Dressing up your dog: cute, ridiculous or necessary???

Question

Some people dress their dogs just to make them look "cute" or to "humanize" them. On the other hand, certain breeds need to be protected from the cold in the winter. Which is your opinion about dog dressing.
Personally, I've never dress my maltese, but I think I might start doing so soon because it's getting too cold for a single coated dog.

Yeah, I think it's so silly to get them in dresses and ties (like human children) and I just try to figure out what this poor sare thinking about all that. As I say, I would do it only because it's getting too cold this year but I don't want him to look ridiculous

Answer 1

Some dogs would not naturally thrive in a cold climate, so a suitable winter cover would be the sensible option, that and not taking him out in the freezing cold for too long, but he's only a little dog, so why would you? You wouldn't leave a horse out without a winter cover either, so its not crazy.
I have to say I'm not a fan of little dogs, but I do feel sorry for them when I see them out with owners who are wrapped up against the cold. They seem to expect their nearly hairless hounds to leave a warm house/apartment to enjoy a walk without adequate protection.

Answer 2

definitely not necessary! Maltese do get chills but they are more uncomfortable in hot weather. If its that cold outside then maybe the dog is better left at home. As for inside if your house is cold and you can't or don't want to run a heater throw some extra blankets down for the pup they are smart enough to know how to keep themselves warm..

The only necessity of dog clothes is like you said to humanize and make the animals look cute.

always remember they are dogs first and if you change that you could be creating a monster (ie: a spoiled dog, or even worse a dog that develops a bad attitude towards everyone, yes it happens)

Answer 3

I don't mind dressing them up for a picture but, as soon as the picture is over the clothes come off.
It is ridiculous to leave a dog dressed up in clothes all the time...
I agree some dogs need a jacket when it is really cold outside and I think that is fine..

Answer 4

I think it's completely ridiculous and never a necessity, unless in extreme circumstances. Even dogs that are not particularly cold tolerant can avoid wearing clothing, as long as the owner is observant enough to realize the dog can only stay out for a certain amount of time. I have 3 short coated dogs. They all have blankets for long winter walks, but I would never put any of them in a sweater or tutu...........nor is it cute to carry them around in a purse.

Answer 5

I have a 3 month old boston terrier, and if I don't put a coat or something on her, she wont go outside... I live in Colorado and its really cold here right now. But I don't do anything fancy..just put a coat on her right before she goes out and take it off right when she comes back in. I think its the responsible thing to do to keep my dog safe and healthy! I think dressing them to humanize them gives them a serious complex! Dogs should be treated like dogs!

Answer 6

During holidays I put on festive collars and sometimes outfits. I have to keep my oldest dog shaved to reduce shedding, so I might throw a coat or shirt on him when it's chilly. I even dress my cat up, but only because she thinks it's a fun game to wiggle out of the clothing. She even has preferences. (She hates anything sparkly or beaded because she can't play with the beads if they're on her back. So she rips them off.) My other dog has to be shaved because he will become disgustingly matted and he is outside frequently so I don't dress him as often. But he loves it. He notices that everyone is looking at him so he stops and poses for everyone. He loves attention.

But having said that..... there are some animals that just don't like it. It upsets them and scares them. If any of my animals showed any distress at being dressed up, I would stop immediately.

Answer 7

I really don't care if a person dresses their dog up. As long a dog owner loves and cares for their animal then if they do or don't dress them makes no difference to me. Occassionally I will dress my mini dashie up but that is only for a picture or two. I think it can be cute on occasion, but he really doesn't like it. Some dogs like the extra attention that people give them when they are wearing clothes. Other dogs hate it. Do whatever you feel is best. Your dog might enjoy the extra attention or enjoy being a little warmer.

Answer 8

I have a hairless terrier, so he is usually dressed in some kind of clothing. In the winter it is sweaters for the cold, in the summer it is T-shirts and sunscreen to protect from sunburn. The main thing is that the dog is loved and taken care of, not what they are wearing.

Answer 9

Unless it's to keep hairless dogs or single coated small dogs warm in cold weather, it's ridiculous.

elizabeth v, our horses have such thick winter coats that they only need a blanket when it's double digits below zero, and even then they have three different shelters to block the majority of the wind and snow. They're also rather portly...

Answer 10

Well, I put reindeer antlers on my Rottie mix for a parade we were in (He was pulling a wagon).

And I also put holiday themed bandanas on my dogs the day of the holiday.

But I wouldn't dress them up just for the heck of it. Festivity is where I draw the line.

I think the most I've dressed up a dog is when I put a doggy life jacket on them when we went duck hunting on a cold day and I was being cautious in case the cold water made them too tired to get back to shore. I think that counts as neccessity though.