It's getting darker earlier now and I worry about people being frightened of Buster, he worries people in the daylight (perfectly friendly, it's just most people are worried about his size :( ), I worry that as he's brindle and hard to see in the dark, somebody else out  in the dark could get a fright as they wouldn't see him untill they were close , but if he had a hi-vis coat on people could see him easier.

Does anybody know where I can get a high-vis dog coat from? I've been looking on the 'net most of the morning and I can't find one that would fit Buster :( He'll need one to fit a 37" chest minnimun (he has growing to do), there must be places to get them this size, i've found tweed dog coats (!!!!) that go up to 42" chest, but not a hi-vis one :(  At this rate I think I'll have to start looking at shetland pony gear :(

most dog coats do the sizing as collar to root of tail, Buster will be big but can you have a quick measure to give a better idea?
Chris

thanks :)
collar to base of tail = 39 inches /100cm

Could try this site

http://www.petsbitsonline.co.uk/index1.html

I've not used them myself, so can't give any recommendations etc, but i've been meaning to get a high viz for the beastie who goes into work with the OH - all his employees have to wear them so thought I'd best get DAve one too. Largest size mentioned is 30" but it does say to contact them and they'll try to assist with other sizes.

Looks like they do some nice collars as well, apparantly made by them - I like the look of the pink camouflage one, and the pink high viz for my girlies!!!

www.weathertogs.co.uk does made to measure all sizes, she does the Hi-Viz, bit pricey but that size is about £35 with extra £1 for reflective stripes. that size isn't on web site but I know the woman that runs it and just rung her up :-)
Chris
ps I will keep lookin for others.

> Does anybody know where I can get a high-vis dog coat from?

I bought one at Crufts in 2007 from Aerborn.  We rarely need to walk in the dark but if I do I'll usually have the kids with me and it puts my mind at rest if they and the dogs have these on; we have narrow lanes in the village with no lighting.

The one on the website looks a bit 'plastic' but if it's the same as mine it's actually quite soft and snug.  I'll probably order another for my youngster now he's (mostly) finished growing.  I seem to recall standing in the queue whilst one lady was giving measurements for a coat to be made so perhaps Buster can go custom if needs be, although they do go up to xlarge and they make for horses too!! :)

Hope it helps

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REFLECTIVE-HI-VIZ-FLUORESCENT-SAFETY-DOG-COAT-VEST-XXL_W0QQitemZ180296914951QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180296914951&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1296%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Very cheap and cheerful - and although described as XXL seems more like XXS! But maybe they could make in a different size?

http://www.countrymun.com/general/dog-coats/hi-vis-tabard-dog-coat.html

http://www.dapperdogsonline.com/

ive used these guys before for a made to measure trouser suit for Alf, they are great and will make adjustments if it isnt quite right.  I havent looked right through to see if they do hi vis but im sure they do.

Thank you everyone, I'm sure to find something with all of these links :) :)

I love the link to 'dapperdogsonline', I've not looked at the coats yet as I've been distracted by the christmas novelties LOL They have reindeer antlers for dogs to wear, cute 'elf scrunchies' to go around thier necks and adorable bandanas with motifs (I love the one that says 'santas little helper' :) ), ahhh how cute, they even have dog baseball caps in 'mastiff' size :)

I think I'll get Buster some antlers - how could anybody be frightened of him in a hi-vis coat, reindeer antlers and a 'santa's little helper' bandana :)

ETA, OMG they have 'slobber chops' xmas bibs LOL I have to get one!!! (I'm not easily distracted - honest ;) )

lol :)

My boys have "mummys boy" and "the mutts nuts" bandanas ;)

> My boys have "mummys boy" and "the mutts nuts" bandanas

Ahh, that's so cute :)

The Pound shop have some hi-viz jackets....jut a bit like the tabards, velcro fastening etc.
Its not a full jacket mind, I've got XL, XXL for mine and they are Boxers figured for a pound a pop
wasn't bad :)

I have bought from these people before. http://www.gillrugs.com
Great service and good fitting coats.

[url=]collar to base of tail = 39 inches /100cm [/url]

When measuring for a coat ..you should measure from the the middle of the breast bone, to   base of tail.

I use these ,

http://www.equafleece.co.uk/gfx/images/homepage_03.gif

Was just about to suggest Equafleece too - fabby :)

I have had a water-resistant jacket made to measure (very reasonable cost), with reflective strips, by www.togsfordogs.net.  At first glance it may seem that they are an Italian Greyhound/Whippet only supplier, but they aren't. The lady who runs it, Helen, is really helpful and will do her best to make an appropriate dog coat to measure for your dog. Contact her and ask her - she will be able to make a coat to fit and the price is really good. I was surprised, and expecting much more expense to get truly made to measure coats. She also does lovely dog bedding, also made to measure.

I add a blinker to my dog's collar, which flashes in red (my one was from Canine Spirit, but I have seen them elsewhere). We also make sure we carry a large, powerful torch (mine is rechargeable and waterproof and is from a company called nightsearcher - Google will find them). I have no qualms about shining this at car drivers who approach us too fast on our little (30mph, no pavement, no street lights) village road with their headlights at full beam, blinding us. It does make them notice us! In fact, they normally dip their headlights immediately, thinking that a motorbike is approaching.

Claire

I meant to mention, I understand where you are coming from with the issue of your large dog frightening people in the dark, although I was at the receiving end of this with an off-lead dog. A couple of years ago I was walking with my dog in the pitch dark on the footpath which runs outside our house through fields (we live at the end of a track, not a made up road). I had my huge torch, tubby terrier had her reflective jacket (it was colddddd) and blinker on her collar. No sounds, no obvious other torch in the vicinity and then suddenly this huge (at the time) shaggy black "thing" rushes up to us and leaps at us. I am not ashamed to say that I screamed, I was so startled, so was the tubby terrier....... Then a faint voice in the distance saying .... "it's OK he's friendly..." It was a friendly flat-coated retriever, but we didn't know he was friendly when he rushed up and jumped at us, and my tubby terrier has ever since hated black dogs with a passion (since we live in a village where every other person owns a black labrador this is not good).  The dog's owner did have a torch - a tiny, weak affair that neither I nor the tubby terrier spotted.

I understand that your dog is not off lead, so could not have run up to us, so similar circumstances would not arise with Buster, but for others who walk off lead dogs in the dark - some of us can actually be scared by your dog running up to us!!

Claire

How horrible for you :( It's simple things like this that give big dogs a bad rep and make other dogs wary :( I worry about Buster giving somebody a fright while on-lead in the dark, I couldn't bear the thought of him tanking around in the dark off-lead!!!!
I think I will start taking a torch as that will also help people spot us.

Ive got our two his vis vests from Arco the ones builders wear there about £3.50 each. Kiddies size with a pair of scissors and a needle there perfect, you can buy the proper dog ones at Pets at Home about £7.99

Last year mine wore their red bandanas edged with white fur and a bell all day, this year I may add antlers, if you get Buster some give us a link to a picture!!!

> Ive got our two his vis vests from Arco the ones builders wear there about £3.50 each.

My OH is a builder so we have several of those vests knocking about the place, I thought they would be perfect for Buster (adult size large), I tried it on him - poor thing it was a very tight squeeze as cut up into his arm-pits, it was a struggle to get it off him!!
I hadn't thought about re-designing it though, I'd just need to cut the arm-holes off and it'd fit :) I've got my eye on one or two of the made-to-measure coats as there are some nice ones that are fully lined, but untill I've decided which one I'll get to work re-designing the OH's vest!! :)

>Last year mine wore their red bandanas edged with white fur and a bell all day, this year I may add antlers, if you get Buster some give us a link to a picture!!!

Ahh, how cute :) I'll definately be getting Buster some sort of festive outfit so will make sure I put some pics on my photobucket.