Festive Fancy-Dress

TEXT: SARAH WANLESS

As we all prepare for the festive season, many of us get excited at the prospect of decking our dogs out in Christmas attire – after all, who doesn’t love a dog in reindeer antlers!? Yet, it is essential to remember that as fun as the activity may be for us, our pets’ comfort and happiness must come first. Just like us, dogs have their own personalities and preferences, and these will, at least to some extent, dictate how happy your dog is about festive dress-up.

IF YOU HAVE A RELATIVELY HAPPY-GOLUCKY POOCH, HERE ARE OUR TIPS FOR TRYING SOME FESTIVE DRESS-UP:

TIP 1: Start slow. When introducing your pet to new dressup items, it is best to take your time. Never force them to wear an item that you can see makes them stressed or uncomfortable. We recommend habituating your dog to the new feel, smell and texture of the fabric over a period of time using the following steps:

• Start by letting your pet interact with the new item and reward them for any positive interaction they may have with it.

• Once they are comfortable with the item, you can start by placing it on their body, stroking, brushing and laying it on them for short periods, all the while praising your dog for accepting the new item.

• Over a period of several days, as your pet’s confidence grows, you can apply the item correctly and increase the duration with which your pet wears it – all the while rewarding them.

The goal here is teaching your dog to be comfortable in the item by either using play or food, which ultimately results in an all-round positive experience for you and your dog.

TIP 2: Always be alert to changes in your dog. Even though you have taken the time to habituate your dog to their new outfit there is still a chance that it can cause distress or discomfort. Please be sure to monitor your dog and advocate for them the moment they exhibit any signs of distress by immediately removing the item.

TIP 3: Choose the outfit wisely. When selecting an outfit for your dog, please consider the following:

• Seasonality and temperature - as Christmas is during the summer, we don’t want our furry friends to overheat.

• Size and fit - ensure the size and fit are correct to make sure your dog is as comfortable and safe as possible. They should happily walk, run, sniff and sleep in the outfit!

• Avoid items that interfere with your pet’s eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Whilst you can habituate your pet to sit for a quick photo with antlers on, it is not advisable to leave these on your pet for longer than it takes to do the photograph.

• Only use clothes explicitly made for pets. These are safe for your pet to wear and have taken into account a multitude of factors, such as style, fit, fabric etc.

TIP 4: Play it safe. While your pet may not yet be ready for a full outfit, you can always start them off in a festive collar, bowtie or bandana. It is often the case that less is more, and opting for smaller, less complicated items is preferable, particularly if your dog is not regularly ‘dressed up’.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

For some dogs, dress-up is just a no-no, and we must respect their wishes. For those who are less phased, we must still take it slow and watch their behaviour to ensure we’re not creating any anxiety or discomfort. Follow the steps above, and if your dog enjoys the experience, post a photo and tag #dqmagazine.