Buying and Using Dog Clothes for Your Four-Legged Pals

More and more people spend a small fortune on their dogs. They buy them doggie furniture, strollers and even pay for insurance on their four legged, furry friends. In addition, they buy dog clothes, not just for a holiday or for amusement once or twice, but whole wardrobes of clothing.

Before you run out and buy a ton of dog clothes for your own pet, there are some things you should keep in mind. Here are the questions to ask before buying the first doggie tee or jacket:

Will my dog wear these clothes?
What size should I buy for my dog?
How do I put these on my dog?
How should I take care of these clothes?

Will He or Won’t He?

Not every pooch likes the pampered life and not every cute collie will put up with couture. Before you drop a ton of money on clothes for a dog who might view them as merely high fiber snacks, buy a single item and see if your dog will actually allow you to put the clothes on him and if he will leave them alone. It is funny, but some dogs will not be able to walk when they are wearing these clothes.

Sizing Your Dog Clothes

While there are some doggy items that will claim to be one size fits most, when you look at a Great Dane and a wiener dog you might realize how ridiculous that thought might actually be. For the majority of doggy items, there will be size guidelines based on the breed of the dog and its general size. Do not get caught up in the breed guideline, however. There are many beagles who eat themselves up to shepherd size, for instance.

To measure your dog for clothes, hold a tape behind his head and then measure to the rump, right where the base of the tale is and then around his tummy.

Dressing Doggy

Some dogs actually like to have their clothes put on and will sit nicely while others will go Cujo on you and might even try to nip. Holding your dog, put his head through the neck hole first and then gently lift one paw into the sleeve, repeating on the second side. If your dog is really upset by this process, you might consider only doing it once or twice a year for photo ops and then letting him be a naked doggy the rest of the time.

If you find clothing with a lot of snaps, buttons and zippers, it simply means it will be longer to put on or take off of your dog.

Caring for Dog Clothes

At some point or the other, dog clothes will probably get soiled. The dog will roll on the ground to try to pull them off or may even find something nice and smelly to roll in so you have to take them off of him. Washing them in the washing machine may not be a problem, however, read the labels and keep in mind that the dog’s skin may be more sensitive than your own so laundry soaps and fabric softeners may be harmful to him.