Fashion Friday- Get Started with Dog Clothing

Welcome to FASHION FRIDAY!!! 

I am a poodle who likes to wear clothes. I have to have something on such as a bandanna in the summertime and in the cooler temps I love to wear my shirts and jackets. When the weather gets too cold or too hot , I wear my boots to protect my feet. I am a service dog so most of the time when I am out and about, I wear my service vest. Service dogs are not required to wear vests or ID but my vest clearly states that I am a medical alert dog and it stops retail personnel from running after us yelling "Sorry that dog isn't allowed in here!"

When I am at home or in a pet friendly place I like to wear other types of clothing but have you ever noticed that there isn't many options for large dogs like me? Sure you can find an occasional shirt and plenty of bandannas but most of those cute dresses you see online are made for the extra small to medium dogs. If you are beagle size or smaller ,you get all the cute fashions and if you are a toy breed , you have the world of fashion at your paw. There are many companies that will custom make outfits for larger dogs but the price can be steep. Its like comparing Kobe beef to cold cuts. I have checked into having some dresses made and they can range anywhere from $250-$650!! Just a simple dress can cost $65-$75! Now that is fine for some people but this poodle can't afford that. So where do I find my clothing? 

Nothing to wear

Sometimes I get lucky and find it at a major retail store like Petsmart. They occasionally carry shirts in my size. I wear a large to a extra large depending on the clothing. When they have my size clothing it sells out really quick. This tells me that there is girls and guys my size out there that want clothing too. 

 There are some to consider when introducing your pets to clothing.

 One thing pet parents have to remember is that not ALL pets enjoy clothing.

 It does take time to get used to wearing shirts and hats and even boots but if after a few times of allowing a pet to wear a shirt if they still act scared or uncomfortable in it, then clothing isn't for your pet.Maybe start with a bandanna to get them used to having something besides a collar on.  I have heard over and over from people that their pets would be ripping that shirt or bandanna off after a few minutes. Those are the pets that don't enjoy wearing clothing. 

If your pet doesn't mind the clothing but becomes uncomfortable a hour later take the clothing off. A few hours later or the next day put the clothing back on your pet. Its the part of getting used to the garment that is the hard part. Make sure to praise your pet for wearing the clothing. Tell them how fabulous they look. 

Consider safety. Tight clothing or too loose clothing can cause a falling hazard. You must make sure the clothing can not choke your pet or cut off circulation. Yes this can happen. Loose fitting clothing can cause a pet to trip. You don't wear shoes that are too small or too big, do you? Of course not. You want to make sure the clothing item fits properly. A shirt should lay against the body. Sometimes a shirt will hang 1" away from the body when the dog is standing. This is okay as long as when they walk the shirt doesn't get near his legs. 

The dog should be able to move freely in the clothing. When you first put a shirt on allow the dog or cat to walk around to see how it fits. Allow them to sit, lay down or even roll to make sure they can move freely. 

With me being a poodle , I can go from my sleek summer cut to fluffy winter coat. With the thickness of my hair my clothing tends to fit different. This means that my clothing can be too tight for comfort in the winter. Those shirts get put up until summer. Shirt too tight is uncomfortable and constricting. 

Dog clothing can be just like human clothing and not be a one size fits all. One company may advertise a large but in reality its just large enough to fit a Cocker Spaniel but another company's large may fit me, a standard poodle. The best way to find out what size your dog is to measure them. 

To measure your dog you will need a flexible tape measure. 

Have the dog stand up on a flat surface in a natural stance

• Measure around the chest - start measurement about a inch behind front legs
• Measure the neck- Make sure you leave room for your fingers looser than a collar
• Measure the length. Start from inbetween the shoulders to the base of the tail

This will give you a  idea of what sizes to buy. 

Next time on Fashion Friday we will talk about where to buy clothing and I will share some tips and tricks on getting the right fit. 

Until then get those measuring tapes out and get those measurements. If your pet is not used to clothing try getting them to wear a bandanna. 

Always praise them for keeping the scarf on. Give a treat (chickyum is a great treat) 

Tell them how cute they look. 

The more they know you are happy with their look the more confidence that will give them. 

Happy Friday!!!