Does your dog wear a sweater?

[ncmickeyluvr]

So, basically, I just got a dressing down from my Mother because I don't dress my dogs to go outside. She has a Boston Terrier that wears a sweater all Winter in the house and a coat outside. I have 2 shih tzus. They spend a grand total of 5 minutes at a time in my yard doing their necessary business. They spend the rest of their time snoozing on the couch. They have beautiful white and grey coats to keep them warm. Mom thinks they should have sweaters when they go outside. It is colder than normal this Winter....daytime highs in the mid 30's or 40's instead of our normal 50's...and my dogs just got groomed and they're a little shorter than I normally keep them...not shaved though.

So give it to me straight....am I an evil dog owner? I could almost understand it if we were in Minnesota....but North Carolina isn't exactly a hostile environment. Thoughts? Do you dress your doggie?

 

[Angelhalo]

You're fine!

I also live in NC. I do have a coat for my Scottie but she rarely wears it. She doesn't mind it but frankly she just gets too hot in it and she has very short fur on the top half of her body. On top of that she won't potty when she has it on so it is kind of pointless to send her outside in it to do her business. She acts like it is in her way or something.

Dogs have been pottying for years without coats on so I wouldn't worry about what your mother is saying. I'm sure your pups are just fine.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Your dogs are fine without sweaters. But, just for fun, here's a recent story involving this very issue.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/terrier_fying_crime_9eEnRmt9B61YzucjJ08jeJ

 

[Angelhalo]

Your dogs are fine without sweaters. But, just for fun, here's a recent story involving this very issue.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/terrier_fying_crime_9eEnRmt9B61YzucjJ08jeJ

I can't stand the thought of tying my dog up outside even for two minutes while I run in somewhere. I'd be too afraid someone would take her or let her loose!

 

[MJMouse]

Only when it's really, really cold.... there is snow on the ground.... and she's going to be outside longer than it takes to quickly relieve herself.

So, almost never because she hates to be outside in those conditions!

 

[mamamary]

Your dogs are fine without sweaters. But, just for fun, here's a recent story involving this very issue.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/terrier_fying_crime_9eEnRmt9B61YzucjJ08jeJ

Wow my parents live in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Well i have a 90 lb. lab and no he doesn't wear a coat. He loves the cold and is esp. happy with all the snow we have on the ground here in Maryland.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

Your dogs are fine without sweaters. But, just for fun, here's a recent story involving this very issue.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/terrier_fying_crime_9eEnRmt9B61YzucjJ08jeJ

Yikes First it was kids getting robbed for the Air Jordan's and now it's poor doggies getting robbed for their coats!! I did giggle at the part that says at least the dog wasn't wearing it's more expensive Burberry. You'll spend a ridiculous amount of money on a Burberry coat for a dog but you'll leave the same dog on the street alone !! It sounds like the owner is someone who uses their dog as an accessory instead of a companion.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

NO but he is a lab. he did have a sweater when he was smaller.
If I had a small dog I am sure it would wear sweaters.

 

[golfgal]

When it get really cold our dog does wear a sweater pretty much 24/7. We turn the heat down during the day so the sweater saves us money, but by really cold I mean below zero. When it hits 40 here in the winter she is running around in the yard like it is Disneyworld .

 

[Pakey]

My dogs wear coats to go out, pajamas to sleep in, shirts or sweaters during the day in the house.

They are hairless.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

our dog wears a parka like coat for walks when it gets below freezing (he's part greyhound). We don't bother for a quick trip out in the backyard. The parka even has a hood. He looks very dashing and rugged in his coat and we make a big deal of him!!!!

 

[debf]

No sweaters for my dogs. I think they would try and eat them.

 

[MichelleVW]

My Australian Shepard wears sweaters because she thinks she is pretty in them!

My sister's dog loves wearing his sweater too, but he's part greyhound and gets cold easily!!

 

[minniecarousel]

awww...you should see my son & DDIL's pomeranian in his trench coat! Too cute! I gave him a Mickey sweater a few Christmases ago. His sweatsuit makes him look so skinny, because it flattens all his fur.

I adore small dogs in sweaters.

 

[frndshpcptn]

My Havanese has an adorable pink suede winter coat with a shearling lining that she wears outside when its cold!

Many of the doggies in my neighborhood (UES, NYC) wear jackets / boots. We haven't gotten her boots yet - but I'm actually thinking they'd be good and help keep the salt from the sidewalks off her feet!

 

[minkydog]

No, Minky wouldn't be caught dead in a sweater. He's a 75-lb standard poodle. When we clip him you could probably knit YOURSELF a sweater out of his fur. We used to have a Boston Terrier who shivered and shook even in air conditioning, so he had a few sweaters. But Minky would be insulted if we ever brought it up.

 

[elgerber]

I have 2 rat terriers, and I am in Minnesota. The smaller one is only 7 pounds and has no hair on her underside at all. She shivers when it's 75 degrees. She wears a sweater if we go out for awhile in the car (oddly enough the only two sweaters she will tolerate have Mickey or Minnie on them). If it's subzero outside so that the house seems chillier, she has 1 t-shirt she will wear, but she doesn't exactly enjoy it.
The 14 pound dog though, never ever wears a sweater. I couldn't even wrestle one on her. She actually likes the snow, and will go out an play in it no problem.

 

[MichelleVW]

My DD16 used to dress our old dog Cody (Rip 2007) in clothes all the time....she didn't like it, but loved DD so she put up with it!

Here is Kacie on Halloween a few years ago!

 

[marcyinPA]

We have a Corgi, and he's too cool for a sweater! LOL

No, seriously, he doesn't need one. He's got a very thick coat, long hair...and loves the cold weather! I have to bribe him to come in sometimes!!

 

[Jockaroo]

So, basically, I just got a dressing down from my Mother because I don't dress my dogs to go outside. She has a Boston Terrier that wears a sweater all Winter in the house and a coat outside. I have 2 shih tzus. They spend a grand total of 5 minutes at a time in my yard doing their necessary business. They spend the rest of their time snoozing on the couch. They have beautiful white and grey coats to keep them warm. Mom thinks they should have sweaters when they go outside. It is colder than normal this Winter....daytime highs in the mid 30's or 40's instead of our normal 50's...and my dogs just got groomed and they're a little shorter than I normally keep them...not shaved though.

So give it to me straight....am I an evil dog owner? I could almost understand it if we were in Minnesota....but North Carolina isn't exactly a hostile environment. Thoughts? Do you dress your doggie?

You aren't an evil dog owner. However, your mother may be concerned since she has a Boston Terrier. This breed has very thin coats and the cold can affect them. You have hairy dogs. Ask yourself if your dogs are shivering and trembling when they go out. If they aren't, don't worry about it--they are warm enough. I honestly do not like clothes on a dog--bandannas can be cute however. I have several jackets that my current dog inherited from my two previous dogs. She hates them and I will only put one on if it is bitter cold. She is a Scottie and I will say she would really look cute in a red tartan plaid jacket, but it is a no-go. When one of my previous dogs was ill, she required monthly ultrasounds and was shaved. She would shake in the cold and I did put jackets on her for her comfort. She even had a little poncho that she wore in the house on really cold days. Of course you know you are obligated now to post a photo of the lovely shih tzus.