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I am sure you have come across photos of dressed dogs on the Internet more than once. The clothing offer for pets is almost equal to that for people! Sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, jumpsuits and even dresses! Do dogs need clothes or is it just a fad of their keepers? What clothing should we choose for our dog when we think it is needed?
Is the dog-clothes necessary?
First, let’s consider the necessity or legitimacy of dressing our pet. From the point of view of his health, there are several situations when such clothing is indeed advisable!
First, answer the question: is your dog freezing? Does he sometimes show thermal discomfort or refuse to go outside?
How do you know that your dog is cold?
Thermal discomfort in dogs can be manifested by shaking (but this can also be a symptom of other problems, e.g. fear or pain!), a characteristic body posture of the so-called cat’s back (the dog puts his paws under him and crouches), lifting the limbs or refusing to be active . If you suspect that your dog may be cold, and you regularly stay in such temperatures, yes – clothing will be advisable. Even larger dogs can get cold! This is especially true for breeds without an undercoat, dogs with reduced immunity and older dogs, which often have less body fat and poor circulation.
In what weather-to-wear-dog’s clothes?
Be aware of situations where the dog is particularly vulnerable to freezing . These are large temperature fluctuations (e.g. high temperature at home and a walk or training at a much lower temperature), stillness (even in positive temperatures many dogs freeze if they stay still for a long time!), combination of coolness and moisture (e.g. morning dew or rainy weather). Think about it also in the context of walks or, for example, hiking in the mountains. If you are planning stops or, for example, coffee in outdoor conditions, it is a good idea to protect your dog from the cold during such stops.
An additional indication for dressing dogs is chronic diseases of the locomotor system. It is commonly said that degenerations do not like cold. Repeated cooling of the structures affected by degenerative changes can significantly exacerbate symptoms such as reduced range of motion, lameness, and hypersensitivity to touch. So if your dog has a problem with the spine, hips or shoulder joints – it is worth to additionally protect him from cooling down! Of course, any periods of decline in immunity will also be an indication for our pooch’s clothing to prevent, for example, pneumonia.
If you are the owner of a dog that uses the services of a groomer, the time just after visiting the grooming salon will also be a time when you should think about clothes! Changing the hairstyle (whether it is trimming, cutting or brushing the undercoat) in more difficult weather conditions may be uncomfortable for a pet.
How to choose the perfect-dog-clothes?
First of all, we need to consider when and how we are going to use the dog clothes. We will decide to do something different when the dog is to run in this garment, and we will choose a different type to dress the pet for e.g. in the car or in the carrier during breaks in training.
If you want to provide your dog with clothes in which he will be able to successfully use the charms of autumn and winter walks, there are several aspects to consider. If the garment is to be used in motion, it must allow the dog to move freely and not obstruct his joints. So we have to choose the right cut and material. Most often, such clothes have flexible elements and a really large selection of sizes. If you will use them outdoors and your dog is not too tall, pay attention to the water absorption issue!
Jacket or sweatshirt? Types of dog clothes
If you choose, for example, a cotton sweatshirt or a fleshy sweater, after some time the entire bottom of the garment may be wet, and this completely disrupts its function. The clothes do not warm our dog anymore, quite the contrary. In this case, you should decide on the so-called outdoor jackets, made of special waterproof materials. Sweaters will also not be a good choice if you plan to go crazy in the forest or in the meadows. Such a garment is not resistant to damage in the form of the so-called puffs.
If, on the other hand, you want to dress your dog for the time of stillness and rest, make sure that he can settle down comfortably. Flexible material or stock in size is necessary. The dog should be able to lie down comfortably in any position, so avoid, for example, decorative elements that may put pressure on him when he lies down.
