When to start dressing your Italian Greyhound for autumn
It's quite hard to believe only last week, in heatwave 5.0 of the long summer we've had, we were keeping our Italian Greyhound out of the sun from 8am until after sundown. And just like that, the days are feeling fresher; we've even had rain, and for the first time in a while, I'm now swapping "is she cool enough" with "does she need a layer."
This in-between period is the part nobody quite prepares you for. It's not quite autumn yet, but it's when our Italian Greyhounds can start showing signs they're ready for a little warmth.
Why this in-between period is harder than actual autumn
I wrote a while back about why I don't look at seasons as a dressing guide for my Italian Greyhound, and this is one of the stretches that kind of proves my point. It's not that the weather's bad. It's more about the fluctuations we see within the same day. A warm midday that doesn't call for a layer can be sandwiched between a fresh morning and a damp evening.
Italian Greyhounds don't have much room for error here either. They have low body fat, a thin coat, and they feel the extremes of the heat and cold more than many breeds. So this journal isn't so much about preparing an autumn wardrobe. It's about having a few pieces that cover the conditions we can see across a single day, some of which can already feel like autumn, and knowing which one you reach for when.
What our Italian Greyhound wears between summer and autumn
Still-mild days, but with a little something needed on the edges of the day
This is when we reach for The Brigitte or The Frankie. We designed these pieces for when you might be sat outside at a pub or restaurant on an evening, or the breeze picks up by the coast, when it's not quite jumper weather but your Italian Greyhound needs something.
Cooler mornings, mild afternoons
This is where The Fleur or The Steve come in, two of our two-leg jumpers. We designed these for the bit when you could do with a bit more coverage, but full winter weight isn't quite needed yet.
Damp or unpredictable days
This is when we reach for The Arlo. We made it for a quick on and off when rain is forecast, even on days that are, technically, still summer by the calendar.
What all of these layers have in common is that they're all made with breathable fabrics, like cotton and softshell. This is particularly important at this time of year because the same piece might need to work across a ten-degree swing within the same day.
Signs your Italian Greyhound might need a layer
I love to see my Italian Greyhound free without a jumper or coat unless she needs one but, ultimately, you spot the signs quite early on when your Italian Greyhound needs a layer. I think a good rule of thumb is when you'd reach for a layer yourself, but this is the time of year when sometimes that goes out the window, as I've found Twiggy on a summer evening feeling the cool before we do.
These are a few things I notice when she feels she could do with something:
- Shivering when she's still
- Reluctant to walk
- Tucking her tail with a slight hunch, and hurrying as she walks
- Feeling cold to the touch, usually her ears are a good sign, even if the air doesn't feel that cold to you
- Looking for blankets
If it's raining, I'll always dress her in a raincoat to keep her dry and warm. If she's wet and the wind picks up, she will feel the cold. A wet, cold dog with low body fat can lose heat quickly, and it's a genuine risk rather than just a bit of discomfort.
While the weather apps can help...
I still misjudge this stretch at times, even though I'm guilty of checking my weather apps frequently to work out what our Italian Greyhound might need. Because of how much we care about our Italian Greyhounds, and how sensitive they are to their environment, we want them to be the perfect temperature at all times. What actually helps is having a few pieces you trust to do their job by the front door, that get you through the in-between and also carry through to the next season once we truly hunker down for autumn.
