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Dog Clothes
make Great Gifts
When it comes to the art of giving, a
gift of clothes is fraught with peril. We all have stories to tell, and if
you don't, you will. Just give it time.
Mine started early. My grandmother,
having survived the Depression, knew how to stretch a dollar. Clothes for
her grandkids were always purchased 3 or 4 sizes too big so we could "grow
into them". And she passed this charming trait on to my mother. So, we
endured our baggy clothes, with the sleeves and pant legs rolled up, until
we were finally big enough to wear them with dignity. By which time they
were ready for donation.
Then there's my husband. Heaven
forbid I should try to give the man a Polo shirt with an uneven hemline.
Most Polos are made longer in the back to help them stay "tucked", but hubby
goes un-tucked -- always. He rejects any polo that breaks the rule, no
matter how subtly. For an otherwise easy-going guy, his behavior is almost
perverse.
If you must give clothes this season,
there's one giftee on your list who's sure to look great in any outfit you
buy him. He'll wear your gift with pride and appreciation, head held high
and tail wagging.
That's right, your dog. Or your best
friend's dog. It's so easy you'll wonder why you didn't think of it before.
Dogs love any kind of attention you
lavish on them. So, Spike will wear his outfit - whether it's cute or
ridiculous - as soon as he sees how happy it makes his owner. Spot will eat
up all that extra attention he gets from strangers. And Fifi might even want
to Vogue for the camera.
Clothes shopping for dogs is a lot
like clothes shopping for babies. Unless you're going for practicality,
cuteness is what counts. And that's easy to accomplish, given that any dog
wearing clothes looks pretty darned cute.
Choices in dog clothes range from
winter sweaters to football jerseys and summer tees. You can get a set of
flannel PJ's for bedtime or a terry robe for after bath. There's even an
entire line of Harley clothes for dogs, complete with leather cap and
studded collar. Dog costumes made for parties and holidays are just too cute
for words.
If you really want your gift to be a
hit with admirers, accessorize. Try a designer dog collar and maybe a cool
pair of sunglasses--they make them just for dogs. And I recently heard that
leg warmers are making a come back.
Got a mischievous sense of humor?
Making the baby look silly might be a no-no, but it's good clean fun when it
comes to dressing up a dog. There are some really creative doggie costume
out there that are good for a chuckle or two.
There's really only a couple of rules
you'll need to keep in mind when shopping for dog clothes: One is that if
the dog in question is an avid chewer, you should avoid buying him anything
tempting. Shiny buttons, fringe, and feathers are examples that come to
mind. An object that can easily be chewed off and swallowed is a choking
hazard and can get stuck in the dog's digestive tract.
The other rule is that any dog, no
matter how tolerant, will be more comfortable wearing clothes that fit.
Proper fit typically requires measuring from the dog's collar to the base of
her tail for length. Most garment's girth can be adjusted with velcro tabs,
but could still be an issue with a barrel-chested breed such as a bulldog.
Measurements are typically in inches.
Remember that a dog will never "diet
down" into an outfit that's too small , or -- unless you're shopping for a
puppy or a pregnant female -- "grow into" an item that's too big. (Sorry,
Grandma.)
Oh, and one more thing--if you're
handy with a sewing machine, you can make your own dog clothes creations.
Just don't forget to include an opening for the dog to relieve himself.
Don't laugh, it happens a lot!
Now, if you're shopping for your own
dog, you're all set. But if you're buying clothes for someone else's dog,
I've got a few more tips for you.
Surveys conducted on the subject of
gift preferences of men and women have shown that men prefer gifts that are
more playful or practical. So, if the dog's owner is male this might
translate into a doggie Harley jacket, a funny costume, or a reflective
hunting vest (more on practical clothing in another article!).
Women, on the other hand, prefer
gifts that are beautiful, memorable, and personal. It shouldn't be hard to
find an item of clothing for a woman's dog that's either beautiful or
memorable or both, and it will of course be personal!
Exception: if the woman is someone
you don't know well. The more distant the relationship between giver and
receiver, the riskier it is to give a personal gift. So, be they man or
woman, if you don't know the dog owner very well, you probably shouldn't be
buying dog clothes for their pet.
I hope you'll have fun picking out
something nice for the canine on your shopping list. If you get a chance,
send me a photo! |
