Pet Lovers

[Shanus]

I purchased a sweater for Sadie (13) and am getting weird looks on our walks. The poor thing has less body fat and muscle to keep her warm. 

Why the strange reaction?

[shopperqvc]

Some people seem to think that if an animal has fur they can withstand any weather conditions. They think putting a sweater on any animal is just "playing dress-up" with them like it was a doll. I'm all in favor of dressing them to be able to withstand whatever weather they have to be out in even if it's for a short period of time. Their feet should at least be wiped off when they come in as well. Their pads can get very cold in a short time. We always put a coat on our chihuahua's to keep them warmer when putting them outside for a few minutes. We also shoveled off a space on the grass for them so they weren't knee deep in snow. You are only taking proper care of your dog. People who don't have pets, or don't value them will think it's silly. Enjoy your Sadie.

[SurferWife]

@Shanus...two options for a response:

1) smile & say “Bless your heart”; or

2) smile & say “My Puppy is cuter than your little heathen kid”.

Either one should make them think twice about giving your sweet puppy a strange look.

[Carmie]

I would just ignore people.  My dogs don’t use a winter coat, but they use raincoats because it takes them hours for them to dry. I get strange looks too.

i also have a pet stroller.  I have used it when my dog had surgery as she was in too much pain to walk and people would step on her.  It was much easier to get her to her Vet appointments.  The stroller got some really nasty comments from people.

i have also used it while on vacation to take my dogs with me when I am out and about instead of leaving them alone in the hotel room or in our camper all alone.

i have to admit that I am not crazy about seeing dogs dressed up in frilly dresses, etc., but there is nothing wrong with dressing them for the bad weather.  Not to do so when they would be uncomfortably wet or cold is negligence.

[NickNack]

I agree with shopperqvc as to why.  I have a few fleece jackets for my dog to wear on cold winter days.  She doesn't wear them around the house or just to go out to potty though.

I did buy her an adorable denim dress this summer.  I was going to have her wear it out, but decided to use it only as a photo op.  LOL.  I knew I would get strange looks.

[Still keeper of the koi]

@Shanus, My littler shihtzu is very short his belly is only inches  from the ground even though he has a long silky show coat of fur, I take no changes  with him getting cold,  he has  a whole hallway chest of drawers with polar fleece and mommy knitted fisherman sweaters ,lambie and monkey sweaters.As a matter of fact he has a tee shirt on that says  Santa's little yelper on right now.I have Italian tile floors that he likes to lie on.Ignore the wired looks, do what you feel is proper for your dog.  People don't get that dogs get cold just like we do, remember there are fools who actually leave dogs out in this weather with a dog house.Enjoy your  baby,  have lovely times together..Hugs ,MaryAnne 

[151949]

---

@SurferWife wrote:

@Shanus...two options for a response:

1) smile & say “Bless your heart”; or

2) smile & say “My Puppy is cuter than your little heathen kid”.

Either one should make them think twice about giving your sweet puppy a strange look.

---

Why is it that people on this board try to make everything into a my dog vs your kid? 

Some dogs have very short fur and little body fat and require a dog coat. Perhaps the OP should consider looking into getting her dog a nice Land's end  squall dog jacket instead of wearing cutsie little sweaters on it.I put coats on my weims to go out all the time in the winter, no one ever inferred it was inappropriate.It may be the actual coat they are wearing, not the fact they are wearing a coat. They also had rubber boots if they were going to walk on a salted street, but our dogs were in the woods 90% of the time they were outside.

editted to add -- when dogs spend most of the time inside they do not develop the thick under coat they would get if they were outside dogs.

[summerwind]

When I had bigger dogs (25-35 lbs), I'd just leave them out longer as the days got cooler, so they'd get thicker coats. Never left them out long anyway in bad weather. Since I've had under 10 lb dogs, there's wildlife bigger than them, so they have the run of the 20-foot deck. When it snows it's shovelled/swept.

Last year, my current Pom was on prednisone so long her hair started falling out, so, for the first time ever, I bought clothes for her. She has the cutest little pink fleece coat!  Now that she's better, I will probably just use it when we go out in a cold car.

None of her other clothes will fit her, I'm only hoping the pink coat will!

We only walk on sunny, warm days. She gets quite a bit of exercise just running circles in the house.

ETA: I never got weird looks from people, wouldn't let it bother me anyway, no one knows what my dog needs like I do!

[MalteseMomma]

Even though my little Maltie wears a coat ,sometimes with a sweater undr it,I use the warm hairdryer on him when we come inside ,just to warm him up a bit faster.

They get cold like we do

A Maltie can comfortably stand 75 to 55 degrees,warm and dry conditions.

[Still keeper of the koi]

To the poster who suggested ' a dog coat, there are many breeds, my shihtzu included where structured coats  would  not be an option.He is very broad chested , big thick neck and 4 inch legs! so it should be like buying him a German Sheppard size just to fit around chest. , with tons of leg length and back length left to flop around ,my boy should look ridiculous and couldnt walk in that.What one considers  foolish and one considers appropriate are personal opinions.I would rather see a warm dog than a cold one, I leave the  outerwear up to the owner. I personally think they  are  all precious,shows a caring owner...MaryAnne