What's your opinion on animals wearing clothes? Personally, I am against it, they have such beautiful coats :)

Question

It makes me cringe when I see people dressing up their dogs and cats in jumpers and caps etc. Is it harmless fun, or just humilating them?

Answer 1

The only time an animal should be wearing clothing is if you have a dog that really does need to wear a dog sweater to keep warm - these would be dogs such as Greyhounds or other slender/small, short hair type of dog. People who do this should really consider getting a doll to dress up.

Answer 2

I don't think it's animal cruelty. It's animal cruelty to take a dog out in a foot of snow and a wind chill of -30 without something to keep them warm (especially for little dogs--my dog is under 5 pounds). Even if you are only outside long enough for the dog to go potty, their body temperature can drop immensely (a dog's body temperature should be between 100 and 103). If the dog actually likes wearing clothes, then let them. Some dogs enjoy the attention they get from wearing clothes. BUT, if you can tell your dog doesn't like it or is distressed by it and fights you, then DON'T do it. It's just something each person needs to decide on their own.

Answer 3

i dont dress my dogs up as such they are shihzus i have 3 and they are clipped all year round so they have coats a raincoat and a day and night coat i do think some people go to extremes when dressing up there dogs in caps its not natural but i suppose some people just like it each to there own i say

Answer 4

I think it depends on the animal and the clothes they have on.
Horses need a blanket (coat type thing) to stay warm in the winter. If it is to keep the animal warm and is not an itchy material it just shows that some animals are more spoiled than others.

Answer 5

I have a yorkiepoo and he has been wearing sweaters and sweats since he's a puppy. He's coat is very thin so during winters I put clothes on him. He also wears raincoat when it's raining. I truly believe he appreciates the clothes because of his thin coat and he's very sensitive to the cold. As for the raincoat, he refuse to walk outside when it's raining and with the raincoat, he would and go.

Answer 6

Unless we're talking a short-haired dog in below freezing climate, wearing a warm doggy coat to go outside, which would be for their health and therefore good, I think clothes on dogs and pets in general are the stupidest thing ever forced on our animals. On myspace you see these poor cats wearing wizard hats or dogs with sunglasses and a t-shirt...it makes me sad and it says: my owner is daft and has nothing better to do.

I don't think its' that harmless either, because if you look at the dressed up pet's eyes you can see how puzzled and ashamed they look, I guess they take it as yet another sacrifice they have to make, in order to please their owner they love so much.
Of course its not abuse, but it is humiliation.

Answer 7

Depends on the circumstances........ if it's to keep them warm when it's too cold even for natural fur, it's fine....... and harmless fun if you put a Santa hat on them, etc........... but I guess humiliating them if making them wear specially knitted items all the time.. or ballerina outfits

Then there are functional items like paw protectors and other accessories like I saw at these 2 sites a while back:
http://www.ruffwear.com/
http://www.doggles.com

Answer 8

I happen to think it is hysterical, but idiotic. I can understand that there are some cases where an animal has such a fine coat where they may need somr assistance and then the owner throws something on them, but otherwise it is just dumb.

Answer 9

I cant help feeling that its degrading for the poor dogs.The only time a dog should were clothes is if its for protection due to it being a working dog eg a sniffer dog or mountain rescue.Or if the dog is underweight after illness and is unable to keep its self warm when out.Dogs are not people and the don't need clothes...a lot of dog problems stem from people attitudes towards them (thinking they are human) and it is ill advised.

Answer 10

I use PJ's and coats on my hairless dog all the time......well in the wintermonths anyway it is too hot in the summer for it. I use sun block in the summertime. I never really cared what people thought of me putting clothes on my dog, I only care weather or not he is chilled in the winter time.

**Millie** I disagree! If my dog could talk he would tell you not to take him out without his coat.