Dog sweaters can cost anywhere from $7 to $$100’s of dollars.  I saw cashmere dog sweaters at a boutique in New York selling for $398!  Rugby and Patches did not get those for Christmas!

You can spend whatever your heart desires on a nice, protective sweater to keep your dog insulated and dry on his walks.  Having him covered up is also going to be more pleasant for you because when you come into the house your dog will track less water onto the carpet and furniture.  You should keep a towel by the door to dry off paws and faces; otherwise they will head right to your furniture to wipe themselves off.

What is most important when buying your puppy sweater is the fit.  Make sure that the sweater does not fit too tightly, especially under your doggies leg’s.  If the dog clothing is too tight in the areas where your dog moves (the “armpit” area) the material will bunch up and be uncomfortable and then your dog will be sad.  We don’t want that.

Pay close attention to sizing and fit to keep your pet liking their dog sweater.  Also, the material is another important factor in choosing the perfect pet clothing.  If it is pouring and wet outside you don’t want your pets clothing to be wool or light cotton because then the fabric is just going to get soaked and cling to your dog and make him cold.  For wet days make sure you get a water resistant fabric, maybe a dog jacket instead of a dog sweater, to ensure your dog is dry, warm and 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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http://ihasahotdog.com/2008/09/28/funny-dog-pictures-pic-u-up-for-promz/

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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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Thought you puppy fans might enjoy…

Puppy Fashion Show

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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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So if you are in the market for some puppy clothing, you are probably wondering, will my puppy like it? Some basic wardrobe must haves are important and your puppy will love the attention.

A couple things to think about:
What kind of climate do you live in?
What types of clothing do you love?

Personally, my must have item is a soft, warm sweater. I’ve had it for years now and it isn’t very pretty anymore…but I can’t live without it.  Considering how animals love to snuggle and nestle your puppy would probably love to wear a ’security sweater’. If you live in a colder climate or a very icily air-conditioned house this will keep all your puppy’s body warmth tucked in. They will most likely feel safe inside in and like their sweater.  Another must have item for your puppy is ….booties! I know, I know, they have paws with pads on their feet. Aren’t those built-in shoes?

Well…..no.  Some pets have serious allergies and the bottoms of their feet are very susceptible to pollen and outside allergens. Having puppy shoes or booties will keep your puppy’s feet free from having to touch The Great Outdoors. Booties also will keep your pets paws safe from the elements. No matter if your feet are furry or not, snow and rain are cold!  Having your puppy wear foot protection could also be a benefit for you. After your long muddy walk you don’t have to give your puppy a bath just to let him in the house again.
I hate it when there are muddy prints all over my house…that aren’t mine! Having your puppy wear boots means that when you come in the house you just remove the boots and VOILA–No Mess.

I’d say that is pretty functional.

Puppy clothes don’t have to be over-the-top and excessive. They really do have a logical and functional role for people and for animals. Letting your puppy enjoy his puppydom while you also keep him warm, safe, clean, and don’t forget CUTE, can be done in a thoughtful and down to earth way. Keeping ‘function’ in mind when puppy clothes shopping will help you both be happy fashion guru’s.

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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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