Dressing up dogs, where do you stand?

alessadry · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 23

I own two Rottweiler puppies and one of my friends invited me to one of her doggy parties and asked me if I would dress my dogs. "I am sorry" I told her as an image of my two dogs dressed up flashed in my mind. I continued "I am sorry, but I do not dress my dogs". A debate took place with her stating that dogs look cute in costumes and myself stating that they look ridiculous. The end result? I never showed up at the party and kept my dog's dignity intact!

ientaculum · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

Thank you for NOT dressing up your dogs! I can't stand it and have never been able to put my finger on it as to why I have so much disdane for dogs in costumes... but I have come to accept the fact that I do. I own two larger dogs and twice I've put a t-shirt on one of them because it's funny to watch her tear it to shreds trying to get it off, but that 's the extent of it.

alessadry · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 23

You are very welcome! I just cant' imagine them dressed up , the dogs best outfit is their own fur! Dogs are dogs and we must love them for what they are. People tend to humanize them and if you would ask your dog's opinion I am sure they would say" Get this heck off of me!"

woody82986 · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

I think people who dress their dogs up have a somewhat distorted value system. It makes me think they hold their dogs in as high a regard as parents do their own children. I understand that pets can bring joy to a person much the same way a child can, but dressing dogs up is simply rediculous in my book. Dogs don't need clothing. They have fur. Thousands of years ago, humans didn't need clothing either because we had enough hair to do the trick.

elkeliini · Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

I cant help laughing at the idea of dressed up rottweilers. it seems to be a privelidge of poodles, yorkshire terriers and the like. But what can you expect from somebody that keeps "a dog party"???

so no dressing up dog and good on you that you didnt.

one exception. I live on the arctic circle and here you have to put a coat on for dogs with short hair if you want to walk them out in the middle of the winter. But that is dressing for purpose, not fancy.

rldeeter · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 25

Dressing up dogs has become a real hot debate lately. On the TV show America's Greatest Dog one contestant was called out by the judges for constantly dressing her dog in human clothes. I don't mind it once in a while if I see someone dress up their dog for say, Halloween, but to do it on a daily basis seems not only ridiculous but also inconsiderate of the dog. Dogs have their own coat and unless they live in extremely cold climates and need a little protection from the environment, it's not necessary to dress them up. This could be potentially dangerous to the dog if they do decide to rip off the costume and there are things that they could swallow that would cause bowel obstruction and other health hazards. Plus, if it's hot out and you're dressing your dog in some hot outfit, you're running a high risk of heat stroke and also possibly being attacked by other dogs that are startled by the appearance of your dog in clothes. Just a few things to think about before dressing Fido in a tux or Fifi in a tutu.

ttrollinger81@yahoo.com · Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 10

Pets are exactly that Pets. I think it is ridicuolus the way some people treat their pets--you know like children. I am not saying we shouldn't love our pets or be good to them but some people go way to far. I recently heard a story about a woman who owned a python as a pet. She treated it way to much like a child instead of a pet. She even let it sleep in the bed with her. She began noticing that it wouldn't eat and that while in bed with her it would lay straight out instead of coiled up like normal snake behaviour. She took it to the vet and explained what was wrong and said that she thought it may be sick. After hearing her explanation the Vet told her that the snake was not sick. He was merely sizing her up. He would strecth out beside her preparing his body for his feast. He wouldn't eat because he was making room for her. I am so not kiddding about this story. Needless to say she had to have the puthon put to sleep immediately. it is very unfortunate for the python who was only producing normal python behaviours.

rldeeter · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 25

Oh, wow, sorry to be laughing, but that's just too funny! I know someone who just got a baby python. I'll be sure to pass on this story to them and make sure that they're not letting the snake sleep with them in bed. Pythons may be one thing but as far as I know none of my cats nor my dog are sizing me up for a feast. Hmmm, at least I hope not Exclamation

ttrollinger81@yahoo.com · Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 10

HaHa I have to agree. the day our Yorkie starts sizing me or my kids up is a bad day for him lol. Wouldn't that be a sight?

LadyM · Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

I spent a lot of time and money a few years back on eBay buying clothing for my dogs Embarassed

. They had outfits for everyday, special occasions and even a Christmas jacket. I don't know who feels sillier about it now, me or my two dogs but, it's not a bad thing to do, the dogs enjoyed the fun of putting on the clothing and it kept them warm in the snow so it wasn't such a bad idea!

prosaic · Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

I am all for dressing up ex-husbands. No problem there. Getting them to come over is the hard part. Oh, wait--you're talking about actual dogs, like canines? My bad. Smile

KittyB. · Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 18

I agree with dressing up your dogs sometimes. My dog is a poodle terrier mix so he's small. We put doggy sweaters on him in the winter and sometimes hoodies, because it get so cold here and he's so small we don't want him to get sick. I never dress him in humiliating costumes, like a bubblebee or put him in a suit with a hat. When dressing up a dog, it's about using your better judgement.

rldeeter · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 25

I like the advertisement at the bottom of this page. How appropriate for the topic that we're discussing. lol. The people that previously owned my dog used to wear a bandana on him, but I took it off because he kept wanting to chew it. I do think you have to use your better judgement when dressing an animal and it wouldn't be a good idea to leave them in the costume/outfit when you're not around becuase they may decide to eat it and that can create all kinds of problems. I think doggie sweaters are fine, especially for breeds that mind the cold more.

Leigh · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 109

People who dress their dogs in little outfits have issues to say the least. The dog doesn't like it. They put up with it because you put the clothes on them.

The closest I have ever gotten to dressing a dog was this year. We were in New Limerick, Maine (5 miles from the Canada border) and there were 20 foot snow banks everywhere. Our puppy was only 10 weeks old at the time, and is a pit. Needless to say with the short hair she was not happy about having to go outside and do her 'business.' I got her little puppy boots to keep her paws warm, and we got her a hoodie sweater thing. We put it on her when she went outside, and took it off when we came inside. After we left Maine (2 months later) the boots/hoodie went in the trashcan. If she had been older, or at least had longer hair I wouldn't have even gotten her the clothes I did. But I felt horrible walking her and watching her shiver.

I would never dress her in a tu-tu, or any other outfit. I just imagine all the other dogs laughing at her. When I see a dog in an outfit like that I laugh at them.

Scythia · Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

It could always be worse, they could be attempting to dress up cats.

As a lifelong cat owner, I can safely say that if I ever tried to dress up my cats (probably in a state of temporary insanity or possibly suffering from severe head trauma) they would shred not just the silly costumes, but probably also any limbs I happened to be foolish enough to bring within range.

I never quite understood the dressing up of pets. Granted most of my pets have been cats or birds, neither of which would be appreciative of any kind of costume.

Doggie booties to use in very cold weather I completely understand, but the booties have a practical purpose, I can't think of any good reason to dress up a puppy in a frilly dress.

lilyteen · Joined: 13 Aug 2008 Posts: 7

well i think that the dog's clothes helps the small dogs.But i don't think its a good idea for big dogs.i have a small fox terrier (smooth) and in winter we put dog clothing on her because our winter is very cold and she like the idea of clothing.

But you made good that you didn't dressed those poor rottweilers!

i think only for small dogs is good!!

Zillamaster · Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 10

I will not dress up my animals... My Brother-in-law and sister do... It's pathetic.

Gwatson · Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 2

I find it cute and extremely hilarious when people dress up their dogs and cats. If my American Pit Bull Terrier would ever wear a cute little leather jacket, I'd surely let him wear it. I'd also post pictures of it on his website. Yes, he has a website too. Laughing

I think my fat Bengal cat would look awesome dressed up like Jack Sparrow for Halloween. He'd probably rip the costume to shreds before anyone even got to see him, though.

Now, I don't completely understand why people let their pets parade around in public wearing tutus and tiaras, but that's just me...

melodi · Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

It's an amusing topic. Where is the line drawn for dogs getting dressed for functionality or for fancy? Though most of the time I suspect that dogs are dressed to their owners fancy. I mean, pets in general did not, nor were they dressed up in the past. It's only in recent times than this trend is blooming.

I say, dogs already have their own fur, why do they need to wear a piece of cloth that looks "cute" on them? And by definition "cute", it is by the owners standards not the dogs - they don't have a say in the matter. lol But what I find more interesting and amusing is that there are owners that hold weddings for their dogs; even engaging a dog bridal company to handle to "grand event". Like I said, I don't think it really matters to the dogs, more so the owners.

Mary Bush · Joined: 07 Oct 2008 Posts: 7

I belong to an RV resort in the mountains. Many vacationers there have little dogs. There are Pugs, Dachshunds, and Chihuahuas at most of the camp sites.

On hot days in the summer the owners walk their dogs in the hot summer sun with these cute outfits on. The female population has pink designer dresses or satin frilly creations. Some are studded with gemstones. The male population have either commando camouflage outfits or stylish jeans and a t-shirt.

Each and every dog I have seen looks miserable. Their tongues are hanging out of their mouths. They are panting and drooling, trying to not overheat.

Please, dog owners. Put a cute coat on your dog on cold days. On hot summer days leave the fashion at home. Have a heart, be smart, and love your pet.