Should You Dress Up Your Dog?
Most of us want to let our dogs feel loved and cared for by dressing them up, but should we? There are a lot of views and opinions regarding that; some say no and some say yes. The answer is it depends, as long as you’re not doing any harm to them. Here are the things to consider regarding whether to put clothing on your pets or not.
Breed and Coat
Your dog’s breed can affect their need for clothes. It can help you know and understand your dog’s coat type and whether you should be dressing them or not.
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Dog breeds with thick, heavy, long coats such as Alaskan Malamutes, Golden Retrievers and Great Pyrenees are dogs that can stay warm without any extra layers on top of their fur. These dogs tend to have very thick fur on their body and neck—it's almost like a second skin! These breeds can get really hot really fast during the summer months (or even in the spring or fall), and they usually do fine without sweaters during wintertime.
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Smaller, short-coated dogs, light bodied breeds, toy breeds, and breeds that naturally have very short or thin hair coats benefit from a warm dog sweater for when they need to go outside, or for just hanging around the house. Small dogs have a harder time retaining body heat and a sweater can make a significant difference in your dog's feeling of well-being.
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Certain breeds have been known to be more susceptible to heat stroke (a condition in which the body overheats) and hypothermia (a condition in which the body loses heat). Also, some coats naturally insulate dogs — so it’s important that you make sure your pooch is wearing enough layers during cold weather. If you have a dog that has lost hair due to medical conditions like alopecia or other forms of folliculitis (infection), then he may not be able to regulate his body temperature well enough.
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The origins of the breed can also help you understand their need for extra clothes. Breeds from very cold climates will most likely won't need additional layers to protect themselves from the cold. However, breeds from warmer climates may not be prepared for certain temperatures.
Outside temperature
When it comes to the outside temperature, dogs are like humans in that they will feel comfortable at a certain range of temperatures. The general rule of thumb is that dogs should be able to stay cool on an 80°F day and warm on a 45°F day.
If you live in a cold area where people wear coats and gloves all year round, then your dog may need more clothing than if you live somewhere tropical where it's hot all year round. Dogs in temperatures greater than 45 degrees typically do not need protective clothing. If your dog will only be outside for 10 minutes or less, they typically do not need any clothing except in extremely cold climates.
Other factors
If your dog has lost muscle mass due to age or illness, it may also need sweaters to help him/her retain the heat they produce.
Puppies are still growing in their fur and older dogs with less fur may also need extra protection against harsh weather conditions at times too!
It is important that if it is raining or has been raining for a long time, you do not put clothes on them because they will get soaked easily when they walk around outside, keeping their body wet (unless there are some special things like boots).
Conclusion
Dog coats and sweaters are a great tool to help keep your dog warm in the winter months. However, they can also cause harm if not used properly. Let us all remember that these are generalized concepts and each of our dogs are unique, and we can't make assumptions about every single one of them.
In the end, it's all about what works for your dog!
If you're still unsure whether your dog needs extra clothes or not, talk to one of our Pet Experts and get customized advice by submitting a request through our Mavyn website.