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While dog clothing in it self may seem very impractical and a waste of hard earned money, there are some very good reasons to invest in that pretty pink or blue sweater. One of the most important reasons is the health of your dog. If you live in the colder climates where sweaters are more common, as well as snow boats and coats, then a nice winter outfit should be thought of. While most people assume that a dog's coat is warm enough and thick enough to withstand the harsh winter weather, in most cases it is not nearly enough. Smaller dogs tend to get colder faster than the larger ones, but the larger ones are more susceptible to arthritis and hip displayshia which can be aggravated by the frigid weather. A warm sweater would help the dog stay warm while he does his business or took a walk with his warmly bundled owner.

Another major point of dog clothing is to put a particular picture of your dog in someone's mind. Please remember that dogs react to people, they do not act themselves in most cases. The dog tends to believe that all people are higher on the food chain than himself, therefore he would tend to be more passive. This passive behavior can be set aside in a dog if the right conditions are met, such as a frightened or aggressive person. Dogs who are dressed in cute little outfits are viewed as members of a family and as pampered dogs, not the ones known to be aggressive or defensive. The dogs who are viewed as friendly, pampered dogs are more likely to be greeted as good dogs and then are more likely to react in a positive manner to the people they are around. Large dogs especially benefit from this change in perception as they are usually the ones viewed to be aggressive and therefore react aggressively.
There is one more benifit that is worth mentioning in regards to the dressing of your four legged friend. Dressing and preparing your dog to go out into public by following a routine in which has a lot of one on one contact between you and your dog will make your dog feel as though he is part of the family. This feeling of inclusion is vital to the mental and physical health of your dog. This feeling of belonging also makes the dog easier to train since he is eager to please the master he knows, verse just the head of the house.
In conclusion, while dog clothing may seem impractical and a waste of resources, one may find unexpected benefits from such silly behavior. One might also find that they enjoy shopping for a creature who will never complain that the outfit makes them look fat or that it does not match their eyes.

Learn more about this author, Sarah Arnette.
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