Despite her diminutive size, my dog Ace isn’t a big fan of wearing clothing. To satisfy my desire to decorate her while respecting her preference for nudity, I maintain a large collection of nylon collars in a rainbow of colors. But sometimes dog clothing is about protecting a dog from the elements, particularly a dog with a short, smooth coat, and for these instances I won’t compromise. Ace has a few jackets and heavy shirts to protect her little body from cold and wind.
Because of our agreement, the kinds of dog clothing that catch my eye are those that are utilitarian, easy to clean, and attractive. Recently, while shopping at a local boutique pet store, I was stopped in my tracks by a display of Teckelklub outerwear. I had never heard of this Canadian company, but its clothing was clearly top-notch. I had to try it.
In honor of spring, Ace and I sampled the Fuzzie ($24 to $68 depending upon size), a fitted fleece shirt made to be worn alone or layered beneath a Teckelklub waterproof jacket. The Fuzzie is made from machine-washable polyester fleece, with a Velcro closure at the waist. The Fuzzie is available in an impressive 12 different sizes and nine colors. (Ace is modeling the Fuzzie in Royal Blue, size 14, at $40.)
When I received Ace’s Fuzzie in the mail, I was surprised that the neck opening does not adjust like the fabric around the waist. As a Boston Terrier, Ace has an enormous head and chest proportional to the rest of her body, and I worried it would be impossible to get her into the Fuzzie. Fortunately, the polyester fleece material has a little bit of stretch, and the size measurements on the Teckelklub website are accurate, so I slipped Ace into the Fuzzie with ease.
I like the way the neck and chest of the Fuzzie fits Ace. In fact, the Fuzzie is the best-fitting garment I have ever found for Ace. Usually, if a shirt fits around her head and chest, it is too long. I wonder whether other owners of bully breeds have had similar challenges. Because the Fuzzie is fitted pretty closely to Ace’s body, I think it would be easy and comfortable to wear layered with another coat or rain jacket on top of it.
I like other aspects of the fit of this jacket, which are not evident from the photo on Teckelklub’s website. The turtleneck is an unusual feature on a dog’s garment and would be nice and toasty in windy conditions. Near the end of the jacket’s back, there are darts to keep the Fuzzie fitted to the dog’s body.
The Fuzzie’s materials appear to be of good quality, on par with high-end human sportswear. The fleece is so soft, and is machine washable. All the seams are double stitched and appear sturdy. Ace’s Royal Blue Fuzzie matches the deep, vivid blue displayed on the webpage. As an added bonus, Teckelklub makes all its products in Canada.
Two ornaments adorn the otherwise simple Fuzzie. On the back of the neck is a reflective silver-and-black strip of fabric for added visibility outdoors. Towards the tail end of the jacket is a patch with Teckelklub’s website and other brand information. I would prefer the Fuzzie without decoration, but some owners will appreciate the utility of the reflective strip. For a more personal touch, you can have your dog’s name embroidered on the Fuzzie for an additional $10.
Dogster Scorecard for the Fuzzie by Teckelklub
- Quality: The Fuzzie is a soft, machine-washable fleece on par with quality human sportswear.
- Style: Bright colors and a fitted style make the Fuzzie a unique addition to your dog’s cold weather wardrobe.
- Function: The Fuzzie fits true to size and accommodates Ace’s hard-to-fit body shape better than other jackets I’ve tried.
- Creativity: The Fuzzie is a versatile garment designed to layer under a waterproof jacket or to wear on its own.
- Value: For a garment made in Canada of quality materials, the Fuzzie is a good value for the cost.
Bottom line
I’m tremendously pleased with the quality and fit of the Fuzzie, and am eager to try layering it underneath one of Teckelklub’s waterproof coats.
Dogster readers, tell us about your dogs’ go-to garments for cold weather in the comments!
Read more reviews from Ace’s Mama here!
Learn more about dogs with Dogster:
- 6 Ways to Thwart an Off-Leash Dog Rushing You and Your Dog
- On Dogs and Body Language: How I Learned to “Speak” Dog
- Aspirin and Ibuprofen: Are Human Pain Meds Safe for Dogs?
About Ace’s Mama: This East Coast transplant enjoys the bounty of San Francisco, including its micro-climates, farmers’ markets, and secret stairway walks. When she’s not walking with, talking about, or kissing the face of her Boston Terrier, Ace, she blogs about Ace’s adventures. Product reviews writer and guinea pig at Dogster.
