Having a dog is one of life's great pleasures. Our canine companions give us love, companionship, and sometimes even eyes to see or protection. Like any friend, we like to have fun with our dogs. We play with them with the multitude of dog toys available, or maybe with just a good old fashion stick. But there is another fun game to play with our furry friends. Since Victorian times, people have enjoyed dressing there dogs in decorative, and sometimes functional, dog clothing. There is a huge selection of different sizes and styles of dog clothing available today because of our wish to personify our pets a bit. But dog clothing can also serve a valuable function to dogs in certain areas.

What is Dog Clothing?

To put it simply. dog clothing is special clothing made specifically for dogs. However, not all dog clothing serves the same function. There are two major types of dog clothing, decorative and functional. Decorative dog clothing is your Halloween costumes and cute seasonal sweaters and t-shirts. Any family living in the suburbs has seen a small dog happily scampering down the road with it's family, dressed like a dinosaur. The other major type of dog clothing is functional. Functional dog clothing serves to keep short hair or older dogs warm in cold climates or during winter. It can also serve to protect certain farm dogs from biting insects.

Choosing Dog Clothing

If you have the urge to run out and get your puppy dog an entire wardrobe by all means do so. However you should be sure to think about a few key points before buying anything. Remember, the comfort, happiness, and most importantly safety of your dog comes before anything else. If your dog thinks the clothes are too tight or too restricting, it may try to take them off. If this happens get your dog out of those clothes, they are obviously very uncomfortable. But if you pick out your dog clothing carefully, your dog should feel quite comfortable, and feel no need to remove them.

• Consider your dog's breed before selecting your dog's clothing. Long hair breeds will be very uncomfortable in any kind of restrictive dog clothing. These breeds are more suited to large, roomy costumes during the holidays, and neckerchiefs during the spring and summer. Short hair breeds on the other hand can actually benefit from many kinds of dog clothing for heat retention during the colder months.
• The size of your dog is also obviously very important. Unfortunately, the very large breeds such as the Great Dane have very limited selections when it comes to big dog clothes. However as decorative dog clothing's popularity rises, more and more options are becoming available. Small dogs on the other hand have the pick of the litter in small dog clothes, so to speak.
• Has your dog ever worn dog clothing before? This is actually a very important question to ask yourself. A fully grown dog being introduced to dog clothing for the first time may not know what to make of it. Some dogs have even become very frightened of the dog clothes put on them. If this is the case, start your dog off slow with simple adornments like a neckerchief.
  

Dog Clothing Tips

As with any new hobby, there are certain tricks of the trade when it comes to dog clothing. Beyond the points talked about above, there are certain things you can do to optimize the comfort and enjoyment of you and your pet when using dog clothing. Here are a few dog clothing tips to help you get started making your dog "just like people":

• Unfortunately dog clothing can get pretty pricey at times. If you just can't fit some lovely dog clothes into your budget, consider making your own dog clothing. With even the most rudimentary sewing skill, you can make costume and cheap dog clothes for your canine companion.
• If you just purchased what seems like the perfect bit of dog clothing, and your dog rejects it, don't return it or throw it away just yet. First, if it features leg holes make sure they are not too tight, as this is a common problem. Next, see if the clothes are overheating your dog. Finally, make sure the dog clothing isn't obstructing any of your dog's senses. this can be especially true of many dog costumes, as they sometimes feature parts that cover the ears or get in the way of your dogs eyes.
• Check your dog's clothing and costumes over regularly to make sure that they are in good shape. Dog clothing that is falling apart can present a nuisance at best, and a choking hazard at worst. If you notice any frayed bits or splitting seems, be sure to sew them up securely as soon as possible.