Jo Soliday asked:




It’s never too early to think about dog Christmas clothes!

Every year around Christmas time, dog owners lament that they did not prepare properly for their furry friend’s part in the holiday. For those with the means, they may be able to purchase something online with express shipping that will arrive in time for the celebration. Even so, they are taking a chance on whether the outfit will be the right size for their dog and whether their dog will like it. As we all know, that time of year is not the best for returning packages and receiving new items in a hurry. Besides, who needs the added stress?

If you are on a tighter budget, consider giving things more lead time in order to shop around for the best bargains. The Internet often presents a much greater selection of holiday dog clothes than your local pet store or doggy boutique. Either buy from reputable companies or check feedback reports if you are purchasing items on eBay or Amazon.

Another way to get just the set of dog Christmas clothes you want for your animal buddy is to make them yourself. Looking for ideas of what to make? Do an Internet search for photos of products and take it from there.

This is especially true for big dogs. So many dog clothing suppliers seem to focus on smaller dogs, and the price of a larger dog outfit is often quite a bit more than the exact same style for a little doggie. Then too, bigger dogs come in many different shapes. Some have a deeper chest or a longer torso, so that a large set of dog Christmas clothes may fit one big pooch such as a Golden Labrador perfectly, while it may not do at all for a Greyhound that is the same height.

There are many ways to create a holiday outfit such as sewing, knitting, weaving or crocheting, as well as other options explained below. Take stock of what you have on hand first – that way you can recycle items instead of throwing them out. Also why not search non-profit thrift stores for materials as a way to give back to the community and promote the holiday spirit, while retaining more of your budget to buy human family members their Christmas presents?

If you keep an open mind concerning the look of the final outfit, you may find fabrics and notions that result in a unique creation. This is likely to give you a much longer lasting sense of satisfaction than purchasing a ready-made set of holiday dog clothes – in essence, a gift that you keep giving to yourself.

You do not have to know how to knit or sew to make dog Christmas clothes. Vests can be cut out of felt, or fabrics can have glued seams and Velcro straps, or even be taped, safety-pinned or stapled together. Just make double sure that your dog is not getting poked by anything. You can also keep it simple – make a cape or a ruffle for the neck. Some dogs do not enjoy wearing anything around their belly, but they are used to a collar and will tolerate items that attach around the neck and lay along their back.

A final idea is that if you have a tiny dog, consider taking a tall holiday-themed sock or stocking and cutting off the foot part. Sew or tape the cut edge to give it a hem that will not unravel, and then slip it over your dog’s body. Be sure that it is not too tight and that your doggie is able to go to the bathroom without soiling the clothing.

As you can see, dog Christmas clothes do not have to be an additional source of stress around the holidays. If you plan ahead, you can find or make just the outfits you want for your dog.

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