For centuries people have pampered their canines, lavishing them with top of the line foods, customized beds, and high fashion clothing.
A recent customer at my lingerie store wanted matching lingerie for her and her dog and inquired if I had any matching sets. That question got me thinking about people and their pampered canines and just how far 
some people actually go.
I have seen monogrammed therapeutic doggie couches and beds that look more comfortable than what I can get for myself. Some people put more diamonds and pearls around their dog’s necks that cost more than I will never be able to afford in two life times. But, than again there are more down to earth people that will dress their dog accordingly and fashionably that fit their dogs needs.
We all know Paris Hilton and her little Chihuahua named Tinkerbell whom she dresses as her “accessory dog”. Paris 
Hilton once said in and interview that “I have 17 dogs and I like to dress them, so I started designing this clothing line and it’s really cute, like dresses and jeans — everything you can imagine for humans, but for dogs”. To me, this is quite disturbing. Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs and have one myself that I love to death, but to dress them up in “people clothes” is ridiculous and uncomfortable for the dog and in my opinion just poor fashion sense. A dog is not a fashion accessory.
Now, there is a flip side to dressing up your dogs fashionably. Some dogs really do need
to wear a jacket or sweater, vests and boots. The American Hairless Terrier and the Chinese Crested Hairless are two good examples of dogs that need to wear clothing when they go outside to protect their skin from the sun and cold temperatures. In extreme cold temperatures all short haired dogs could use a fashionable sweater…depending on the breed. I have a Doberman Pincher, a short haired dog, but she is just as comfortable in the cold without wearing a sweater as she is the heat.
Working dogs are another dog that benefits the rewards of dressing fashionably. Hunting dogs need protection from the elements like rough terrain, cold water and weather, and other hunters. And lets not forget our most revered working dogs, the Military and Police dogs that put their lives on the line every day and Service Dogs that work relentlessly daily to help give their owns a better life.
So have a little more fashion sense people when it comes to your dogs….dress them accordingly and not just for fun!
Photos courtesy of Things4yourdog.com
Photo courtesy of Blogging the Casbah
Hunting dogs
with chest protector vest,
flotation vest, and safety vest.
Photos courtesy of Cabela’s
