I hate dogs in sweaters.
Y’know, I don’t mind small dogs. I grew up with miniature dachshunds, and they were awesome. I’m not a huge fan of high pitched yappy things, but hey, dogs are dogs. I like dogs.
I don’t like dogs in clothes.
Seriously, it’s a DOG. Stop making it look like a ballerina or an army dude. This is not your child, it’s your dog. Dogs are not Little People In Fur Coats. They have different ways of thinking, different instincts, different wants, needs, desires. And fur. Treat them like dogs.
Admittedly, Justice has her own life jacket for when we are in boats, but that’s for safety. And she has a backpack, but that’s so I can load it up with rocks and tire her out faster. Or at least make her carry her own poop bags.
Justice does not own sweaters.
I have been known to put silly things on her for the sake of a photograph, but I do not take her out into the world like that. Humiliating her for my personal amusement for a minute or two is acceptable. Taking my dog out into the world dressed like a sailor is too much. ESPECIALLY for a “big” dog. (Yes, I know, she’s not big, but she has a “big dog” look, even if she’s a skinny little thing.)
But.
Justice has a very, very thin coat. She has no undercoat. She has a few weird bald patches — her tummy is completely bare. (Yes, the vet is aware. No, he’s not concerned. They’re not hot spots or rashes or anything else, they don’t bother her, they’re just hairless.) She’s super thin, almost underweight, and has no additional fat for insulation. She’s an Australian herding breed (at best guess.) While I haven’t visited myself, rumor has it that Australia is a warm place.
And granted, it doesn’t get super cold here that often. Wet yes, cold not so much. But when it does, she’s miserable. She LOVES the snow (when we get some) and bounding around in it, chasing (and trying to bite) snowballs, even rolling in the snow brings her great pleasure… for about 3 minutes until she starts shivering and looking stiff & pathetic. We hustle her inside, even though she doesn’t REALLY want to go, but she’s so cold there’s really no other choice.
So, this year, Justice is getting a jacket for Christmas. Last night, I picked up a nice utilitarian, fleece lined, waterproof, reflective jacket… ok, so it’s red. She still wants to feel pretty, right?
Yes, I’m putting clothes on my dog. IT’S FOR HER OWN GOOD. Don’t judge me: I’m already judging myself JUST FINE.
I feel much the same. I want to get Sasha some snowshoeing boots for Christmas, because she loves coming out with us, but the snow forms ice chunks in the fur & webbing in her paw-pads, and she ends up with very painful feet.
But after trying the boots on her last year, and watching the pathetic mayhem of “omg, can’t feel the floor through these things” we abandoned the idea. Maybe this year…
*grin* Ok, dogs in shoes are funny. I love the wide-legged waddle they get…
Luckily, Justice is totally pretty indifferent to the weird things I put on her, aside from some mild “what the fuck are you doing NOW?” stiffness at first. I tried her new jacket on her last night (to make sure it fit) and she just sort of shrugged and chased her tail a bit. That’ll do. :)
I got a similar jacket for Maia, but it’s black and the reflective strips are different. She doesn’t seem to mind it so much, and it keeps her from getting soaked which I love. But the first thing I did when I bought it was message my friend and say, “I’m a yuppie dog owner. I just bought my dog a jacket.”
I spent an amusing half hour at the dog park watching Newton get chased around by a 5 pound white fluffball with one eye, wearing a blue sweater with snowflakes on it. Newt weighed in at 60 pounds a couple weeks after that encounter. Perhaps he was more terrified by the thought of dogs in clothes than the fluffball, but I think he’s just a wuss.
No judgment necessary. Human clothes/costumes on dogs are silly, but this is a piece of dog clothing on a dog. You’re fine.
Yeah, I used to feel that way about dog clothes. Then I got a small, short-haired, brachycephalic dog who shivers uncontrollably when she’s outside in temperatures lower than about 5C. My dog loves going for walks. Walks are good for her, good for me, and I’m not willing to deprive her of them for my own vanity. I’ve heard some snide comments, but screw ‘em–I love the damn dog and that means I make sure she’s as happy, healthy, and comfortable as possible. And that means she wears a jacket.
Awww, I was hoping based on the title this was about boobs :(