craftgrrl | Dog sweater/coat pattern? (Reply)

We just adopted a daschund from a rescue. It's summer now, but in South Bend, IN, apparently there's lake effect snow....we just moved here in April, so we have yet to experience it. Well, anyway, our dog was rescued from a puppy mill around April. He has never seen snow. He spent his first 3 years of life in a cage indoors. Poor guy was so nervous about going outside that he just shook and shivered at all the sights and sounds when we brought him outside our apartment. Long story short, does anyone have ideas on making the perfect dog sweater or coat? Since he has short legs I don't want to buy something that I would have to alter anyway. I can knit...but I haven't gotten past a washcloth, or a simple stitch scarf (knit every row---I forget the terminology because I haven't been able to find another class to take in the area!) I can use the sewing machine decently as well. Suggestions? And for the AWWWWW factor:

PS: he really likes to sleep inside of his crate...my assumption is because that's his "natural" environment...that will change over time!!!