Our pets are an indispensable part of our lives and a great way to showcase their unique personalities to the world is by dressing them up. This is also an opportunity to be creative and have some fun while bearing in mind that your pet needs to be comfortable in whatever they wear and that it should not be an impediment to movement or anything they like to do.
•Keep it Simple
Unless your dog is accustomed to wearing elaborate outfits, keep it simple, realizing that dog clothes might feel strange, make funny noises, and rub them in ways they aren’t used to. If your dog isn’t used to being dolled up, ditch the elaborate dresses and opt for something easy like a bow-tie, hat, or simple t-shirt instead.
•Get the Right Size
Always make sure anything you put on your dog is properly sized to fit! This is true of both collars and clothes. Make sure the outfit your dog wears isn’t too tight (or too loose!) and doesn’t impede his ability to jump, move, or breathe.
•Start Early
Get your dog used to the idea of wearing a costume early by leaving it out where he can see and smell it. After a while, lay the clothing across your dog’s back for a few moments to get him used to it.
•Use Positive Reinforcement
After your dog has had time to get used to an article of clothing or a costume, now you can try dressing him in it. Immediately after you put something on him, let him play with a favourite toy or chase after some high-value treats. He’ll soon realize the outfit isn’t going to paralyze him and he can move around freely in it.
•Never Leave a Dressed Dog Unattended
If you’ve got clothes on your dog, never, ever leave him unattended. Dogs should only wear clothes under your supervision to make sure nothing happens. A dog left alone in clothes might try to get out of them and end up wearing a shirt around his waist or pulling his leg out of an arm-hole.
•Watch for Signs of Stress
Some dogs will tolerate wearing clothes with no problems at all (in fact, some seem to like it!), while others will tuck their tail, try to hide, or even bite and paw at their duds. If it’s clear that your pup is uncomfortable, take the clothes off and start again with something simpler. Don’t stress your dog by doing too much, too soon.