Dog Drying Coats, Towels & Gloves

Our range is Mutt and Bailey, developed with family dogs on the Yorkshire coast, where wet paws, sandy coats and soggy car journeys are part of the routine. The Mutt and Bailey Dog Drying Coat came out of years of finding that several old towels still left a dog wet enough to shake water round the house. It sits here alongside two noodle drying products and a lightweight KozeePet microfibre dog towel.

How the Mutt and Bailey coat is used

The fit is simple, even on a wet, wriggly dog. Place the coat over your dog's back, bring the wide tummy fastening round underneath and close the hook-and-loop so it sits snugly from neck to tail. The wrap-around fastening keeps the coat in position as your dog moves and the microfibre in contact with the fur. Then lift the long fold-up collar over the ears and fasten it with its own hook-and-loop; it covers the ears and head, which drip long after the body has settled.

Then let your dog get on with things. The fabric works while they lie on the back seat or settle indoors. Put it on before the car journey home and it helps manage the damp coat on the way, which may mean fewer wet patches on the seats. Afterwards, hang it by its built-in loop on a hook, peg or coat rack to air, and once it is thoroughly dry, fold it into the storage bag that comes with it.

What 560 gsm double-layer microfibre does

GSM stands for grams per square metre, a measure of a fabric's weight and density. At 560 gsm the Mutt and Bailey coat has a soft, thick and substantial feel while staying light and comfortable to wear. Microfibre is used for drying because it is designed to absorb and hold moisture, and this coat is built in two layers: the inner layer draws water away from your dog's fur, and the outer layer helps trap warmth and takes up the excess moisture. The four colours, Bottle Green, Brick Red, Heather and Sandringham Blue, all use the same construction. Drying time varies with the size of the dog, the type of fur and how wet they are; a very wet dog may still need some extra drying.

When to use a dog drying coat

Any time your dog comes home wet: rainy walks and muddy footpaths, beach days and sea swims, hydrotherapy, where a dog leaves the pool wet and has to travel, and bath time, where a wearable coat replaces the repeated rub-down with towels. Wet winter walks and summer swims alike, as long as your dog is comfortable and not overheating. After a muddy walk or a beach run, remove any heavy mud or excess sand first, then put the coat on. Wet dog smell depends on coat type, how wet the dog is, washing routines and drying conditions; the coat helps with the moisture, not the whole of the smell.

Fit and sizing: measure the topline

One measurement decides the size. Stand your dog naturally and measure along the topline, from the neck to the base of the tail, keeping the tape flat and not pulling it tight. The coat comes in six sizes: XS, Small, Medium, Medium/Large, Large and XL. The Medium/Large was added for Marley, one of the larger spaniels in the family, who needed an in-between fit. There is no XXL at present.

Breed and weight are supporting guidance only; a compact Labrador and a longer-bodied Labrador may need different sizes. Between two sizes, compare topline, weight and body shape and choose the one that gives comfortable coverage without restricting movement. Puppies can wear the coat if the size is right; measure the topline and check the size guide before ordering. The breed examples below come from the product page.

Drying gloves and towels

A coat dries the body while your dog rests; gloves and towels are for hands-on drying of the parts it does not cover: paws, legs, belly and the awkward spots. We sell three.

The Mutt and Bailey Noodle Drying Glove slips onto your hand; if you are looking for drying mitts for dogs, this is ours. It measures 23 × 29 cm and fits all hand sizes. Thick microfibre noodles part the fur and lift water, mud and dirt from down at the skin, you control where and how firmly you dry, and the stroking motion doubles as a gentle massage that many pets find calming.

The Mutt and Bailey Noodle Drying Towel uses the same noodles on a larger 79 × 36 cm towel with built-in hand pouches, so it stays under control on a wriggling dog. It covers a muddy coat and paws in one go; wring it out on a very wet dog and keep going. It folds small for travel and comes in dark grey.

The KozeePet Microfibre Absorbent Towel is a flat, lightweight microfibre dog towel that folds into a bag, pocket or glovebox and stays light when wet. It comes in black, blue or purple and three sizes: Small at 100 × 55 cm for paws and quick wipe-downs, Medium at 130 × 70 cm, and Large at 180 × 130 cm, which wraps right round a large dog. Size up for big or very wet dogs. All three suit cats and other pets too; dry in the direction of the fur to avoid tangles.

Care: washing coats, gloves and towels

The Dog Drying Coat is machine washable at 40°C. Close the tummy fastening before it goes in, so the hook-and-loop cannot catch, and wash with similar colours, especially early on. Let it dry thoroughly before it goes back in the storage bag, and hang it by the loop between uses. Follow the care instructions in the pack, and if in doubt avoid anything that might affect absorbency.

The Noodle Drying Glove and Noodle Drying Towel wash at 30°C and tumble dry on a low heat, and both are quick drying. Wash them before first use to bring the absorbency up, and after muddy use. The KozeePet towel also wants a wash before first use.

All of it collects dog hair that ends up in the washing machine. The Vetfleece Laundry Wash Bag is a mesh bag with a covered zip and a hook-and-loop strip inside that traps loose hair and fibres before they reach the filter and pump. Coats, towels, Vetfleece bedding, collars and harnesses can go in together, and the hair peels off the strip afterwards.

Coats with legs versus a wrap-style robe

The Mutt and Bailey coat is a wrap-style robe: it goes on over the back, fastens under the tummy and has a collar for the neck and ears, with no legs to thread a wet dog into. That makes it quick to put on, and lets your dog move naturally while wrapped in absorbent microfibre from neck to tail. Drying coats with legs are also sold, and some owners prefer them. Ours is a wrap, because speed matters when the dog is wet and the car is waiting.

Everything here ships free within the UK from our family firm in Bridlington. The family dogs behind the coat, Marley, Theo, Ruby and Boyo, are on the coat's product page, and the whole range is on the Mutt and Bailey brand page.

Frequently asked questions

Do dog drying coats work?

Yes, for what they are designed to do. A drying coat covers your dog's body so absorbent fabric can draw moisture out of the fur while they rest, travel home or settle indoors. The Mutt and Bailey coat uses double-layer 560 gsm microfibre: the inner layer draws water away from the fur and the outer layer takes up the excess and helps keep warmth in. Dogs may still shake, and a very wet dog may need extra drying, but it saves working through a pile of household towels.

How long does a dog drying coat take to dry a dog?

We do not put a number of minutes on it, because drying time varies with the size of the dog, the type of fur and how wet they are. A long-haired dog takes longer than a short-haired one. The coat is designed to work while your dog rests, travels home or settles after a walk. Put it on at the car and the microfibre has been absorbing the whole way home. A very wet dog may still need some extra drying.

Can a dog sleep in a drying coat?

We sell it as a drying coat rather than something to sleep in. The product guidance is that your dog can wear it while resting after a wet walk, provided they are comfortable and supervised as appropriate, and in warm weather you should make sure they are not overheating. It is not presented as a calming or medical product. Once it has done its job, hang it up by the loop so it can air, and let it dry thoroughly before it goes back in the storage bag.

Drying coat or drying towel: which do I need?

They do different jobs, and many owners keep both. The coat dries the body while your dog rests or travels, and it keeps a wet dog covered and warmer as it does so. A glove or towel is for hands-on drying: paws, legs, belly and the awkward spots, and the wipe-down at the back door before mud spreads through the house. If your dog comes home wet most days, the coat for the body and a noodle glove or towel for the paws is the pairing we would choose.

Do I need a drying coat with legs?

Not for what a drying coat is for. The Mutt and Bailey coat is a wrap-style robe: it goes over the back, fastens under the tummy with a wide adjustable hook-and-loop fastening and has a long collar that lifts over the ears. There are no legs to thread a wet dog into, so it goes on quickly and lets your dog move naturally. Drying coats with legs are also sold, and some owners prefer them. For the legs themselves, the noodle drying glove does the hands-on work.

How do I measure my dog for a drying coat?

Stand your dog naturally and measure along the topline, from the neck to the base of the tail, keeping the tape flat and not pulling it tight. That topline measurement is the main guide to size; breed and weight are supporting guidance only. If your dog falls between two sizes, compare topline, weight and body shape, and choose the size that gives comfortable coverage without restricting movement. Once fitted, the coat should sit comfortably over the body with the tummy fastening secure and the collar around the neck.

What size drying coat for a spaniel or a Labrador?

On the product page, Cocker Spaniels and Cockapoos sit in Medium, Springer Spaniels in Medium/Large and Labradors in Large, alongside small Retrievers. Golden Retrievers and large Labradoodles are in XL. Treat these as a starting point only. A compact Labrador and a longer-bodied Labrador may need different sizes, and the Medium/Large exists because one of the larger spaniels in our family needed an in-between fit. Measure the topline from the neck to the base of the tail, then compare it on the product page.

Will a dog drying coat fit a puppy?

It may, if the size is right. Puppies appear among the breed examples for the Small size on the product page, but that is a guide and not a guarantee. Measure the puppy's topline from the neck to the base of the tail while they stand naturally, then check the size guide before ordering. The adjustable tummy fastening and collar help with the fit within a size, and the coat should give comfortable coverage without restricting movement.

How do I wash a dog drying coat?

The Mutt and Bailey coat is machine washable at 40°C. Close the tummy fastening first so the hook-and-loop cannot catch, and wash with similar colours, especially in the early washes. Follow the care instructions in the pack, and if in doubt avoid anything that might affect absorbency. Dry it thoroughly before it goes back in its storage bag, and hang it by the loop between uses. A Vetfleece Laundry Wash Bag traps the hair and fibres before they reach the machine's filter. The noodle glove and towel wash at 30°C.

What is the difference between a drying robe and a drying coat?

There is none. Drying robe, drying coat, towel robe, towel coat and dog bathrobe are all names for the same thing: a wearable, absorbent covering that dries a dog while they rest or travel. Different makers and different owners simply use different words. The Mutt and Bailey Dog Drying Coat is a wrap-style microfibre robe, so whichever name you searched for, this is the product. What matters is the fabric, the fit and how easily it goes on and comes off.