What is the deal with dogs in coats?

[Ghoste]

It seems that everytime I go outside of late, anyone I see walking their dog has dressed stupid Fido in a little doggy jacket.  Why?  For thousands of years dogs have gotten along just fine wearing the coats God gave them but now suddenly that isn't good enough.  It doesn't even get that cold where I live (compared to most of Canada anyway) and with days that are hovering around the freezing mark and Rover already wearing fur I just don't get it.

There rant off I feel much better now.

[PocketThunder]

Just something for a company to sell to a loving pet owner.  We have a little kick me dog and he goes outside in the buff... 

[Dans 68]

What breeds? With Man's tinkering with different types and styles of dogs it can get a bit cold for the critters. I have two shepherds, one loves the cold
(thick coat), one can do without (short coat). Little dogs especially can be susceptible to the elements. That being said, I agree that a winter garment on a dog is out of place.  

Dan

Edit - Geez's, Ghoste, what is with all the new threads? Ya trying to make 17,500 posts by the new year?  

[Silver R/T]

I guess people want to "personalize" their dogs. Kind of like ricers put Honda stickers over their honda....like it's not obvious or SUV owners put wheels with spinners on them, so they're "rolling" when they're at stand still.

[Troy]

Certain breeds like Boxers are really only comfortable in a small temperature range (can't handle heat or cold). Obviously breeds like Huskies and American Eskimos thrive in the cold. We have one dog with lots of fur (Shepherd mix) and she loves the cold/snow. The other two have short hair and shiver a bit in cold weather - but handle the heat a lot better. The small one has a fleece cover-up because he gets cold so fast. Thinking about getting one for the bigger dog but I think he loses most of his heat through his huge ears. I don't dress the dogs as a fashion statement - it's practical.

People are the reason dogs live out of their natural environment.

Troy

[71ChallengeHer]

My step-mom got really poed at me when I got her dog a shirt that said " I Only Know How To Do It Doggie Style " 

[BIRD67]

We got our Min-Pin one, we use it during the winter when we go on walks because it gets very cold up here and she is a short-haired dog..

[tan top]

My step-mom got really poed at me when I got her dog a shirt that said " I Only Know How To Do It Doggie Style " 

thats funny Jackie   good one 

[squeakfinder]

My step-mom got really poed at me when I got her dog a shirt that said " I Only Know How To Do It Doggie Style " 

Oh come on. You gotta let us know where we can get one of those! 

[71ChallengeHer]

I got the one for my step-mom's dog at Hot Topic's. The best 3 bucks I ever spent.  She went off for about 2 hrs. " I can't take my little princess out in that. What if the neighbors see it ? What the hell is wrong with you ? etc, etc. "    But here's one kinda like it  http://www.zazzle.co.uk/dog_funny_humor_i_do_it_doggy_style_dog_shirt-155437109211266595

[PocketThunder]

I got the one for my step-mom's dog at Hot Topic's. The best 3 bucks I ever spent.  She went off for about 2 hrs. " I can't take my little princess out in that. What if the neighbors see it ? What the hell is wrong with you ? etc, etc. "    But here's one kinda like it  http://www.zazzle.co.uk/dog_funny_humor_i_do_it_doggy_style_dog_shirt-155437109211266595

I am so buying that for my "family dog".   (family dog means, "oh honey, can we get a dog, we'll all take care of it as a "family")  which means i take it out at 6:30 every morning and 10:00pm every night.  And i get to clean up its "accidents" every time.   Oh well, what are good Dads for anyways..   

[Ghoste]

Well we've had a lot of dogs over the years both long and short haired (including oddly enough both a Boxer and a Min Pin ) and we've never felt the need to dress them.  You have to use a little common sense sometimes, afterall I am in Canada.  We just didn't send them out any longer than needed when it's really cold.  Just me I guess.   

[RECHRGD]

PePe refuses to leave the house unless he's properly attired.

[bull]

I think real coats and sweaters are stupid but I approve of the following dog attire:

[jb666]

We own two American Eskimos. One is a toy, the other is a miniature. I don't let my wife "dress" them  ... Poor dogs...

[RECHRGD]

As I write this we are in a hotel in Sioux Falls SD.  It is a balmy -9*F with a breeze.  I can't even get little PePe to do his business outside.  He'll pee a few times and then just starts crying and trying to hold his paws off the ground.  As I recall, some of the sled dogs in that big Alaskan race wear doggy boots and they are not wimpy little dogs.  The small breeds are not bred to handle extreme temps.  I had a neighbor that had a Shih tsu that he left outdoors because it was a "dog".  Winter came and the "dog" froze to death.  I agree that most dogs look silly in cloths, but we've so drastically domesticated some of them that they are totally dependent on humans for survival.  Bob

[The70RT]

My miniature schnauzer has a short time to live and has to urinate often so he goes out often. I has been around zero lately so he has been wearing it. When he was healthy and was woke up at 3 am. I would the let him out without it. He would do his bossiness quicker then.