally is dressed right.