In many places, the end of January is a very cold time of year. Some people believe that covering a dog up in a coat is silly.

“They already have fur!”, is a favorite response when they argue.

Well, people have hair on their heads and we wear hats to keep warm and dry.  Yes, a dog is less vulnerable to cold elements than you or I because of their thick fur coats but this doesn’t mean they don’t get cold or wet.

Winter dog coats are made to keep dogs dry and keep their body heat on their bodies.
When you and your dog are out taking a walk in the misty morning on a chilly January day that dampness is going sit on your dogs fur and make him cold and wet.
If it is snowing out, the snow is going to do the same thing.
If it is pouring down rain then do you really want to coax your dog out of the house, have him get soaked to the bone and then have him come back inside where he shakes all that wetness into the middle of the living room?

A winter dog coat isn’t an accessory or a trivial piece of clothing that is unneeded by your canine friend.  Your dog will probably appreciate his winter dog coats and like that the winter elements aren’t affecting his walk.

You want to make sure that your dog is properly fitting in his dog coat. If the coat is tight it is too small and this will make your dog uncomfortable when he tries to walk.  Winter dog coats should fit somewhat loosely, especially under your dogs legs (in their armpits) because material will twist and bunch in that area.  Also, there should not be anything dangling off the coat. No zippers or threads or anything that will trip your pooch or snag on the ground.

Winter dog coats are functional and once you try them out you will see that keeping your dog warm and dry in the winter months will also keep you happy.

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We all have plans and places to go and things to do for the upcoming holiday festivities.  Thanksgiving is this week!  Can you believe it?
What are you going to do with your puppy dog during this exciting time of year?  Are you going to be traveling with your pet or leaving him home for a long day or putting him up in a kennel?

A Kennel?

I know kennels can get pricey and much like day care for children, dogs get sick from other dogs and tend to come home feeling ill.  You can tell if your dog or cat has a fever by feeling their nose.  Pet noses are usually moist, if not completely wet (ick) and cool to the touch.  When your pet is feeling under the weather their nose will be dry and warm.  But, kennels are a safe place for dogs to go to be fed, walked and sheltered.  If you are going away overnight and cannot travel with your pet, research your local kennels.

Keeping Your Dog Home Alone

If you aren’t going away for longer than 10 hours or so you can keep your dog at home.  The younger the dog the less he can wait to go potty, this goes the same for senior citizen dogs.
You can section off a place in your home to keep your puppy safe.  Make sure your puppy has some toys to occupy his time with.  Also, make sure he has a comfortable place to lie down and sleep.
If you are going away for longer than 10 hours and opt for keeping your dog at home alone then you can hire a person to come over to feed and walk him.
Depending on who you hire, this could be less or comparable to putting your dog into a kennel.  It is sometimes a very reasonable option-if you will not be gone for an extended amount of time.  Dogs are social animals and will become depressed without affection and the presence of their loved ones.  You can check your local newspaper and also Craiglist.com for information on dog walkers/caretakers in your area.

Traveling with Pets

Fido is going to grandma’s with you!  How exciting!
First you need to dog proof your car.  Maybe get a travel crate for your dog if he is going to try to pounce around the car while you attempt driving.  Also, if your dog is a chewer, you’ll want a crate to avoid him turning your seat cushions into fluff.
Bring lots of toys to occupy your puppy’s teeth and boredom.  If you have a long car ride bring bottled water and a bowl so you can give your puppy some laps of water when you take your restroom breaks.  Don’t forget a leash!
When traveling with a dog it is a good idea to have him in a harness or in a dog sweater.  That way if your puppy makes an escape off his leash or out of the car door before he’s on his leash you have something to grab him by!

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If there is an accident on Halloween and your very curious puppy ingests chocolate please look out for these signs if there is trouble:

Trembling/Nervousness (this is due to the caffeine in chocolate)
Vomiting/Diarrhea (put your dog in a safe place with a tile floor so you can easily clean up the mess)
Muscle Spasms and Seizures

These things usually happen in about 12 hours after consumption.  Keep in mind that a larger dog would have to eat about 2 lbs of chocolate in order to be toxic so a little miniature Hershey bar isn’t going to hurt him.
All dogs are different though and that doesn’t mean your puppy’s system won’t be harmed by small amounts of chocolate.  It is best that they never have any.  If you keep chocolate to yourself and leave the dog biscuits to your dog, you’ll both have a happy life together.

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If you are planning to dress your puppy up for the Halloween shenanigans please be safe and keep these things in mind!

1. Make sure you puppy likes his costume! Once you get your howl-goblin all costumed give him a few moments to adjust. If he cries, whimpers and looks terribly uncomfortable maybe it’s best to remove the costume. It’s only fun if you are both having fun. If your dog is miserable then he is going to hate Halloween. Keep in mind that costumes, just like your regular puppy clothing, should not block your dogs eyes (like bandanna’s, crowns, or eye patches for that puppy pirate). When a dog can’t see they will become more aggressive and we don’t want to make him feel vulnerable and unsafe, that is not nice.

2. Halloween means many people will be out on the street. Keep your puppy close to you if you decide to go outdoors to show of his snazzy cute costume. He should be leashed, collared and tagged with all his information! Dogs have been known to be abducted on Halloween so please keep him nearby so he is not teased or stolen by any non-friendly Halloweenies. Also, if you stay inside and answer the door to pass out candy to your trick-or-treaters be sure your dog is blocked away from the door. People wearing costumes could scare your puppy.

3. Don’t let your dog eat any candy! Candy is not for pets. It messes with their digestion and is toxic to their bodies! Wrappers are also unsafe and can obstruct your doggies intestines. Plus, there will be a huge mess to clean up. Please make sure the candy bowl is high out of reach from sniffy, curious puppy noses!

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Speaking of fulfillment…is your pet overweight? I have talked a lot about puppy fashion on this blog but what if your dog is too overweight to be sporting those sexy Amazon hoodies? Then, I’m afraid it is time for that dreadful 4-letter word. Not cake. Diet. It’s probably time you put your puppy dog on a diet.

Just like us a dogs arteries clog with cholesterol and they need to eat healthy and exercise regularly in order to stay robust and ruling the bark park. If your dog is supposed to be fitting into those size M’s and he’s just not making it it might be time to do a few extra laps around the house. You can tell if your dog is overweight by feeling for his ribs. When a dog is standing up his ribs should be easily felt through his skin, if not, he is most likely overweight. Keep in mind, this does not mean you have to see his ribs, you just have to be able to feel them. If your dog is overweight, take him for some walks–don’t start off with a 5K. This will be hard on your dog and he’ll feel punished for something he doesn’t understand.

I had a Rotweiler once who refused to go for walks. He’d walk about as far as he wanted and then he’d sit down on the gravel road and refuse to move. Since this dog was over 100lbs I couldn’t really do anything to physically move him but I did everything from yelling and screaming to putting my foot under his butt to budge him to cooing soothingly and then walking away to leave him alone. He really hated being alone and he ignored me for a while and let me walk away. (Aren’t rotty’s stubborn??) but then he really thought I was leaving and he gallopped over. AHA! A win for me! In order to get my Rotweiler out I had to cajole him and leave him at the end of every drive-way in order for him to follow me and by Christmas he wasn’t nearly as fat. Rocky (my Rottweiler) also had a recommended serving of dry dog food every day and NO table scraps. I always gave him scraps after dinner to reward him for … well for being a dog since he never really did anything special. So if your dog needs to drop a few pounds don’t be passing him pork chop fat under the table.

This is also a great opportunity for you to diet too if you would like to make a healthier you. Take your dog and yourself for those extra long walks through the neighborhood, eat salads instead of hamburgers and encourage each other. Before you know it your sweet lil pup will be back in Speedo condition…or at least a nice rain coat. =)

If the clothes never fit again, move on to dog jewelry.

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Dogs come in all shapes and sizes and luckily so do puppy clothes.  You’ll need to bring your puppy and a tape measure into a space where you can do some measuring.

Make sure to bring a little snack so you can reward your puppy for being so good while he gets all measured up for his new wardrobe.

This is what you want to do:

Get a soft, flexible tape measure and have your puppy stand still in front of you (easier said than done).

Measure your puppy’s neck circumference.  Do this just the way you would as if you were putting a necklace on him.

Next, measure your puppy’s chest.  Meausure right behind his front legs, not too far back, you don’t need his waist measurements.  =)

The last measurement you need is the length of your puppy.  Do this by measuring from the base of your puppy’s tail all the way up his back to his neck.

There you have it, now your puppy is ready to be accessorized.

Keep in mind that puppies grow fast; so if you are buying something that you LOVE and want him them to wear it forever, then you may need to buy a bigger size initially so it’ll fit later.  Or buy 1 in each size.  Also, just as a general sizing rule, if your puppy’s measurements fall in between numbers then it’d probably be better to buy the larger size.  Unless it’s an article of clothing that you want to fit snugly.  Don’t forget this stuff has to go through the washer and dryer, too!  Most places, like Amazon, will take returns for sizes if the garment is unwashed and unworn.  So if you get your puppy clothing and it’s just not quite right, return it for a more comfortable fit so your puppy learns to love his style.

One last rule to go by–usually dogs that are toy breeds like Chihuahua’s or Yorkies are size small, Beagles, Pugs and Cocker Spaniels are a medium size, get a large for your Collie’s, Lab’s and Bulldogs and Great Dane’s and Bullmastiff’s take an X-large.

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Puppies are born in litters and they have furry brothers and sisters to cuddle with for warmth and comfort.  Now that your puppy is growing up wouldn’t it be nice to have a way to keep him warm and happy?

Puppy clothes can provide many benefits for your new family member.  Clothing gives security and a sense of belonging, plus he will develop a great sense of fashion!  His friends will paw all over him.

Another great benefit of dressing your puppy in puppy clothes is it prevents him from scratching or biting at that pet dander that seems to drive them crazy.  He’ll be so wrapped up in his comfy clothes that he will not feel these minor skin irritations.

You wear clothes right?  Do you sometimes leave your clothes lying on the floor in your bedroom or in the laundry room where your puppy has access to them with his sharp little canine teeth?  Maybe now is a good time to acquaint your puppy with his very own clothing, that way he is familiar with them and does not feel the need to attack yours!

All your friends and family are excited to meet this new addition to your life.  We wear our best outfits to make good impressions and your puppy deserves the same opportunity.  Give him a great sense of confidence.  He’ll love his fashionable apparel and all the attention he receives from his adoring public whether he has on an argyle sweater and wellies or a casual hoodie for rainy sundays.

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