This One Is Meant To Be Soaked
A dog cannot sweat, so panting is most of what it has on a warm walk. A dry t-shirt makes that worse. The Refresca has an absorbent middle layer and is designed to be soaked, wrung out and worn damp, that is the whole mechanism.
Evaporation does the work, and the open mesh sides let air move through rather than sitting inside. It stops working once it dries, so re-wet it on a long walk. A lead ring sits on the shoulders. Six sizes, see the sizing note below.
Why It’s Better
- Soak It First: Wet it through, wring out the drips and put it on damp, and evaporation pulls heat off your dog as you walk.
- Absorbent Middle Layer: A layer between the face fabric and the mesh holds the water, so it releases slowly instead of running out.
- Re-Wet On The Move: A bottle of water over the back at halfway and it is cold again.
- Mesh Sides: A coarse open weave down the sides and belly keeps air moving through it.
- Lead Ring On Top: A metal D-ring on the shoulders, so the lead clips straight to the vest.
- We Match Your Size: Put your dog’s chest measurement in the order notes and we pick the size before it ships.
Perfect for the August walk you were going to take anyway
Thick-coated and dark-coated dogs have the same August problem, and their owners have usually already moved the walks to six in the morning and nine at night. This does not change when it is safe to go out, and nothing sold as a garment does. What it does is make the walk you had already decided on more comfortable, which over a long summer is worth having.
Soak it, wring it, walk.
Questions
How does it keep my dog cool?
Evaporation, which is the same trick as sweating and the reason it works so well. Soak it, wring it out, put it on, and as the water lifts off it pulls heat with it. The absorbent middle layer holds the water while the mesh sides keep air moving through.
How do I use it?
Soak it in cold water, wring it out until it is damp rather than dripping, and put it on. Re-wet it whenever it has dried. It does nothing worn dry.
How long does it stay cool?
Until the water has gone, which depends entirely on how hot, dry and windy it is. We do not publish a number of hours: a fixed figure would be misleading on the day it mattered.
What are the size measurements?
Sizes run S to XXXL with no chest, back or weight figures. Measure your dog’s chest at the widest point behind the front legs, order by their build, and be prepared to exchange it.
How do I wash it?
Hand wash cool and hang to dry. No fabric softener: it coats the fibers, and holding and releasing water is the entire point of the middle layer.
Why this rather than hosing the dog down?
Because a wet dog dries in ten minutes and you are back to square one. The absorbent middle layer holds water while the mesh keeps air moving through it, so the cooling lasts the walk.
What’s Included & Key Details
- Type: Evaporative cooling vest, soaked before wear
- Build: Breathable mesh, absorbent middle layer, cool-touch face
- Fit: Sleeveless, two front armholes, open belly
- Closure: Wide mesh belly strap with a side-release buckle
- Lead attachment: Metal D-ring on the shoulders. No lead included
- Sizes: S 12-15 in · M 15-18 in · L 18-22 in · XL 22-26 in · XXL 26-30 in · XXXL 30-34 in
- Colors: Mint, green, orange, pink
- Best for: Hot afternoons, long walks and travel
- Care: Hand wash cool, hang to dry. No fabric softener
