Dressing an Italian Greyhound in spring: My 3 non-negotiables and go-to layers
The longer days, hot cross buns making their way into the basket, seeing my tulips finally bloom after watching them like a hawk, blossom on the trees on our walks, that warm sun which feels like a distant memory, and generally everything just feeling a bit lighter. There are many things I love about spring.
It’s also the season that we can finally starting reaching for lighter jumpers and coats for our Italian Greyhounds, fresh textures, and a little more variety in the wardrobe. It never fails to remind me, though, that spring likes to keep us on our toes…
Do Italian Greyhounds need clothes in spring?
Coming out of a deep winter to blue skies and highs of 15 degrees can feel like summer is here, but spring often looks warmer than it feels, especially for our Italian Greyhounds. Mornings and evenings remain cool, rain showers appear more often than we’d like (in the UK for sure), and that breeze can still carry quite a bite.
With their low body fat and fine coat, our Italian Greyhounds feel the cool more so than other breeds and struggle with temperature regulation, which means even mild temperatures can still feel chilly for them.
I’ve found there are three styles that get us through the season comfortably. Before coming to those, though, there are few things they all have in common.
My non-negotiables for spring clothing for Italian Greyhounds
Breathable
I feel this one is underrated, but especially important. Spring weather has a habit of changing quickly, and clothing that traps too much heat can leave an Italian Greyhound uncomfortable once the temperature rises. Breathable fabrics allow them to stay warm without overheating if the temperature rises during a walk.
Similar to what we look for in our own wardrobes at this time of year, clothing made with natural fibres offer breathability, and some technical fabrics offer moisture-wicking properties that help draw moisture away from the skin.
Easy on and off
When the weather is unpredictable, especially when we’re on the go, I find clothing that’s designed for easy on and off makes life much simpler for both us as owners and our dogs when we’re out and about. It’s something I became especially aware of after my Italian Greyhound broke her leg and I struggled to find clothing designed with that in mind. If dressing feels tricky for you and your Italian Greyhound, I shared a few things that have helped us in this post on dressing with more ease and less stress.
Freedom of movement
I look for clothing that’s designed to work with their frame rather than against it, so details like raglan-style sleeves that extend to the neckline as they allow for more freedom through the shoulders while keeping the fit clean.
With that in mind, these are the three pieces that we rely on through spring.
The drizzly day layer
A coat is a layer we hope to not have to reach for in Spring, but it has a front row seat by my front door at this time of year. The qualities I look for in a good overcoat are a breathable technical fabric, like softshell, a quick on/off design with durable fastenings, and designed for their frame and range of movement.
The everyday layer
For me, this is often the piece that gets a lot of wear across the season; a breathable cotton jumper. Much likes the cotton layers we reach for in our own wardrobes at this time of year, it offers light warmth while still allowing air to circulate. I find them particularly helpful to have to hand when we’re on the go, on trains, out for dinner.
Lately, I’ve been loving seeing Italian Greyhounds wearing our black silhouettes for their timeless, understated clean lines that never fail to look good, and I think they enhance their frame more than anything else. But, here and there I love changing things up with a pop of bright colour. Regardless of colour, I think the beauty is in the design and the details.
The layer when winter is clinging on
Especially in the earlier part of Spring, morning and night temperatures can still feel unexpectedly fresh, so I personally keep a fleece or two within easy reach.
A fleece can offer that little extra warmth without the bulk, and it’s often the piece I find useful to have to hand when spring hasn’t quite decided to let go of winter.
