The Dog Bodysuit Guide › Dog Bodysuit vs Coat: Why a Bodysuit Is the Better Choice
From Houndz in the Hood, based on the fitting notes of founder Terri Goodwillie, who has made breed-fitted dog clothes in New York City since 1999. Updated October 2026.
Short answer: a four-leg bodysuit is the better choice. A coat covers the back and sides, but a bodysuit also covers the chest, belly and all four legs, so there is no gap for cold air. Ours stretch on with no velcro, zippers or clasps, and have a leash opening on the back.
Where a coat falls short
Our founder, Terri Goodwillie, learned this in 1998 with her Italian Greyhound, Matisse, who shivered on every New York City winter walk. The coats she could buy covered his back and left his chest and thin legs bare. The first Houndz in the Hood Bodysuit covered his whole body. We have made bodysuits for dogs since 1999, and the reason is the same today: a coat leaves the chest, belly and legs open.
Our category pages put it plainly. Italian Greyhounds and Whippets have a slim shape and low body fat, so they get cold quickly, and covering their legs, especially in winter, helps them stay much warmer. Dachshunds have a rounded chest and short legs that keep them low to the ground, and they get cold quickly too.
Bodysuit vs coat, side by side
| Houndz four-leg bodysuit | Back-only coat | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Chest, belly and all four legs | Back and sides; chest and legs often bare |
| Fit | Cut to the breed line’s shape, sized by length and girth | Often sized by back length only |
| Closures | None: it stretches to go on | Usually velcro, buckles or zippers |
| Leash and harness | Discreet opening on the back; hooded styles add a second opening on the hood | Varies |
| Going to the bathroom | Cut to allow all bodily functions | Varies |
| Washing | Machine washable (care varies by fabric) | Varies |
A bodysuit for every kind of weather
Because the bodysuit comes in several fabrics, you never have to fall back on a coat. Match the fabric to the day:
- Mild weather, inside and out: an Indoor/Outdoor Bodysuit in midweight fleece that resists wind and rain, such as Dachshund Indoor/Outdoor Bodysuits ($52).
- Cold, windy winter walks: a Heavy Fleece Bodysuit, such as Italian Greyhound Heavy Fleece Bodysuits ($70).
- Wind, snow and below-freezing days: a Windblock Fleece Bodysuit, wind-blocking and water-repellent, such as Miniature Windblock Fleece Bodysuits ($60).
- Bedtime: Jammies, light micro chamois fleece for lounging and sleeping.
- Heat, sun, travel and air-conditioning: Rompers, stretch cotton bodysuits such as Whippet Rompers ($54).
Hooded styles add a sewn-in hood with no strings or attachments that covers the head, ears and neck without blocking your dog’s vision.
What about sweaters and sweatshirts?
We make them too, and they are handy extras. Our Heavy Fleece Sweaters cover the chest and front legs, and Heavyweight Sweatshirts are heavy fleeced cotton for a chilly house. But neither covers the back legs and belly, so for walks we still recommend the bodysuit, in the fabric that suits your weather.
Next: see every bodysuit fabric compared, or find out which breed line fits your dog.
Ready to find your dog’s bodysuit?
Browse the breed lines (Italian Greyhound, Dachshund, Whippet, Miniature, Toy & Teacup, Pug, Boston Terrier & French Bulldog), compare the size guides, or send us your dog’s measurements and we’ll help you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bodysuit or a coat better for a dog?
A four-leg bodysuit. It covers the chest, belly and all four legs as well as the back, so there is no gap for cold air, and the legs hold it in place.
Can my dog go to the bathroom in a bodysuit?
Yes. Houndz in the Hood bodysuits are cut to allow all bodily functions.
Do Houndz bodysuits have zippers or velcro?
No. They stretch to go on and off, with no velcro, zippers or clasps, and have a discreet leash opening on the back.