Guide to Clothing for Your Pet – Best Dog Clothes in 2019
When you see somebody walking their dog that is dressed up in clothes, you may think to yourself, are they really doing that to their dog? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is a very loud yes. But the reason why may be completely different than what you think it is. You see, there are many different reasons why people choose to dress their dogs up in clothes.
While some may be looking to make their dog the next big Instagram star, others are simply trying to keep their dog warm, or maybe even just make sure they are stylish. Whatever the reason may be for people dressing their dog in clothes, you are going to want to make sure and have a stylish and cute wardrobe of clothes ready for your dog no matter what the occasion may be. Even if you think that it would be a great idea to dress up your dog for a fun night, there is definitely a right way to do it, as well as a wrong way to do it. But at the end of the day, you are going to want to make sure that you choose clothes that are both chic, as well as fashionable when it comes to your dog.
With all of that said, there is still the fact that no matter what clothes you pick out for your dog, you are going to want them to be safe and comfortable as well. But you have nothing to worry about in that sense, as people have been buying and dressing their dog in different clothes and outfits for many years now, and have found a solution to just about every problem you can think of.
In the early years, people would dress their dogs for various reasons that would include more serious situations, such as sledding food and supplies, or in preparation for war. In fact, in ancient times, armies would even fashion their dogs with protective armor that would protect them when they went into battle. And if they were in areas that had frigid, icy weather, these same people would make sure to protect their dogs by adorning them in warm outer garments and protectors for their paws.
While dressing dogs was originally to protect them from the elements and other situations, nowadays people dress their dogs up so that they can be stylish, safe, and comfortable. Because of that, we actually know much more about how to choose the correct outfit for your dog, no matter what the situation may be.
Why You Need to Dress Your Dog
Besides all of the cute costumes, silly dresses and ridiculously heavy coats, there are several different reasons for why you would decide to take the time and dress your dog. And no, one of them is not because you wanted to simply expand their wardrobe selection.
Let’s be honest, you have seen many of your favorite celebrities and entertainers who have shared photos and videos of their dogs tricked out in the most fashionable and trendy dog clothes. After seeing them do it, you may have even thought to yourself, ‘how hard can it really be to pick out an outfit for my dog?’
However, no matter what those celebrities may think, most dogs usually have thicker coats of fur and will not really require anything that is going to help them increase their heat. In fact, they actually have their own system to keep them warm, no matter what the weather may be. Now extreme weather conditions may require additional clothing to keep your dog warm or cold, most dogs that are not living in environments that contain extreme weather will be just fine.
For an example, take a Shih Tzu, which is a dog that is naturally double coated and has a soft, thick, and warm undercoat that is complemented by a longer, silky outer coat, which is able to protect them from most of the colder climate areas. And then you have terriers that also have coats that tend to be on the thicker and wiry side, which allows them to shed water and thrive in an outdoor setting, even when the weather is damp. Even in these rough weather conditions, terriers are still going to feel very comfortable and dry.
While there are many different dogs that do not require any additional clothing to help them stay warm, there are also some dogs that do require additional help when it comes to keeping them warm and protected. There are actually many smaller breeds of dogs that only have a single layer of hair on their body. Yes, this hair is going to grow to be longer than floor length as in the case of the popular Maltese breed of dogs, their hair is also super soft, extra fine, and does pretty much nothing when it comes to protecting their body and keeping them warm.
And then you have the hairless breeds of dogs that include the Chinese Crested, Mexican Hairless, and American Hairless. While these breeds of dogs tend to do exceptionally well in tropic living conditions, when they do end up in weather that has a more temperate climate, they do not do well at all and actually require clothes to help them stay warm.
It is true that clothing is not a necessity for your dog; however, it can greatly increase their level of comfort for many different reasons. Here are several ways that dressing your dog in clothes is necessary for your best friend.
The Climate Where You Live
No matter what the climate where you live may be, snow, rain, or even some other type of extreme temperatures, it can be very uncomfortable and harmful for your dog. To protect them from these extreme elements, they are going to require some form of clothing that will help to protect them.
Think about it like this, the clothes that you put on your dog are going to work by providing them with an extra layer of protection from the elements. On top of that, it will also help them to be more comfortable, which will lead to your dog being much more content and enjoying themselves that much more, even if that happens to be in the middle of a giant snowstorm. Ultimately, the clothes that you put on your dog are going go to help protect them from the elements, no matter what they may be.
Protect Them From Allergies
While there are many people that have allergies to many things, some of which can actually come from your dog. In fact, you may even be allergic to the sneezes and dander that your dog lets off every time that their hair starts flying around the room that they are in. To make matters worse, this same dog hair that causes allergic reactions is more than likely going to end up on your floors, furniture, and even worse, you.
The good thing about dressing your dog if allergies are a real thing for you is that the clothes will help reduce all of the excess loose hair and dander that would normally be spread all over your living space. This means that if you actually do suffer from allergies, your home is now going to be much cleaner and you are going to be much more likely to breathe much easier.
To be honest, there is no way that a little t-shirt is going to help stop your dog from shedding. But what it can do, is to help make your life that much better as you will not have to deal with so much dander and shedding. Which if you do suffer from allergies, that is actually one of the best deals that you can make.
Protect Your Dog From Insects
It is actually very funny how similar dogs are to humans, especially when it comes to the topic of insects. In fact, your dog is always at risk whenever they are outside. They are at risk for being bitten by fleas, ticks, and other insects. And in some cases, they can even be liable to be stung by bees, hornets, and wasps. Which if your dog has an allergy to either one of them, they are at risk of being killed by something so simple and minuscule.
If you have ever had a pet dog, you know how annoying fleas can actually be to both you and your dog. In fact, it is probably safe to say that you actually hate fleas. On top of that, you probably dislike ticks as well, as they carry diseases that can easily be spread to your dog, and even you. However, luckily for you and your dog, you are probably one of the more responsible dog owners that want to protect them and you from any of these insect problems. This is exactly where dog clothing comes into play.
While no clothing is going to prevent your dog from being attacked by a swarm of very angry wasps, it will help to protect them from the attack. When your dog is wearing clothing, it will be much harder for bees, wasps, fleas, and any other insect to actually get to your dog. This is because they are going to have to penetrate many extra layers before they get to your dog’s skin and fur.
How To Choose The Right Clothes For Your Dog
There is a good chance that you are a huge fan of wearing comfortable clothes. The same is true for your dog; they also enjoy clothes that are comfortable. When you choose the clothes that you are going to wear, they probably go with your style but are comfortable as well. Your dog feels the same exact way.
This is why comfortable pieces of clothing that you get for your dog should look amazing, but also fit them well too. When you are shopping for dog clothes, be sure that you find clothes that are going to fit them well and are also constructed out of fabrics that are comfortable to the touch. This is how you will assure that your dog will want to continue wearing the clothing item, as well as feel comfortable while wearing it.
While you may feel an urge to walk into your local fancy dog boutique and start selecting all the dog clothes that appeal to you, assuming that your dog is going to look stylish in them, you are better off getting clothes that you think will feel good to them while they are wearing it.
Here are some of the main factors that will need to be considered in order to make sure you get your dog clothes that are not just stylish, but that will also be a great and comfortable fit for them as well.
Sizing the Clothes
No clothing that you dress your dog should ever limit their physical ability to move. This means that you must be sure to get clothes that fit properly. Depending upon the breed of your dog, they are going to be of various weights and sizes. This means that the measurements are going to be different for every dog. In fact, even dogs of the same breed will have variations in their weight and size, so selecting a clothing item that claims to be perfect for a particular breed of dog or size of a dog is not always be a good idea.
For example, clothing for smaller breeds of dogs such as a Chihuahua or Terrier that weight just a few pounds are also going to have a smaller neck and back size. Then take a poodle for example. While their ‘standard’ measurements are considered to be a 5.5” neck, 7” back, and a 12” chest. But just because these are the standard measurements for your dog, doesn’t necessarily mean that those are the correct measurements of your dog.
Since each dog is different, the best thing to do to make sure that you get the proper sized clothes is to simply measure them before you buy. This is going to be the very first step when it comes to finding your dog the perfect clothes.
Clothes Should Never interfere with Urinating
Would you seriously want to put your dog into clothes that would make them urinate or defecate on it? Not only would this be extremely uncomfortable for your dog, but also it would also be very smelly and even increase the amount of laundry that you would have to do.
When it comes to male dogs, be sure to look for something that has a higher cutout in terms of their belly and groin area. This type of clothing will help make sure that they don’t urinate on them.
Make Sure the Clothing is Environment and Weather Suitable
Would you wear a t-shirt to walk in the snow? This is why you need to make sure that the clothes you do dress your dog in are both weather and environmentally correct. All dogs sweat out of the bottom of their footpads, which means that they can easily overheat when the weather is hot outside. This means that you should never put any type of warm clothing on your dog if it is hot out, no matter how cute you think it makes them look.
When it comes to the wintertime and the colder months of the year, there is often some confusion to whether you should put your dog in a sweater, a coat, or no clothes at all. When you are trying to decide whether or not you should dress your dog in some extra protection, their hair is going to be the best deciding factor. If you have a breed of dog that has a thinner coat of fur, you should probably put some type of warm clothing on them to help prevent them from getting cold.
However, if your dog has thicker hair, they will not necessarily need the help of a sweater or jacket to stay warm. The exception to this though would be if your dog is sick or weak. If this is the case, wearing a jacket in cold weather will help to keep them warm. Sweaters, hoodies and coats are also a great option to help keep them warm. If your dog is a puppy or older dog, they may require a little bit of extra protection as well.
No matter what type of hair your dog has, when the weather gets to be dangerously cold, it is always best to keep them inside. Dogs are very similar to people in the sense that they can be very susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia.
Choose Your Fabrics Wisely
Keep in mind that no matter what you dress your dog in, they are still going to have to walk, run, move and play in it. If the material of the clothes starts to hinder their ability to move, the entire purpose of the clothing is not going to be fulfilled. If you can find clothes for them that are made of stretchy material, it will make movement much easier for them. Some examples of this type of clothing include spandex, as well as cotton. So just be sure that you choose the materials wisely.
With that being said, special consideration will need to be given to clothes made out of wool. Often times yarn that is made out of wool can feel very itchy and require that you hand wash them as opposed to simply throwing them into the wash with everything else. To avoid this, choosing clothes that are made with a synthetic fabric or even a combination of washable wool and cotton are great options. Just remember that choosing clothes that are thinner and more breathable are normally going to be much more comfortable than anything that is made of heavier material.
Looks, Design, and Colors
After you have measured your dog and have decided on the type of material their clothes will be made out of, it’s time to make your dog look that much cuter. Depending upon the occasion, different styles may be required.
For Halloween, you may want to dress them up as a cute pumpkin. For Thanksgiving, maybe they should be a turkey. For Christmas, there are tons of different options, some of which include Santa outfits, elves, and a snowman to name a few. You can dress your dog however you see fit, but be sure to remember that their comfort should always be the number one factor.
What should you do when it comes to colors? While it may not mean anything to your dog, the color you decide on can mean a great deal for you. As your dog does not have the physical ability to choose the colors and clothes that will best sure their needs, this means that it is up to you to make these choices for them.
The best thing you can do is choose a color that you feel will be the best for them. If you are not sure which color that will be, you can always fall back on the more basic colors, such as black. Black normally works out so well as it tends to match with just about everything. Some other colors that are normally going to match everything include white, tan, and blue. Just be sure that you make a choice and if it doesn’t work out for whatever reason, you can always try a different color later.
When you purchase clothes for your dog, you are showing them and everybody else that you care for and love your dog. However, when you purchase clothing that is not durable and made of weak fabrics, you are not really doing your dog any favors at all and this type of clothing should be avoided at all costs. Just remember to keep the above-mentioned factors in mind while you are out dog clothes shopping and you’ll find the perfect clothing items that are within your budget.
