Pet Fashion Can Serve a Purpose!

Clothing for pets can be one of those hot button issues among pet owners. Some think it’s a great idea to dress up their pets. Clothes can be a stylish touch for any pet.

The people who don’t like clothes on pets say that their pets are cute enough as is! That clothing ruins them and makes them look ridiculous. 

Regardless of where you come down on the matter, there are some cases and clothing options that are undeniably useful for some pets. It’s true that dogs get most of the attention when it comes to pet clothing, but cats and other small pets can also be dressed. There are some good reasons to dress up your pets and some fun things you can do with them! 

Why Dress Pets?

There are several utilitarian reasons to dress pets. Many dogs come with what’s known as “double coats” of fur. These dogs are fine in cold weather. However, breeds without them can find themselves chilled very quickly if they are in cold temperatures. A dog jacket can go a long way to making them more comfortable. Another thing that can be difficult to pick up for dogs is boots. Dog boots can make walking in icy situations far more palatable and help them avoid getting frostbite on their foot pads. 

Rain is another consideration. While some dogs love to frolic in the rain, it can be troubling to get them dry when you get home before they manage to get all kinds of water and mud on your furniture. Again, a jacket will reduce the amount of water that they absorb and carry back inside. 

An under-rated consideration is allergies. Many people are allergic to dog dander. Pet clothing can actually reduce the amount of loose hair that gets unleashed and help protect their pets. 

Common Animal Clothing 

The market for animal clothing continues to grow. Ridiculous items like kitten mittens (no cat will thank you) should be left alone. However, there’s plenty of items that can either help your pet or give them an extra appealing look! Some of these include: 

• Jackets - These are arguably the most common type of animal clothing and used for inclement weather. They guard against snow and rain. Some jackets can fit extra snug and provide a nervous dog with extra comfort during a thunderstorm. 
• Sweaters - Sweaters are one of the items that can also be used with cats if they are docile. Sweaters allow for some extra warmth, though they can be tricky to get on your pets if they have the same design as human sweaters. 
• Hats - Perhaps not the most useful clothing item, hats can be worn by pets to help keep the sun out of their eyes and give them some style! 
• Costumes - Costumes for holidays are one of the most popular versions of pet clothing. It’s not just halloween. Turkey costumes exist for thanksgiving. There’s a wide variety of great looks for Christmas, Easter and more! 
• Accessories - These are very common. Some people like tiara’s for their smaller purse dogs. A jaunty handkerchief tied around the neck can give a pet some added maturity to their appearance. Others attach accessories like flowers and bells to collars to look and sound great.  

Styling Tips

The first and foremost thing needs to be comfort. If a pet is uncomfortable, it will fight to get out of the clothing. Make sure things can be easily put on and removed. Velcro is helpful, zippers are not! Also remember that the clothing needs to fit right. Animal clothing sizes are far from universal. Also, in the vein of comfort, make sure that any clothing doesn’t stop the pet from being able to perform bodily functions. This can only harm them. 

You want your pet to be able to enjoy and play in their clothing. This means making sure that the fabrics used will stretch and allow for movement. Thinner fabrics tend to breathe more and provide more comfort to your pet. 

Your pet probably isn’t going to care what color of clothing they are wearing. But you are! It’s certainly a chance to go outside the box with fashion color palettes. If you’re uncomfortable with your pet wearing a neon green sweater or jacket, then you can always stick with traditional black.