Dog Owner Chat v2

[Imzadi83]

@Middy: I never actually put a t-shirt on her because I don't have any that would fit her and the stores up here don't sell them her size but when she wore her sweater people would stop to fawn over her. Generally the very same people who would otherwise just pass her by and keep their distance. I remember in particular this one mom who literally pulled her kids down a side street when she saw us approach. A month later, she had her sweater on and she was totally fine with just passing us by. They didn't stop to say hi but still goes to show the power of cute clothing.

I feel bad for big dog owners because of the lack of clothing choices. There's not much in stores around here either, as far as selection goes, which is why I mostly shop online. Though I know I'm lucky to have a small dog in regards to clothing.

[.Middy.]

Guess we will give it a shot then! She gives me this sad look whenever someone passes her without saying hello. She is so sweet, she doesn't understand why everyone doesn't want to give her love.

Thanks Sara! Since we are going for Halloween costumes anyways, I'll see if we can grab her a cute little shirt and sweater! (It's starting to get cold here... Well not cold since we live at the coast but you know what I mean lol)

[Saracirce]

@Izmadi: Yeah, I'm not able to buy online right now. Plus, where I live it's either Wal-Mart or the feed store for pet stuff and the feed store is very practicality/working dog oriented. Anyway, there's not nearly as big a selection for big dogs as there is for little ones. At least not for dogs over 50~ pounds. Most of the shirts I've seen for big dogs are sports jerseys or costume parts.

@Middy: Clemmy has the same problem. She just adores people and wants to meet them but everyone's scared of her. It doesn't help when they see her freak out over another dog and people think that all aggression is the same.

[Keeki]

I really don't agree with putting a sweater on your dog, or even dressing it up. It's not a person, it's an animal.

[Cardinal]

I really don't agree with putting a sweater on your dog, or even dressing it up. It's not a person, it's an animal.

What about working gear like padded/armored harnesses? Backpacks? Lifejackets?

What about breeds that live in cold places and have little body fat and little/no fur?

[Saracirce]

Putting cute clothing on your dog doesn't mean you think they're a person or are treating them as one.

Keep in mind that 'scary' looking dogs often get more attention when they're wearing a piece of clothing versus when they're not because it suddenly makes them cuter (I've experience this first hand). Extreme Pieds (like white boxers), double merles and albinos get sunburns and are more prone to skin cancer, as do hairless dogs. So instead of spending a fortune on dog sunscreen, the owner puts a shirt on them and only put sunscreen on the exposed spots. Dogs lacking pigment in their eyes (double merles, albinos, some extreme pieds) find the sunlight too harsh and doggles help. Dogs who regularly are taken running on concrete or go hiking can shred up their paws. Dogs who live in hot places can burn their paws. Dogs who live in places where it snows/ice ends up on the ground can get chemical burns on their paws from the rock salt. All of those should be wearing booties. Single coated dogs in severely cold places benefit from snow suits. AND MIGHT I MENTION, long haired single coated dogs are just as intolerant of the cold as short, single coats. It offers no more protection from the cold and wet then your hair. Some dogs have a general distaste for getting wet and wearing rain coats allows them to go out without them protesting... as much.

Also, what exactly am I supposed to do with single coated dogs in a place where it regularly stays in the -20s and 30s F throughout winter? I personally don't have room for a treadmill in the apartment I currently live in. Clemmy wasn't the type of dog to be happy with just running around inside. Tiring out her brain instead of her body only lasted so long.

[Keeki]

Those are all right, but when you dress your animal in a costume.... it doesn't benefit the dog.

[Jazi]

Those are all right, but when you dress your animal in a costume.... it doesn't benefit the dog.

Who cares? If I put Creed in a cape for service dog work, it doesn't benefit him. Neither does when I buy a fancy collar instead of the plain rolled leather one he has now. As long as it doesn't hurt or harm the dog, does it really matter if it benefits or not?

[Imzadi83]

Those are all right, but when you dress your animal in a costume.... it doesn't benefit the dog.

One could argue that it doesn't benefit them to learn how to sit pretty, roll over, or play dead. So? As long as the dog isn't traumatized, is taught to enjoy the interaction it's all fun and games. It gets them used to having something put on them, for when they may really need it (like a bandage, harness, collar, etc), it can increase the positive experiences they have with people, not to mention a fun time with their owners. That all sounds that a good benefit to the dog to me.

Chloe was already used to being dressed up when I got her, so when I had to put something on her to keep her from scratching herself till she bleed, and allowing the old scratches to heal, it wasn't something new and traumatic for her.

[.Middy.]

Sara- that's another of Princess's problems! She goes to the end of her leash and starts making these snorting pig noises at other dogs (she's just excited, and it's getting better recently! I'll have to get a video of her tonight at the pet store if we go.