Puttin' on the Puppy Ritz

I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck It used to be that dog clothes was nothing more than a dog sweater worn by a short-haired Daschund out on his winter evening walk or a fun bandana around a Shi-Tzu's neck after a day with the groomer. To say "we've come a long way" from these minor, maybe even necessary, doggy attire essentials is an understatement. These days, there's no limit to the variety of styles you can find for dressing up your dog. Moving beyond the realm of simple doggy sweaters, pet stores and websites are now fully loaded with dog clothes for any occasion. Is your dog attending a cocktail party with you? Believe it or not, you'll have no trouble finding a party dress or a tuxedo to make your K-9 friend look as dashing as any other guest. Dog clothes are available to suit all types of weather too. You can find doggy tank tops, dog rain coats and, of course, doggy sweaters. There are even doggy shoes ranging from sneakers to saddle shoes to slippers for those relaxing evenings by the fire.

Unless the sweater is intended for a Chihuahua in the Arctic, dog clothes are obviously for the entertainment of humans rather than out of necessity for the dog's well-being. Do our K-9 friends mind being dressed up in bikinis, pants, or couture gowns? Do they cringe when they see their owner pull out a new argyle vest with a coordinating derby? Or do they begin to look forward to the process of getting dressed and the attention they receive when they're looking fashionable? A dog wearing a tiara and a tutu may look perfectly content, but how do we know he isn't completely mortified when other dogs see him in this ridiculous get-up? And do dog shoes hinder a dog's ability to walk properly? His pads are designed to protect his feet like thick calluses, so why does he need tennis shoes with rubber traction soles? Because they look cute?

Perhaps the reason dogs don't seem to mind being dressed up in raincoats and goggles is because they can sense the pleasure these clothes bring to their masters. Dogs are, after all, man's best friend and it takes a real friend to go out in public for you in a pair of jeans with a tail hole. Maybe our dogs are miserable in their terrycloth bathrobes and college team football jerseys. Maybe those dog shoes are a size too small, pinching their feet with every step. But because they love their masters they tolerate the slippery shoes, the fur-pulling slacks and the ear-twisting baseball caps. These dogs love their masters so much that they willingly submit to an act that goes beyond their nature. Fido knows his designer dog coat isn't necessary, and that he'll likely be way too warm in it, but he happily wears it out of love for his master and the smiles he gets for strutting around in it.