How the Chillybuddy Coat Fits: The Chillybuddy Coat goes over the dog's head and attaches with a Velcro strap at the base of the neck and a separate Velcro strap underneath the belly. The belly band is made from nylon so that it stretches.

How to Measure Your Dog: Be sure that your dog is standing squarely, with head up, and is looking straight ahead.

1. Neck: Measure the circumference of the dog's neck at its widest point.
2. Back Length: Following the contour of the dog's back closely, measure from the base of his neck (the point where the neck joins the body) to the base of his tail (the point where the tail joins the body).
3. Girth: Measure the circumference of the dog's chest, just behind his front legs, at its widest point.

The back length is the most important measurement. The Chillybuddy provides room for adjustment in the belly and neck straps, but it's crucial that the Chillybuddy you purchase covers the length of your dog's back. When in doubt, a little excess on the back length is better than having the coat be too short. If you are unsure about your measurements, call or email us for assistance.

Does it really work?
Yes, six months of pre-release testing and a year of controlled market exposure have yielded zero performance complaints and a number of kudos. The company's measurements show a drop in the dog's coat temperature by an average of 40%. Beyond that, their observations and those of completely independent observers testify to the behavioral and performance changes in the dogs. The fact that the Mid-Atlantic FEMA USAR teams elected to standardize on the Chillybuddy jacket after testing is a strong confirmation. 

How does the jacket work?
The outer layer reflects 70% of the incoming infrared radiation. The inner layer does two things. First, it prevents the dog's body heat from reflecting back to the dog. Second, when wet it provides additional evaporative cooling for the dog. The outer reflective layer similarly protects the evaporative layer from absorbing heat from the sun and environment. The combination of physical effects is the basis for the patent claim and what sets the Chillybuddy apart from every other dog cooling product. The jacket works better than other solutions because the evaporative cooling mechanism emphasizes open airflow rather than large amounts of water. Consider that if you are just a little damp and step into the airflow from a strong fan, you are quickly cooled. But you can be dripping wet, and if the air is not moving, you won't be cooled effectively. Air is 70% of the evaporative cooling effect; other jackets, in addition to missing the reflective protection, miss this key point.

Does the jacket work inside?
Technically, yes. Even though the dog is not out in the sun, there is still some infrared radiation inside that will get reflected by the outer layer of the Chillybuddy. Similarly, on a warm nighttime walk, the jacket can be very effective in cooling the dog. Infrared radiation is still bouncing around even though your eyes see darkness. The heat you feel is that infrared. On a 90° pitch black night, the jacket will have the same effect as during the day. It's also the best reflective safety vest you can find, since it reflects more light than retroreflective materials.

Can I wash the jacket?
Yes, the jacket can be either hand or machine-washed. You can put it in the dryer, but only on tumble dry. Line drying is recommended.

It's silver. Doesn't that attract the sun?
No. Physically speaking, there is nothing that attracts the sun. It seems to "attract" the sun because it's so much brighter than the surrounding materials. But that is because it is actually reflecting the light back to you rather than absorbing it. Non-reflective materials absorb different parts of the spectrum of light, which is why they have certain colors (the spectra they don't absorb are the colors we see them as). A flat black object absorbs all bandwidths of radiation, which is why black seats in a convertible in Arizona are not very popular! It's also way the flat black coat on a Doberman is hotter than the shiny black paint on a car. The difference in surface reflectivity makes the difference, but both are very, very hot. 

Does the jacket need to be in the freezer before using it?
No. We recommend that you only get the jacket dampened when it is hotter than 80°. Freezing will have an sort of instantaneous effect, but the low mass of the jacket will quickly go to the ambient temperature of the surroundings. The cooling is accomplished by evaporation as described previously.

Why is Chillybuddy different than the other cooling jackets?
The Chillybuddy Canine Cooling Jacket is the only cooling jacket that combines multiple physical processes to first protect and then to provide active cooling. The evaporative layer is protected from environmental heat, so it can absorb heat primarily from the dog, not from the sun pounding on it. Most important, while doing all of the foregoing, the Chillybuddy does it with unmatched airflow. It's also very important to note that use of just the reflective layer, as another manufacturer's jacket does, may actually be somewhat dangerous. Without the lining layer that is part of the Chillybuddy patent, the inside of the reflective layer actually insulates the dog by reflecting back the dog's own radiated heat. Only with an internal layer to mask off the inside of the reflective material can the jacket be truly protective.