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Dog Clothes make Great
Gifts
By Carolyn Schweitzer
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!
© 2004, Carolyn Schweitzer. Lifelong dog-lover, power-shopper, and
former family dentist Carolyn Schweitzer is owner and editor of
Great-Dog-Gift.com . If you need inspiration for dog clothes,
stop by. The site offers a wide range of choices for dog gift
shoppers, plus shopping and gift-giving tips. (Also advice on dog
care and feeding.) She's always looking for new dog gift ideas and
dog stories to share with her readers. You can reach her by email at
netbrainer@verizon.net.
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