Should You Buy Dog Clothes and Why Do People Do That Anyway?

Clothes help protect us from cuts, scratches and bad weather and they have done the same for animals for centuries. Today the primary use for dog clothes is to keep a dog dry and warm. The history of animal clothing dates back to King Arthur when they covered their horses to protect and identify them.

Dog clothes have been used in the military and law enforcement for decades to keep dogs safe from attacks and the environment. Even a thin layer like a t-shirt with a cute saying can help your dog stay warmer. As your dog ages their metabolism slows down and they aren't able to stay outside in the cold as long.

In the United States and some other parts of the world, the main purpose of a dog is to be a family pet and protector. The dog is treated as a member of the family. They have regular doctor visits, special diets and rigid schedules to keep up with the rest of the family. Some dogs even attend day care while their owners are working outside of the home. Entire businesses have been developed and others are booming because the demand for these products has increased. The dog walkers, groomers, pet sitters and of course the dog clothing industry have all benefited and gotten more creative.

Each dog has a distinct personality and it can be easily reflected or implied by clothing your pet in a sassy t-shirt or entire outfit. It seems the small breed of dog is the main target of dog clothing manufacturers but large breeds can benefit as well. Today you can find all types of dog clothes including outfits for special occasions like Halloween, Christmas and even weddings.

Modern clothes are easy to fit and they are designed especially for various breeds of dog. Their clothes are machine washable and are available in a wide variety of colors, styles and sizes just like our clothes. There are environmentally friendly materials and materials designed specifically for keeping out the elements like snow and water. Your dog may not wear booties or rain boots but you can buy them too.

Measure the circumference of your dog's neck and chest, just behind the front legs, as well as the length of his back from the neck to the tail and you'll know what size you need. Pet clothes are all designed to stretch over the head and front paws and some designs may use Velcro straps to keep them in place. There isn't a standard size for animal clothes and you will need to know these measurements to buy proper fitting gear.

So, yes I say you should give your dog the benefit of a sweater when the temperatures drop below freezing even if you don't go for the cute designer outfits. Give your dog the benefit of a sweater when the temperatures drop below freezing. And remember not to leave them outside for too long.

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Dog Clothing Fashion Guide

Dog Clothing Fashion Guide - Your Guide to This Season

Dog clothing is extremely hot this season. One can't help noticing the rise in celebrities with fashionable small dogs at their side. With a sea of dog clothes, it's hard to know what dog clothes are in and what dog clothes, as Hillary Duff's Dachshund would say, are "so yesterday". Legally Blonde's Chihuahua, Bruiser, set the standard in dog fashion while dogs like Paris Hilton's dog, Tinkerbell, keeps raising the bar higher and higher. I think their is an important fact to remember when dressing up your dog this season. Let your dog be a dog. As much as it makes us happy to dress them up, we have to make sure the dog clothes are functional and keep their best interest at heart. That said, here are the must haves for any pampered pooches closet.

Every small dog must have a small dog sweater this season. They are functional in that they keep the tiny and toy breeds warm, like Chihuahuas and miniature Pinsher yet fashionable as they showcase your dog's explosive personality. Dog Sweaters are mostly hand made and come in a plethora of variations. Just pick a small dog sweater that says who your little precious dog is and you can't go wrong. A holiday dog sweater is a must have this season. This year let your dog "deck the halls" in a Christmas tree dog sweater or a solid red or green small dog sweater.

Another must have in my opinion is a dog coat. This is especially true to those dogs in colder climates. Dog coats have come far from some random unattractive pieces of material sewn together. There are raincoats, fleece dog coats, sweat shirts and even leather dog coats. Find a dog jacket or small dog coat that is both functional and fashionable. If you'd like to dress up a long hair breed like a Shih-Tzu or Terrier try accessorising them. Contrary to what you see on "celebrity dogs" bows are not the most comfortable thing you could put on a dog. Detailed bandannas are in this season and are much more comfortable than bows. Another way to dress up your little one is with a beautiful dog collars and leash.

This season, think leather. A leather collar is a classic. Most importantly, remember this season is about dog fashion, not about breaking the bank. There's no reason why you should pay over $30 for any of the items mentioned. Even though clothing for dogs are small and detailed, they're relatively inexpensive to make. Don't be fooled by stores trying to make you pay a hundred or even hundreds of dollars for these miniature pieces of dog clothing. As I said, dog clothes need to be functional. Dogs need to be dogs, not art pieces or accessories. One has to understand dogs don't understand the value of the piece of dog clothing you have bought them. Don't be surprised when they tear up the rhinestone encrusted dog sweater you were duped into buying. This season be smart and have fun. Use dog clothes and dog fashion to highlight the love of your life's personality.

Nikki Carroll proud mother of three dogs and co-owner of http://www.littlepamperedpets.com with Dog Clothes and Small Dog Sweaters. Visit Elizabeth Austin for Wholesale Dog Clothes and Wholesale Pet Supplies [http://www.elizabethaustinwholesale.com].

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Buying Pet Apparel

Dressing your pooch can be a very enjoyable activity. With all the many options available for pet apparel, you can opt for cute outfits, designer outfits, and even outfits that fit every holiday and occasion. You can even buy doggie outfits for travelling. There are a lot of designer boutiques that specialize in dog outfits and accessories such as puppy sunglasses, travelling bags that will match yours, as well as themed outfits ranging from basketball jerseys to pink tutus, and clothing items that will have your dog channeling Mariah Carey, Dennis Rodman, or Oprah in minutes.

Pet apparel shopping basics

When shopping for pet clothes, it is best to consider the clothing material, the size of your pet, and whether your pet appears comfortable in the outfit. It is best to bring your pet along when shopping. Most stores allow pets to try on clothes as long as they are securely leashed. When you cannot bring your pet with you, bringing its measurements along can help in getting the outfit for its size. Take the measurements by measuring your dog from the collar down to the base of his tailbone. Also take the measurement from behind the dog's legs as well as the measurements of the dog's chest and back. Also take the measurements behind your dog's tummy. Allow a 1/4 to 1/2 inch variance in your measurements to make sure that you end up choosing pet apparel that is not too tight. Safety is a major consideration when shopping for pet clothes. Most dogs are fond of chewing, so avoid clothing that comes with small buttons, bells, and other attachments that your pooch could choke on.

Dog clothes as gifts

If you do not own a dog but have friends who do, dog clothes are a great gift idea, either for your friend or the dog. There are also a lot of pet stores that offer gift certificates, which can be a great gift as well. Aside from pet apparel, dog accessories and even food, such as custom cupcakes and bone-shaped cakes will surely make any pet owner smile. Buying pet apparel online Doing your shopping online is the perfect alternative to brick-and-mortar shopping if you are low on time. There are a lot of online pet stores that offer pet clothes and accessories. You can usually find more options online than offline and you can usually expect your purchase to arrive in a day or two. When shopping online, make sure you are buying from reliable online sellers by looking at customer reviews or checking the BBB. Also check sizes before purchasing and make sure that the store has a reliable refund policy in case your item does not fit your dog.

Making your own pet apparel

If you own a dog that needs thicker layers of clothing or you simply want to dress your pooch in unusual designs and fabrics, you can easily make your own pet apparel. If you know how to sew, you can download pet clothing patterns online.

Jeffry Johnston is a domestic pet store owner and an animal enthusiast who finds happiness in helping others succeed in raising happy and healthy pets as well. To find out about about pet apparel and dog clothes, please go to petstore.com.

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Tips For Keeping Your Dog's Coat Healthy

When it comes to grooming your dog, there are a number of activities that should be included in order to keep your dog looking and feeling his or her best. The following list contains some of the top dog grooming activities which are not in any particular order because they are all very important and should be treated as such when you're providing care for your dog.

Dog Bathing

Dog bathing is a very important dog grooming activity that can help keep your dog's coat looking healthy but be careful, you don't want to over do it because bathing your dog too often can leave his or her coat damaged and unhealthy. Bathing too often could also result in irritating skin conditions, namely dry, itchy skin that can leave your dog feeling uncomfortable. It's generally a good idea to only bath your dog when it is absolutely necessary, like if he comes home from an afternoon of rolling in mud down by the creek, or if he finds something with a not so pleasant smell to roll in. These types of scenarios would call for a good scrubbing in a nice warm bath anytime. Bathing frequency ultimately depends on the type of coat that your dog has so if there is any question about how often you should do it, you'll want to consult your veterinarian.

Nail Trimming

Dog nail trimming is also a grooming activity that you should keep up on for a number of reasons. One reason that nail trimming is important is that it helps keep your dogs nails healthy by not allowing them to overgrow. Nails that grow too long are more susceptible to cracking and irritation because of constant contact with whatever surface your dog may be walking on. Nails that become brittle and unhealthy leave your dog feeling uncomfortable and can find the simple activity of walking a discomfort. When trimming the nails, be sure to only trim the areas where no flesh is present. You can identify the fleshy areas by locating the part of the nail where a pinkish color exists. Typically there will be an identifiable line between fleshy area and non-fleshy area where it is ok to trim. If you're dogs nails are black, it may be more difficult to identify this area so use extra caution when trimming. You'll want to trim away enough nail so that there is no contact between the nail and the floor or surface.

Dog Brushing

One final important dog grooming activity is brushing, which can be a very affective activity when trying to keep your dog's coat looking healthy and clean. Brushing not only makes the coat look nice, but it helps remove excess hair that has been shed, which allows the remaining healthy hair to absorb the natural oils that your dog's coat gives off. This is what allows the coat to shine. The strategy of removing the dead hair is the key to keeping your dog's coat looking healthy, and a good undercoat brush will help you do so. One product that works great for this type of activity is the FURminator. The FURminator helps remove the loose hair from the undercoat, while leaving the healthy hair of the top coat in tact. One substitute for dog shampoos is deodorizing powders which can be used in conjunction with the brushing activity.

There are other important dog grooming activities, but the activities listed above are perhaps the most important and should be given special attention on a regular basis. Keeping up with these activities will keep your dog's coat looking clean and healthy.

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A Day in the Life of a Dog Groomer

A dog groomers day is filled with the unknown which is one of the great things about being a groomer. You never know who or what will walk through the door next. The typical day starts at the break of dawn. My first clients arrive with their dogs and after they exchange a few sloppy goodbye kisses they leave their loved ones in my care and head off to work. My shop opens around 7am most mornings and by 7:30 I am already knee deep in dog hair. Of course coffee really helps in this industry.

You see all kinds of dogs and every breed imaginable even some that you did not think possible. I see more poodle mixes then anything else and it never ceases to amaze me the names of some of these "designer breeds". In the last week alone I have seen Maltpoos, Cockapoos, Yorkipoos, Labradoodles, Goldendoodles and one Schnoodle. It sometimes seems that people will mix anything with a Poodle and being a groomer you will see them all at some point.

I start by brushing out and bathing everyone and then it is on to the finishing grooms. While many clients are easy to deal with not all are as cooperative when being groomed.

You will always have your perfect angels. These dogs are the ones that any groomer would love to have as a client. These are the clients that you will do anything to keep.

Then you have your wiggle worms. They are still angels but they are usually puppies that have trouble sitting still for any length of time and are always ready to play for hours on end. The wiggle worms are always a bit of a work out but most eventually grow out of this puppy stage and become perfect angels.

Next you have your spinners. Spinners can be puppies but not always. Spinners have mastered the art of avoiding grooming by turning and spinning around on the grooming table at the worst possible moments. Of course many are the cutest things on four legs but when you are trying to trim their face or avoid nicking them with the very sharp instruments you have in your hand the cuteness quickly fades. Around this time I usually end up nicking myself with one of those instruments. Although, I am always glad it is me and not the dog that is bleeding.

A band aid or two later brings us to the next group of dogs. That would be the sneak attackers. These dogs seem like perfect angels at first and most of them really are at heart. You will be grooming away and everything is going great no problems then BAM! Ouch. The dog that was just a perfect angel on the table has just turned and bit you while you were in deep concentration on carefully trimming an area. Sometimes this is because the dog has an old injury or other unknown problem area. So you can not really be mad and they are still perfect angels for the most part. You learn to watch yourself when grooming around the area that can prompt the attack.

Now, sneak attackers have another group amongst them. This group that is always an angel on the table and never shows any sign of aggression while you are grooming them but the minute you put them in a kennel and then try to retrieve them from that same kennel the problems start. As soon as you open the kennel they run to the back and you get the look. The I am going to bite you look. There is one good way I deal with these dogs. I don't put them in kennels! I usually groom these dogs straight though and then call the owners to pick them up. They can just hang with me till mom or dad get there.

The last group is the problem children. These dogs for whatever reason do not like grooming. Some have had a bad experience, others are just touchy but these dogs take your utmost attention when grooming. They can snap in the blink of an eye. Sometimes these dogs will require a special restraint such as a muzzle to groom. Some are just bad about certain parts of the grooming like having their nails clipped.

All of these groups can come in any shape, size or breed. Some have just not had the proper training, some have had bad experiences in the past with a groomer and, some just have personal issues but they all have to be groomed at some point and that is what we do.

After a long day of angels, spinners, wiggle worms, sneak attackers, and problem children it is time to close the shop and go home. The shop usually closes at 7pm so by this time I have been at it for 12 straight hours. My hands are chapped from the constant water exposure and of course I have some new band aids to show off. You go home wash off all the dog hair and get ready to do it all over again tomorrow. It is a job you have to love or you will not last a day but if you love dogs then it can be the most rewarding and wonderful job in the world. I know I would not want to do anything else.

If you are looking for expert grooming in Austin, Texas check out Doggie Styles Grooming Spa. It is a friendly Dog Grooming Salon that welcomes all breeds. They can schedule your grooming appointment for anytime that is convenient for you 24/7 365 days a year. Doggie Styles Grooming Spa is dedicated to providing top quality grooming in Central Texas! They also offer a great assortment of toys, treats, pet fashions, and grooming supplies to meet all your best friends needs.

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A Dog Coat - How to Choose the Right One

A coat for your dog might be necessary if you live in a bitter cold climate. Exposure to extremely cold temperatures can be detrimental to a cold natured dog.

Dog coats come in every size and color imaginable but, there are other features you will want to think about before you decide which coat is best suited for your dog.

You can find a dog coat made from just about any type of material you are looking for. Cotton, wool and waterproof nylon are the more popular makes. Measure your dog to ensure a good snug fit while covering all the vital areas. Velcro is used in some coats to secure the coat around the chest and tummy. Plastic snaps or buckles with nylon straps are used for some of the others.

For the warmth factor, check the thickness of the coat. Does it provide enough protection for the climate you live in? Is there adequate padding? Do you live in a cold rainy environment? If so, you would definitely need a warm waterproof coat.

Before the final decision, throw together a makeshift coat at home to see how your dog reacts to wearing a garment. The last thing to take into account is whether or not the dog coat is machine washable and safe for the dryer.

Cold natured dogs need protection from the cold even if they are exposed for a short period of time. Going to the bathroom does not take a lot of time but it could be enough time for the cold to adversely affect the dog.

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