The Products I Can't Stop Thinking About: The Sun Shield Tee, Sun Suit & Sun Snood

My favorite product at Goldpaw is the Sun Shield Tee, and its cousins the Sun Suit and Sun Snood. Here's the thing — I really didn't set out to make a UV protection product. 

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It Started With a Request We Kept Hearing

For years, customers told us some version of the same thing: their dog needed to wear our Stretch Fleece year-round — for skin conditions, allergies, anxiety — but they needed something that wouldn't cause overheating in summer. The Stretch Fleece is a workhorse, but it's a cool-weather product. We needed a warm-weather equivalent.

So we got our textile rep on the phone and started exploring. Together, we developed a heathered jersey that had everything we needed: the comfort and durability of the Stretch Fleece, but featherweight enough for hot days. The fabric is made from extremely fine fibers knit so densely that it creates a natural shade effect — no chemical treatments, no special coatings. Just the physics of the weave itself.

That density turned out to have a remarkable side effect: UPF 50+ sun protection. We hadn't designed for it, or even hardly considered sun protection as a need for dogs.

We also noticed that in lighter colorways, the fabric reflected heat rather than absorbing it — a significant benefit for dark-coated dogs who can overheat quickly in direct sun. We had built something genuinely useful before we even fully understood everything it could do.

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Then Luke Changed Everything

About the time we launched the Sun Shield Tee, our black Lab, Luke, was diagnosed with pemphigus — an autoimmune skin condition that causes painful sores on the skin. One of the most important things for dogs with pemphigus is limiting UV exposure, which dramatically aggravates flare-ups.

Luke started wearing the Sun Tee every day. The lightweight coverage protected his skin, kept his sores cleaner, and reduced UV exposure without adding heat or discomfort. 

Luke went on to live six more years after his diagnosis and I continue to tell anyone who will listen how great the Sun Tee is. 

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What It Does (The Full List)

I love a product that solves one problem beautifully. I love even more a product that solves twelve problems you didn't know it could.

Here's what we've learned — from our own dogs, from our customers, and from years of paying attention:

Sun & Heat Protection - UPF 50+ blocks 98% of UV rays. In lighter colors, it reflects heat rather than absorbing it. You can even wet it down for instant evaporative cooling on hot days — no inserts, no prep, just add water.

Skin Conditions - Pemphigus, alopecia, and other skin conditions often require coverage and UV protection simultaneously. The Sun Tee and Sun Suit deliver both without the weight or warmth of other options.

Allergies & Sensitivities - One of our most memorable customer reviews: *"Spent $1000+ on allergy treatments and nothing worked until this! Protects my miniature schnauzer's sensitive skin from the sun and she no longer bites or scratches herself! It's the miracle we were searching for, truly!"*

Surgery Recovery & Wound Care - The soft, stretchy fabric covers healing areas gently and comfortably, protecting wounds and keeping topical treatments in place without adhesive or pressure.

Burn Scars - We heard from the owner of a rescue pittie who survived a fire. Her new skin was extremely sensitive to sun and abrasion. Dog pajamas were too hot; sunscreen washed off on walks. The Sun Suit covered her entire body length and finally gave her the protection she needed.

Anxiety - The close, consistent fit of the Sun Tee works like a gentle compression garment - think of it as a Thundershirt® lite. Several customers have noticed meaningful reductions in anxiety, including one who wrote: *"like a thundershirt for anxiety, this shirt seemed to relieve some mild anxiety our dog has."*

Foxtails & Burrs - This one caught me off guard when we first heard it. A customer wrote about taking her dog on a trail through a freshly mown field full of foxtails. Before the Sun Tee, they'd find two dozen foxtails in her fur after every outing. With it on, they found only one. 

Managing Shedding - Keeping a light barrier between your dog and your furniture is a quiet, underrated benefit. Especially for guests who aren't quite as enthusiastic about dog hair as you are.

Harness and Vest Chafing - The Sun Tee layers comfortably under harnesses and service vests and can eliminate the chafing that some dogs experience.

Tick & Mosquito Protection — This is one I love talking about because it's so simple and so effective. The Sun Tee and Sun Suit are excellent garments to treat with permethrin, a fabric-safe insect repellent that bonds to the fibers and provides up to six weeks of tick and mosquito protection per treatment - without applying chemicals directly to your dog. We recommend Sawyer Permethrin Insect Repellent Trigger Spray for Dogs - spray the garment outdoors while wearing gloves, let it dry completely (2–4 hours) before your dog wears it, and you're set for weeks of trail walks.

A few important notes: use only a 0.5% concentration, and only on dogs over 12 weeks old. Never apply permethrin directly to your dog - fabric only. And please be aware that permethrin is highly toxic to cats and fish, so it should not be used in households with cats.

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Three Styles, One Family

The Sun Shield Tee is a vest-style pullover - easy on, easy off. It's the everyday go-to.

The Sun Suit adds four legs and a long collar for full-body coverage — ideal for dogs who need protection across their entire back, neck, and legs.

And then there's the smallest member of the family: the Sun Shield Snood. Made from the same silky-soft, UV-blocking jersey, the Snood slips over the head to protect the neck and ears. Get it wet for instant evaporative cooling right where major blood vessels are closest to the skin, making it especially effective at bringing body temperature down on hot days. It also works beautifully as a traditional feeding snood, keeping long ears clean and dry at mealtime. Pair it with the Sun Tee or Sun Suit for head-to-tail coverage, or use it on its own for dogs who can't stand to wear clothes.

All three are made from bluesign® certified fabric that is OEKO-TEX 100 certified free of 100 harmful chemicals. UPF protection is mechanical, not chemical — it comes from the fabric itself.

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And Then There Are the Limited Editions

About five years ago, we started doing limited edition prints each season — three or four a year, in extremely limited quantities. They sell fast. Our 2026 collection features symbols of hope: daffodils, blue birds and paper cranes. Yes, there's a matching human tank top, because why should the dogs have all the fun?

I love designing these each year because I have the freedom to really go wild, like with our Lisa Frank® inspired April Fool's Day print. We never made them to sell, but maybe someday...

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Why This Product Matters to Me

When we developed the Sun Shield Tee, we were solving a specific, practical problem: customers needed warm-weather coverage. What we found, over time, was a product that meets dogs at some of their most vulnerable moments. Recovering from surgery. Managing a chronic skin condition. Navigating the world with anxiety. Living with the aftermath of abuse or injury. Or just plain being a hot dog ;)

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*Shop the [Sun Shield Tee]   [Sun Suit]  [Sun Shield Snood] and our [Limited Edition Sun Tees]— while they last.*