Doggie Dress-up

Fancy dresses, designer outfits, boots, shoes, coats, and jewelry are just some of the many products that are becoming increasingly popular for dogs.  And at Halloween, there's no limit to the creativity when it comes to dressing up dogs.  There's the foam bun with mustard so the Dachshund can be a "hot dog," no end to the princess and action figure themed costumes, animal costumes so your dog can spend the evening as a lion, tiger, or bear (Oh my!), and too many more to list.  My all-time favorite was a Greyhound wearing a bus.  Of course, he was a Greyhound Bus.

Apart from Halloween, we see everything from celebrities dressing their dogs up in costumes to the average pet owner walking his dog in a raincoat.  For Halloween, special events, picture taking, or simply for fun, dressing your dog up in outfits and accessories for short periods of time won't hurt, but should be done with precaution.

Here are some tips to remember when deciding whether or not to put clothes or costumes on your dog:

• Canine coats and boots can be important for keeping your dog warm and dry in places where there is cold and rainy weather.  This is one time where clothes are ok.

• In addition to the sailor suit or ruffled dress, keep in mind that your dog is already wearing a fur coat and can easily become overheated when running around with extra layers.
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• Dogs naturally need to move around in order to make sense of their world by sniffing, exploring, or digging.  Some canine couture can restrict your pet's movement, or become a safety risk by getting caught on various objects or affecting your dog's ability to see clearly.

• Remember that your dog is just that -- a dog -- not a baby or fashion accessory.  Make sure you allow your pet to run through the grass, chase a bird off of the fence, and do whatever else your particular breed was bred to do.  On Halloween, enjoy those costumes for photos and then take them off before you take your dog trick-or-treating.

• Just like humans, dogs communicate with each other using subtle signals and body language.  While you may love your dog's outfit, it may actually mask these signals and hinder your dog's communication with other dogs.  Unless outfitted in a coat for harsh weather, forget the doggy wear when your dog is interacting with other dogs.

This is a post from AKC's blog... I thought it was great so re-posted it... I hope you enjoy. 

Stefanie