There are many reasons a dog might wear clothes: Floors can be hard on bare paws; puddles and pools can be hazardous for bare feet or paws; hot and cold temperatures can be hard on canine skin. They can also help control or prevent hair loss by helping to regulate body temperature in hot, humid conditions (especially for toy breeds).
Nutrition and health are factors, too. “If their stomachs don’t work, they won’t eat, so it’s a kind of control,” says Patriciaoney, DVM, accredited veterinarian and author of several books including Best Dogs for Kids and Best Dogs for longevity.
Clothes can serve as an ideal way for mom (or dad, or siblings) to recognize the dog’s presence and connection to a community of others – a practice that might cut down on shyness or other Second-Skin issues.
Shirts and sweaters can provide an indicator of (often hidden) illnesses. They can warn of chemical hazards and human waste that can be a threat to your dog’s health or your children’s. Asbestos can be deadly to a dog and you don’t want to have to go through Asbestos training online, so why not throw on a sweater instead? They can be boundaries or boundaries that keep dogs safe from household equipment or other dangers. And they can help a dog feel more comfortable and confident among other people.
It’s hard to know for sure, but some dogs may be easier to dress than others: perhaps your dog shyly accepts a new shirt and hat without much introduction, and maybe he or she is a little more high-maintenance. However, all dogs can be dressed normally, with just a little extra preparation.
The following tips can help ensure your dog is dressed for success:
- Choose appropriate clothing. Good question. When deciding, R speculates, “Maybe dogs need clothes because they think they’re alone.” Maybe they’re right. Maybe dogs become suddenly naked when new clothes are introduced. As dogs become acclimated to our “clothes,” maybe they see us running and playing and think, “They’re playing with clothes!,” says R.
However, if dogs are playing with attractive, modern clothes, perhaps they accept those clothes because they see us as playmates and protectors. As retrievers, they play by using clothes as resources to get and hold toys and treats. They may have also played dress up as early asirectional (“I see the lights, I’m eating beans” vs. “They’re chasing their tails!”)
To determine if the dog clothes are making dogs anxious about being naked, try simple tasks. Try leaving the house for a few minutes with a clip on the leash or long line on and wearing the collar and clothing. If the dog is anxious, begins to whine, chances are the clothes are making him anxious.
Try approaching the dog shirt or collar outside when the dog is not in the house and remove the clothes inside a few minutes. When you put the clothes back on, wait a few minutes before going back inside. Do this several times, increasing the amount of time the dog is in the clothes. It is harder to know for sure on whether the dog clothes stop the barking, but it’s a Starts.
- Try limited clothing.The idea here is to get the dog used to the fact that there are times it’s okay to be naked. The idea of keeping dog clothes on and off at all times in the future certainly comes to mind.
If your dog has an interest in playing, you may need to limit how long the clothes are on or put the clothes on and take it off when playtime is over. If you want to avoid the chance of the clothes reapplying themselves as soon as you’re ready to go outside, choose a shorter duration.
While those outside may enjoy a sweater, they certainly don’t like to be seen at all times wearing a jacket. That’s reason to help keep those outfits on, at least until they’re outside in good weather.
- Try visible clothes only in certain conditions. Perhaps you live in areas that participate in hunting seasons. In plain view you will be in Day-of-Arrival dress-up from the start. For the local hunters, get ready early on for cold weather by donning your dog early in the morning or late evening. If you’re an outwasharian this could also be a considerate way to get dressed since you’ll be re-dressing frequently.
You might not want to start too early with clothing on your dog, especially when he or she is a puppy, but it’s probably worth the hassle to buy clothes for your dog. In times of severe temperature drops dog’s tiny bodies quickly become too cold and they need clothing just like we do. In fact, just like we sometimes need to wear something underneath our coat to keep it warm, so does your dog.