How to Get Your Frenchie to Actually Wear a Raincoat

You found a raincoat that fits. You put it on your Frenchie. And your Frenchie turned into a statue, or flopped on the floor, or walked backwards like the coat was trying to eat them. Sound familiar?

Tito got lucky: he was used to his coat right away. Not every Frenchie is that easygoing, and that's okay. Most dogs get past it fast when you slow down and make the coat mean good things.

Why Frenchies freeze in a coat

A coat is a brand-new feeling: fabric on the back, something around the legs, a crinkly sound every time they move. Freezing in place is one of the most common first reactions. It isn't stubbornness. Your dog just doesn't know what this thing is yet. The fix is to introduce it in small, easy steps.

Step 1: Let them meet it

Put the coat on the floor and toss a few treats on and around it. Let your Frenchie sniff, step on it and walk away. Do this a couple of times on day one. That's it.

Step 2: Drape, don't dress

Lay the coat loosely over their back for a few seconds while you hand out treats, then take it off. No legs, no snaps. Repeat until they barely notice it landing on them.

Step 3: One leg at a time

Guide one front leg into its sleeve, treat, then the other. Fasten the snap, treat again, and take it all off. Keep these sessions under two minutes and stop while your dog is still relaxed. A short session that ends well beats a long one that ends in a wrestling match.

Step 4: Wear it for the fun stuff

Once the coat goes on without fuss, leave it on during things your dog already loves: dinner, a game of tug, a puzzle toy. Build from a minute or two up to ten. You want the coat to predict good things, not the vet.

Step 5: Save the hood for last

The hood is the part flat-faced dogs notice most, since it sits close to the ears and eyes. A clear hood helps because your dog can still see where they're going. Flip it up for a few seconds indoors with a treat, then back down. Work up slowly, just like the coat.

Step 6: First walk on a dry day

Don't make the first outdoor trip a downpour. Take a short walk in the coat on a dry day, then try a light drizzle. By the time the real rain shows up, the coat just means "we're going outside."

When to slow down

Watch for lip licking, yawning, a tucked tail, freezing, or scratching and biting at the coat. Those mean you moved too fast. Go back a step for a day or two. There's no prize for finishing in a weekend.

Fit makes it easier

A coat that pinches behind the front legs or squeezes a deep Frenchie chest is uncomfortable, and no amount of treats will fix that. It should feel snug, with room to slide two fingers underneath. If you're not sure about size, our guide to measuring your Frenchie walks you through it.

What Tito wears

Tito's rainy-day coat is our Puget Sound Rain Slicker: sleeves on all four legs, a snap closure instead of buckles, a clear hood and reflective stripes. Add your dog's chest measurement when you order and a real person will double-check the size. If it still lands wrong, we'll swap it free within 30 days.

How did your Frenchie react to their first coat? Tell us in the comments.