A guide to Whippet and Italian Greyhound coats

Whippets and Italian Greyhounds need warm, functional clothing as they suffer from the cold and often require a coat, jumper or onesie to keep them comfortable and happy in the colder months.

At Occam, we have spent years studying the clothing needs of Whippets and Italian Greyhounds. Our collection is made up of simple, practical and well-fitted coats, jumpers and onesies for all occasions. 

Whether you’ve already got a sighthound (or two) in your life, are a soon-to-be owner or just curious about these creatures, here’s our rundown on why they need coats to get them through the chilly days.

Why do Whippets and Italian Greyhounds need to wear coats and jumpers?

Whippets and Italian Greyhounds feel the cold. A lot. 

They have very low body fat and short coats which makes it harder for them to retain heat. In the cooler months, Whippets and Italian Greyhounds are known to shake, this is their way of warming up their muscles (or telling you it’s time to put a coat on). 

Another reason that they often need an extra later is down to their dislike of water. Many sighthounds hate water, avoiding swimming, puddles and rain. Most will require a waterproof coat or onesie if you are planning to walk in rainy weather.

When does my Whippet or Italian Greyhound need to wear a coat? 

If you feel chilly in a t-shirt, it’s likely your whippet or Italian greyhound will also be feeling the cold. Depending on location, most sighthounds in the UK start wearing their coats in the early autumn months. They will need them all the way through the winter, through to late spring. This isn’t to say they won’t need them on cooler summer days and nights. In essence, it’s always a good idea to have a coat or jumper at the ready for them.

Where does my Whippet or Italian Greyhound need to wear their coat?

Most of the time Whippets and Italian Greyhounds will wear their coats outdoors. Although some sighthounds will need a coat indoors too. If they are in a particularly cold room, or a draughty location, they will need a coat or onesie to keep them comfortable. Some sighthounds prefer to sleep in a jumper or a onesie as it can act as a comfort blanket.

What type of coat does my Whippet or Italian Greyhound need?

When it comes to selecting a coat for your Whippet or Italian Greyhound it’s important to consider the usage. For outdoor and indoor use our Beuys design is perfect. Beuys is available for Whippets and Iggies. For wet weather days we recommend the our Riley raincoat or the Søren onesie, these designs are made from softshell which is completely waterproof. Softshell is a waterproof fabric bonded with a soft fluffy jersey lining which helps to keep your sighthound well insulated. 

Our top picks for winter include the following - 

The Søren Whippet Onesie provides full-body coverage, for those wet and muddy walks where you’d like to avoid a shower this is perfect. 

Our Judd Onesie is another versatile garment that can be worn outdoors or inside as pyjamas. The fleece lining is soft to their body and is designed for free movement. Judd is available for Whippets and Italian Greyhounds.

How should a coat fit on my Whippet or Italian Greyhound?

When choosing a coat or jumper for your sighthound its important to note a design for ease of movement - a coat shouldn't restrict any limbs. Make sure there is enough room around the chest and the coat fits well along their spine. If a coat is fitted well there shouldn't be any need to buy a bigger size but you may want to consider this if you are going to be layering.

We’ve spent time working on each Occam design with the help of the sighthound community in London - talking functionality, design and fit. Whippets and Iggies have a unique form, at Occam we start every design by taking this into consideration.

You can follow the link here to learn how to measure your whippet or iggy.

If you have any further questions we would love to hear from you - hello@occamstores.com