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Fetch! |
Obtrack Skyrelle Dog Coat |
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Fetch! |
Obtrack Skyrelle Dog Coat |
 In this section:  On Agilitynet:                 
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A new kind of dog coatReviewed by:
Kerstin McDonagh
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Features
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Best features: The fit - it is second to none! Even on my midget dog, the coat fits like a second skin and isn't in the slightest bit bulky. The coat is designed to keep the major muscle groups (neck, shoulders, chest, back and thighs) warm and thus prevent injuries, and I certainly believe that it lives up to this promise.
A
lot of thought has clearly gone into the design of this coat. Even the smallest details have
been taken into account, such as the belly flap which features a special notch to accommodate
the - well, let's say a certain part of the male dog's anatomy. It leaves the dog with full
freedom of movement, even while doing agility.
Like many types of windproof, water-resistant fleece fabrics, the Polartec PowerShield doesn't at first look or feel particularly warm and cosy. But as I had primarily bought the coat for use during winter training sessions, I decided to give it a thorough test during a typically chilly November agility training day. The weather was damp, cold and windy, but the coat certainly kept Biddy warm and supple, and she worked her little socks off for me. Since she is so small and has a shaved bottom, I had fully expected her to feel the cold, but when I stuck my hand inside the coat, it was quite clear that it really did trap the body heat to keep her as snug as a bug.
Although I had intended only to use the coat during training sessions, I decided to let her wear it on a daily basis during dog walks, just to find out what kind of punishment it could take. I can now say that it has never let us down, despite Biddy ploughing through mud and water, bracken and brambles, and playing with other dogs. The coat dries quickly and once dry, most of the dirt has been easily removed with a brush.
Could be improved: The cordlocks used in the shock-cord adjustment at the front of the coat are rather bulky for a small dog. While they don't catch in anything, they do knock against the weave poles and this could be a bit off-putting for some small dogs. The same size of toggle would probably not cause a problem in a medium-sized to large dogs since it would be positioned differently in relation to the weave poles.
Design
and quality:
The design is great - the Obtrack™
coat hasn't just been tailored, it's been engineered! The makers seem to have a clear
understanding of the canine anatomy and the demands of the canine athlete. The fabric is
excellent, and after more than a month's hard use, the stitching is holding up well and the
garment is keeping its shape. Most of all, the coat stays in place whatever my dog gets up to.
Price: £49.95 - £114.95 depending upon size. The price of the Obtrack™ coats would certainly cause most people to think carefully before taking the plunge. Bearing in mind the cost, the coat's greatest advantage - the fantastic fit - also becomes its greatest Achilles' heel, since it may well be impossible to use the same coat on several dogs. For example, the one I bought for Biddy does not fit my very small Sheltie. He would need a coat one or two sizes larger.
Value for money: Hmm, difficult to answer. It really depends on how badly you want one for your dog. During an average British winter, I wouldn't expect my semi long-coated GSD or extremely hairy Sheltie to need this kind of training aid. I do think, however, that small dogs with fine or short coats, as well as some of short-coated, larger breeds, such as Whippets, Greyhounds, Lurchers and Vizslas, could benefit from this type of garment during cold training sessions or between competition runs in winter. Cold muscles can easily be injured, can cause excruciating pain and take a long time to heal, as I know from personal experience. Biddy's coat cost me no more than a trip to the average agility competition, which kind of puts the price in perspective.
Overall rating: Fit - 10/10, performance - 9/10 (due to cordlock size and position)
Post-script: Since writing the review, I've continued to use the Obtrack™ coat on a daily basis because it not only keeps Biddy warm but also protects her coat) and I am happy to say that, despite severe abuse, it has maintained its shape and that no seams have given way. Biddy certainly is as snug as a bug in a rug, but my reaction when I saw her in the Obtrack coat for the first time was 'Space - the final frontier...' My dog looks like she has joined the crew of the Starship Enterprise! Kerstin
Obtrack coats can
be ordered from Agility
Warehouse
or direct from the makers in Sweden via their
website.
Click on the EU flag for an
English-language version.
About
the Reviewer...
Kerstin McDonagh
has
owned dogs since she was aged 11 when she saved her pocket money to buy a Border Terrier. She
has lived with and worked a wide variety of breeds, including a Labrador, poodle, WSD, GSD,
Sheltie and, most recently, a Lowchen. Born in Sweden, she spent her summer holidays working in
dog rescue and breed kennels there on the Continent.
After several years handling dogs in the obedience and show rings, she entered into the addictive world of agility after moving to Britain in 1989. When escaping from her day-job as a translator, she likes to compete in obedience, agility, working trials and on the British breed show circuit, usually with the same dog performing in several different disciplines.
Kerstin now lives in south-west Scotland with her husband, three dogs and two feral cats. From time to time, the household is also joined by various rescued foster dogs.
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