Choosing the Right Dog Sweater
As the weather gets chilly, it’s time to unpack our winter clothes or, better yet, buy new clothes! What about your dog? It has to be chilly pottying outside, right? Brrr! Before purchasing your dog a sweater, understand fit is most important. Ignore unnecessary attachments, such as faux fur-lined hoodies that never stay in place.
Being fabulous is nice; however, if it fits poorly, it looks frumpy.
Should All Dogs Wear a Sweater?
The short answer is no. Now, I do recommend sweaters for very short-coated breeds of dogs, especially when they’re exposed to below 45-degree weather. Short-coated breeds include Pugs, Italian Greyhounds, Boston Terriers, Dachshunds, Miniature Bull Terriers and Chihuahuas. If your normally long or double-coated dog is shaved or clipped short during colder months, then a dog sweater is probably a good idea.
Many pet owners assume their long-coated dogs are cold because they shake and shiver. Before assuming temperature is the reason, it’s important to understand that dogs shiver when scared too. This is true for about 80 percent of small dogs.
How to Choose a Dog Sweater
Dog sweaters should cover your dog’s chest, tummy and back, but make sure there’s plenty of room for your dog to easily potty. Sure, there are long-legged varieties, but they just get messy from spraying urine or wet from rain and snow. Body coverage is most important. It’s easier to buy dog sweaters for females, as their sweaters cover most of their tummies. Male dogs can be a bit challenging. You need to make sure there’s plenty of room in the tummy area. Better yet, choose a tight-fitting sweater for your male dog that stops just short of his “business.” This prevents him for urinating on any low-hanging sweater areas.
Always Measure (This Prevents Returns & Stress)
Measure your dog first with a soft measuring tape (same version used to measure your waist). Write down your dog’s neck and chest circumference, making sure the measuring tape is not too tight. Lastly, measure your dog’s body length by placing one end of the tape measure on your dog’s shoulders and then extending it toward your dog’s rump. For male dogs, measure length from bottom of their chest to ½ inch before his “business.” Trust me, rolling any excess fabric forward never works; your dog will just pee on it when it unravels while walking. Armed with your dog’s measurements, it’s time to shop!
RELATED: Proper Pet Store Etiquette for Dogs
Search Wisely
Start your search, but keep it simple by focusing on the sweater’s fit. If your dog has a long body, you’ll probably need to search for sweaters made for longer dogs. There’s nothing worse than a short sweater on a Dachshund. The dog will resemble a tall person in a short sweater, and we all know that’s not cute. 🙂 If your dog’s body is short, it’s the same principle. Find a sweater that’s made for short-bodied dogs, so it fits his body perfectly.
Shop Online
By far, online shopping offers the best variety and prices, but measure first! Also, use gender-specific wording to narrow down options for male dogs. If your dog has a short or long body, add this descriptor in your search terms to further narrow results. Depending on a dog sweater’s design, some manufacturers require specific measurements for certain areas, especially if a sweater features a turtleneck or covers your dog’s entire body. Lastly, browse through the reviews section. I check out three-star reviews first because they’re usually honest on whether a dog sweater runs too small or large, washes easily, and fits their dog.
Keep Dressing Room Sessions Short
You know it’s fall when hordes of pet owners swarm the dog sweater section at your nearest pet store. Before you pick up the cutest sweater, know your dog’s size and body needs first just like if you were shopping for a sweater for yourself. I’ve witnessed a pet owner trying to yank a tight sweater off his Yorkie, which caused tremendous stress for the dog and garment. Be respectful and keep sweater try-on sessions short. If your dog tried on more than three sweaters, you weren’t choosing wisely.
Happy dog sweater hunting!