I put sweaters on my guys in the winter so that we can go for walks without them freezing
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Like Pitsandpugs said, some people have to put clothes on their dogs so they don't freeze (mainly small dogs with not much fur, dogs with small amounts of body fat- like the doberman- or dogs with health problems). Just watch what you say because I don't think there are many people who dress their dogs on this forum. I think people who treat their pets as accessories usually are the type to dress em up(to the extreme)... so ya, I don't think there are people like that on this forum...

 

Well, no one says you SHOULD. But you have that option. As it was already mentioned, some breeds require a coat in the winter and for reasons that are health important. Besides that, what exactly does it hurt, exactly, to put a shirt on a dog? I am of the opinion that if it doesn't hurt the dog or impede him in some way, it isn't a big bad thing. People put sunscreen on Cresties. That is a "human behavior" Should they stop?

Besides the fact that dogs are not wolves, I really don't know what packs of dogs in the wild have any thing to do with putting clothes on your dog. Wild animals also are not vaccinated, fed, and taken to the vet when injured or ill. I think you have your argument a bit confused, and your anger misplaced. I think it's wrong people dump/abuse/kill dogs. I don't think it's wrong they put a shirt on them sometimes.

 

Hi Stephanie

I think you've misunderstood me. I'm not angry at all. And I say in the post "Sure, the clothes do no harm, but the way I see it, that's just not the way to treat a dog".

What I don't get is exactly why you should do it...You say some breeds require a coat in the winter and for reasons that are health important, but then I wonder "what did they do before dog clothes was made?". They are still here, so they survived without it...

But sure, it can be good for some dogs to get something warm when it's cold outside, but I think much of it is unneccessary...Don't you agree?

Joachim

 

I am sure clothes came about b/c our shirts were not very fitting...I have sweaters for my chihuahuas. Its like asking why people bring their dogs inside during hot summer months... I dont dress up my dogs and put them in a matching purse to carry them around, but initially clothes were meant for the good of the dog weather it be to protect them from the sun, to keep them warm, or to aide in a healing process.

 

I agree that some people may go overboard, but for many breeds it is a necesity! I know you may not believe that! Many people don't until they own a breed that needs clothing occasionally.

I do have clothing for my dogs. Some of it is for fun, such as holiday outfits, but most is very practical! The vast majority of the time my dogs go without clothing. However, in cold or rainy weather you can bet you will see at least my Min Pin and Pug wearing a coat! Without it they would freeze to death! Not to mention, without a coat in winter, I couldn't walk my Min Pin. Without adequate daily exercise she would be bouncing off of the walls and be getting into all sorts of trouble!

 

Well, I'll take all of this into consideration, but I've already tremendously mistreated one of my dogs:

Please don't neglect to notice that her nails are also painted purple.

 

Wow! How DARE you mistreat your dog in this manner?!?! She looks SO tormented and abused, I'm surprised she's not biting your face off!

Oh...and btw, your dog and I have something in common, and it's not purple nails...

 

I don't see anything wrong here other then a dog that has been well taken care of. Cute dog StephanieF

I really don't see what is so darn wrong here... And if your only answer you have is "your not treating your dog like a dog" well sorry, most people on this forum do. If you haven't noticed yet, better open your eyes. Better yet, give me a real answer that shows it is so darn bad to dress up your dog once in a while.

 

Understand this: dogs are animals and they have some natural instincts they will follow. Dogs are very social animals and very protective of their territories and in the wild they live a lot like wolves, in packs.

There's your key phrase.

In the wild, a dog would not (likely) go to a climate he's not "designed" for. Just like you won't find any native Huskies in Miami, you won't find chi's native to Alaska, but we humans have moved dogs out of their natural environments, so the dog's natural temp. control is off - so we give them an adaptation we humans developed. Clothing to protect the body from the elements.

Sure, dogs have hair that serves as their "clothing" but it it not always adequate because of the transplanting.

As far as how they survived without clothes - they didn't wonder to places way outside their "native" climate. That's how. Dobermans probably didn't originate in Siberia, Chihuahuas didn't come from Alaska, etc. and they have no way to get there.

And plus, it's just fun sometimes. Personally, I don't get into it, and even if I did, I have this fluff ball of a dog that would make sizing a NIGHTMARE (learned that with dog boots - never again, he will just have to spend an hour eating snowballs off his feet) but I can see why people do it, and I don't think it has anything to do with "treating them like humans". Not EVERYTHING we do to dogs that's not "in the wild" is anthropomorphic in nature.

Putting clothes on a dog will not strip away their canine drives and instincts. They will still walk, sniff, bark, and pee on things just as well with or without clothes. They can still chase and chew and use body language to communicate. They could still form packs if the situation so inclined. They can still be social. They can still like what they like and be eager to do those things (drives).

 

Love the purple nails!
I wish my girls would cooperate with me so that I could paint their nails occasionally!

 

Well, why do people get certain haircuts or wear make-up or get tatoos or drive a certain car or dress a certain way? It's a way of expressing yourself. Extending that expression to your pet seems natural to me and does no harm. I don't personally like dressing my dog but if other people get a kick out of it, who cares?

I've seen pics of a certain rottweiler in a bumblebee costume and a pug in a tuxedo that still make me giggle. I don't think the owners are bad people for dressing them that way or that I'm a bad person for enjoying it. As long as the dogs are comfortable, again, who cares?

 

if youre sooooooooooooooo keen on treating a dog like a dog, then you shouldnt even own one. they should all be just running wild with no owners or anything, until that, youre always treating your dog to some degree, like a human.

 

First off THIS! .

I agree! Unless your dog is kept unrestricted, outside, hunting for itself, breeding, etc etc...the arguement doesn't work

Well, no one says you SHOULD. But you have that option. As it was already mentioned, some breeds require a coat in the winter and for reasons that are health important. Besides that, what exactly does it hurt, exactly, to put a shirt on a dog? I am of the opinion that if it doesn't hurt the dog or impede him in some way, it isn't a big bad thing. People put sunscreen on Cresties. That is a "human behavior" Should they stop?

Besides the fact that dogs are not wolves, I really don't know what packs of dogs in the wild have any thing to do with putting clothes on your dog. Wild animals also are not vaccinated, fed, and taken to the vet when injured or ill. I think you have your argument a bit confused, and your anger misplaced. I think it's wrong people dump/abuse/kill dogs. I don't think it's wrong they put a shirt on them sometimes.

This too.

Hi Stephanie


What I don't get is exactly why you should do it...You say some breeds require a coat in the winter and for reasons that are health important, but then I wonder "what did they do before dog clothes was made?". They are still here, so they survived without it...


Joachim

Because, before dogs were "only pets" no one was breeding working dogs with short single coats to work in the snow. When my dogs are genuinely shivering in the light southern california winters. I put clothes on them, absolutely. Have you ever had a dog that was so cold they refused to go outside to relieve itself?

 

This dog had mange, so he needed clothes, to keep from being sunburned. Is that a legit enough reason? Iam not sure at this point

 

Guys, guys, guys...It's your pet, I get that, trust me. But it's still a dog. Yeah sure we humans have moved them out of their natural environment and I get that you have to dress some dogs up to help them stay warm etc. and that's ok. That's a very good reason for putting clothes on them. But why take it to the next level??

Like in this picture...Can someone explain exactly why the heck the dogs looks like a tiger and panda-bears?? Some good reason at all? Cause I don't see one reason for doing this to your dog, unless it's a selfish action...Meaning you, the owner, gets something out of it (now, I know that the dogs in this picture not having clothes on, but it's in the same alley, cause it's something a person has done to dress them up to look nice)...And that's not the way it should be, from my point of view...

And that's my point...

 

I'm sorry, but do you even have a dog? What is the next level of putting clothes on dogs? There are no levels. You either put them on, or you don't. Those dogs are groomed like that for competitions. Again, NOTHING harmful and as an old groomer I can tell you the dogs don't give two rips.

Of course we get something out of owning dogs. Why do you think dogs were domesticated in the first place? Your argument makes absolutely no sense. Every breed was bred to do something and give something to the owner. Herders bred to herd livestock for their OWNERS. LGBs to protect livestock for their OWNERS. Doberman's to protect their OWNERS. So technically by your argument, every one owns a dog selfishly to get something out of it. What way should it be?

 

oh little chili willy wants to come stay with aunt Michaele!

 

Cause I don't see one reason for doing this to your dog, unless it's a selfish action...Meaning you, the owner, gets something out of it

this is the base of all dog ownership, for the most part. Not sure what you are getting at.

Same can be said about breeding dogs with bad traits, or making them do jobs for us. Or tying them up outside. All the things we do with them for the most part are for US.




wasn't he a hideously cute little thing? I think his ears are the same size and he grew into them.

 

First off those dogs are dang cute, but yea I agree thats a bit much....they do that purely for looks (still too adorable tho) LOL

 

LOL he has hasnt he!

 

But that is why they were domesticated... for the better of a human...not for the better of the dog.

 

I sympathize with your plight. You obviously feel very strongly about this issue. I understand you feel that it's selfish and wrong.

Why don't you give me your dog's measurements and I will make him/her a Protest T-shirt, so that they can wear it to the next PETA rally and get the word out to the masses.

I wont even charge you for the material
Think of it as my gift to you and 'the cause'

 

I sympathize with your plight. You obviously feel very strongly about this issue. I understand you feel that it's selfish and wrong.

Why don't you give me your dog's measurements and I will make him/her a Protest T-shirt, so that they can wear it to the next PETA rally and get the word out to the masses.

I wont even charge you for the material
Think of it as my gift to you and 'the cause'

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. (pause for a breath) BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I love it. THAT's the kind of humor we need around this place. Keep it up, and if we're keeping score, chalk one up in the W column for you.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

OW OW OW OW


:rofl:

 

My dogs are dogs. They are also my companions. I keep them because doing so makes me happy (not because I have stock to herd, etc.). Sometimes clothes are needed to protect some of my dogs from the elements. My hairless Chinese Crested was not meant to live through our cold, wet PNW winters and would not survive without protection, just as my Toy Poodle would not survive without extensive grooming. Being older, Pood also benefits from wearing clothes sometimes to keep warm. If I sometimes put a costume on my dogs, or groom them creatively just for fun, it's obvious they actually enjoy the extra "silly human" attention it gets them. When there are so many abused dogs out there and dogs who have no one to love them (let alone put silly costumes on them) destined to be put down in shelters, I have to wonder why you would waste your time and energy thinking negatively about owners of the lucky dogs out there like mine?

 

I don't know about anyone else, but you are literally making my head explode. How about we leave it at you don't put clothes on your dog, other people do, the end.

 

What? You can't handle when someone is challenging you StephanieF?

Certainly. I feel better having a dog than I would not having a dog. Not sure why this confuses you. I can't think of anyone that would get a dog to feel worse about themselves I have wonderful creatures I rescued to dote on, and in turn they do things for me.

Why did you get a dog? Do you own a dog?



we already explained to you why you should. As to why people do it for other reasons that aren't good enough for you, the answer is "because they like too". I don't know how else to explain it to you, we are human, we do what we like if we can. In fact all organisms do. Why do dogs eat poo? They like it. Case closed

Yes..."because they like to", exactly! But for me that's not a good enough reason...I'm just sorry, but it simply isn't a good enough reason the way I see it.

 

So what you're saying is that you got yourself a dog because you wanted to feel better?

Certainly. I feel better having a dog than I would not having a dog. Not sure why this confuses you. I can't think of anyone that would get a dog to feel worse about themselves I have wonderful creatures I rescued to dote on, and in turn they do things for me.

Why did you get a dog? Do you own a dog?

What I asked for is if you could please explain to me why you should dress up your dog like that...(

we already explained to you why you should. As to why people do it for other reasons that aren't good enough for you, the answer is "because they like too". I don't know how else to explain it to you, we are human, we do what we like if we can. In fact all organisms do. Why do dogs eat poo? They like it. Case closed

 

Yes..."because they like to", exactly! But for me that's not a good enough reason...I'm just sorry, but it simply isn't a good enough reason the way I see it.

To me alot of people do things to dog that aren't for good enough reasons. Training methods, getting dogs from "bad" sources etc. People turn dogs into shelters for things that I feel are silly and stupid. Its just the way the world is.

Are you just trying to vent? Iam just confused as to why you would post this...there are so many great evils in the world of dogs, this seems like a minor thing to be so concerned about. If you put half this much thought into fighting puppy mills, or som'thing constructive. You'd make a difference


and in closing heres Chili again. In a snazzy sweater.

YouTube - "Bow" for the friendly Competition on Dogforum.com : )

oh and you missed som'thing

Why did you get a dog? Do you own a dog?

its only fair that if you demand we answer you, that you answer in return.

 

The sweater makes him look 'distinguished'.

 

Ok, so we get it. "because they like to" isn't a good enough reason for you. Why did you post up about this issue? Because you liked to?

Let's face it. People are going to put clothes on their dogs, manicure their hedges into weird shapes, and name their children "Freedom" and "Mary Juana". It's the nature of free choice. First, humans domesticated dogs FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT. Then we gave them jobs, now we dress them up. It's an anthropological fact that people, given the means, will make their environment more comfortable and more aesthetically pleasing.

Failing to find why this is such an injustice to dogs...

 

Guys, guys, guys...This is not something I will lose sleep over, it's just a thing I don't understand. And yeah, I can see you're giving me all kinds of reasons, which is fine, but don't get upset when I say I don't think some of the reasons you're putting up is good enough.

I saw a dog with sunglasses, a hat and a cigar in his mouth walking in the streets in Torrevieja, Spain. Do you think that's ok?

And it's not a big problem, and I've never said it is. I just don't see the point (except when it is to keep them warm etc..)

 

Guys, guys, guys...This is not something I will lose sleep over, it's just a thing I don't understand. And yeah, I can see you're giving me all kinds of reasons, which is fine, but don't get upset when I say I don't think some of the reasons you're putting up is good enough.

I saw a dog with sunglasses, a hat and a cigar in his mouth walking in the streets in Torrevieja, Spain. Do you think that's ok?

And it's not a big problem, and I've never said it is. I just don't see the point (except when it is to keep them warm etc..)

lol, you may get more responses if you answer the people that are bothering to respond to you. Just a helpful hint

because, trust me this is about two posts from becoming lolcats.