Do people dress their dogs up in clothes in your country? What about other pets?
By SuzzetteMB
@SuzzetteMB (270)
United States
May 25, 2011 6:46am CST
Hello. I was just wondering how other cultures felt about dressing their pets up - especially dogs. It is very common here in the US. Some say it can be considered animal cruelty to dress your dog up, though, and I am not sure whether or not I agree with this. If it is a hot summer and you dress your dog up in something too warm, such as a thick shirt or sweater, then I can see where it can be cruel. But I can see how it is very cute, too. I can see both sides. How do you feel about dressing your pets up? Is it common practice among people in your country / culture? Do you think it is cruel? Have you ever seen any other animals or pets dressed up by their owners?
2 people like this
12 responses
@rainbowink (296)
• Philippines
25 May 11
I'm from the Philippines and I can say we've also adopted some of what Americans do like dressing their dogs up. This dressing up is not about giving them warmth or protecting them whatsoever but it's just merely for them to look a whole lot cuter. LOL. I don't know but I've also seen pigs and kitties dressed up.
@rainbowink (296)
• Philippines
27 May 11
Haha Hope I had pics of those pics.
Well, we could pretty much see ourselves in you. We're a democratic or a free country. We can wear, act and speak however we like taking into consideration the limitations that we set for ourselves like to not wear skimpy skirts/shorts when attending a church mass. We have different religions, so I could say that depending on the religion will there be any rules or dress codes to be followed. Religions/churches are getting larger in larger in number these days, by the way.
Fashion, beauty regimen and music preference are just some of the many things we could have in common. Regarding foods, we have the famous fast food chains originally from the US situated at many if not all of the country's regions.
Our lawmakers use the English language. We, ordinary citizens, speak English whenever we have to. One thing for sure is that when you're an American and get lost here, you'll easily recover (LOL for my term. My English is terrible :p) cos the signages or anything that directs you to something are written in English.
I could go on with all of other common trends we have but I'm afraid my post is getting longer and longer and getting boring already. =)
Feel free to ask me any questions you have.
See you around!
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
25 May 11
LOL! Pigs dressed up? I would like to see that. I bet they did look kind of cute. Yes, another MyLot member from the Philippines also mentioned that some people in your country were do this. You mentioned other American trends that your country seems to be adopting. Can you think of anything specific? I am very interested in learning of the customs and habits of other countries.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
25 May 11
Yep you can sometimes see pets dressed walking around here too but I don't think it's very common. I am okish with it. But you can also sometimes see puppies and dogs with fancy colors like blue, pink etc. I am totally against it. I don't know why people do that.
@thatgirl13 (7294)
• South Korea
26 May 11
I am Ok with dressing up the dogs and all but I don't like it when the owners dye their pets with fancy colors. SOme of them even look hideous. I bet the dogs don't like them colors on them
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
25 May 11
Yes, I am seeing that people who are against it, are REALLY against it. It makes sense to me that dogs really should not have to be dressed, except for out of necessity. I still am not sure exactly how I feel about it though. I guess my thinking is, does it really hurt the dog? Do they really mind it? Ya know what I mean?
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
26 May 11
Hi Suzzette: In my country people dress their dogs too. In my opinion I think that's cruelty because dos don't need clothes. Sometimes they might feel uncomfortable. If the weather is hot clithes will make them feel hotter so they are suffering. It's unnecessary and in general I think that animals look ugly when using clothes. They don't need it and I am sure they feel better without them. It's their nature.
ALVARO
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
26 May 11
True. I can see what you are saying. It really is their nature to not be clothes - the way it was intended to be. I would never want my dog to feel uncomfortable in any way. Thanks, Alvaro, for your comments.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
26 May 11
Unfortunately in Japan this cruel practice seems to be a custom. Most of dog owners put ridiculous and unconfortable clothes on them. Dogs have fur all over their bodies, so there's no need to dress them up. Also, they're living beings, not dolls, so the owners should stop messing with them and start treating them like living beings. Every time I see a person with a dressed up dog I feel bad for the poor dog that has do live with such a cruel person. Unfortunately most of dogs have to suffer that fate here.
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
26 May 11
Wow! So it's very common there? Yes, I can see how it could be uncomfortable for the dogs. And I agree, they are not dolls to dresay with. They are living creatures. I am grateful for your commetns and your opinion. Thanks!
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
26 May 11
Hi there,
Some do and some don't. Mostly some in like a winter coat type thing as it does get really cold here. Some do just for fun and pictures then you have those with more then enough money who think it is cute to do so.
It is not something my country, Puerto Rico, that anyone does. I have just seen it done here in the US.
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
26 May 11
Intersting. Yes, here it is very popular. And it's not in Puerto Rico.. so I guess it just depends on the country. It does seem though, that "financial class" seems to play alittle bit of a role from country to country. Another MyLotter mentoined money, and that it was a more common practice among those with more money. So I wonder if that really has something to do wtih it. Thanks for your comments! :-)
@goldenPlanet (328)
• Philippines
25 May 11
here in the philippines there are some who dress up their dogs...and yeah i dont think its cool to dress your pets up....it can be really unconfortable for them....i think it can be considered valid to dress up dogs during a photoshoot only...lets say there is a theme for the photoshoot...but a dog wearing something should not last long...an hour may even be too much already....
dogs and other pets are adorable already as they are...why do we want to toy with them by dressing them up? that is already cruelty....
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
25 May 11
Yes, I can see what you mean in that it might be uncomfortable for them. They really aren't meant to wear clothes, so I can definitely see what you are saying. It is sort of like toying with them, I guess. Almost like a little girl wouldplay dress up with her dolls. I can see why you do not think it is right to dress them up. Thanks for your respnse.
@magicalangel (642)
• Brisbane, Australia
25 May 11
I live in India and I have not seen any pet with clothes on. I do not relate it with culture or anything but animals already have such kind of skin with fur which helps them to protect from different weather.
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
25 May 11
Yes, this is true. They do have the fur on their skin so I don't think that people are dressing their dogs up for that reason. I think it's just to make them look cute. Well, we do put a sweater on my dog in the winter when it does get cold here. So maybe sometimes, it's for climate. Thanks for your comment. Interesting that it is not really taking place in India.
@cream97 (29086)
• United States
25 May 11
Hi. SuzzetteMB. I have heard a woman that had a dog say that she needed to buy her dog some some clothes to put on. At first, I thought that it was weird that her dog had on clothing. Now, I have seen dogs dressed up into dog clothing. I have not personally seen any dogs dressed up in dog's clothing in public, but I have heard of many people dressing their dogs into dog clothing. I have seen dog's dressed up into dog's clothing in catalogs though. I have even heard a woman's daughter say that she has to buy dog clothing for her dog.
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
25 May 11
LOL! That's funny. So, again, it seems slightly common in your country then. Thanks for your comments. I am enjoying the viewpoints of many different groups of people. Thanks very much. I am surprised though, that you have not yet seen this in person yet. You probably soon will.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
25 May 11
Hello SuzzetteMB,
I haven't seen other animals or pets dresssed up by their owners but I did see a lot of dogs dressed. Even I made some coats for my old dog, who used to shiver when we went outside in the cold weather.
Sometimes it is justified to dress up a dog. There are short haired, delicate inside dogs that need protection when they go outside where there are minus 14 degrees Celsius. Some older dogs also need protection (I can tell you this from my experience).
But, in most cases, people dress their dogs just out of fashion. I don't agree with this. Dogs are not objects, they should be respected and clothes should be used only to protect them, not to make them look fancy.
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
25 May 11
Thanks for your response. Yes, I have a short-haired Boston Terrier who needs a sweater sometimes if it's cold in the winter. I live in Florida, so it does not get as cold as you mentioned! WOW! I do think it tends to be more of a fashion kind of thing. Where are you from?
@lukeloureiro (129)
• Brazil
25 May 11
Hello Suzzete! Dressing pets only to beauty for me is something really bad, I have two dogs now and when is cold i use to put my shirt or jacket on my dogs bed to help warming. But here in Brazil people who use to dress animals for beauty is kind of futile person and is rare to find animals dressed up for beauty because only "Rich" people use to do that. Anyway, i really don't like dressing up pets and i think that almost all brazilians think the same way.
See you!
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
25 May 11
Okay. I see. While some of the countries of Europe and of the East seem to be starting to dress their dogs, South America does not particularly do this. I can see where it is definitely not necessary, especially in such warm climates. Interesting that you mention rich people as well tend to dress up their dogs. Here in America, it is very common. So I really had not thought about the financial aspect or "monetary class" that people fall into. Thanks very much for another very interesting viewpoint. I appreciate your comments.
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
25 May 11
ya. I have seen in US people dress up their pets. We can do whatever we want for our pets. May be we cannot make our grown up children accept whatever we want. That is one advantage of having pets. It is ok to dress them taking into consideration the weather conditions. have a good day
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
25 May 11
Yes, I pretty much think the same way. As long as it does not seem to harm the animal, then I think I am ok with it. But I have seen some internet articles on how it can be considered cruelty. I think it's only cruel in situations where the waether does not permit for the extra warmth that the clothes would provide. Thanks for your comment.
@mizziexoxo (145)
• Canada
25 May 11
lots of people like to do that. My little sister like to put tops on our dogs.They don't seem to mind.We don't take them out like that though lol
@SuzzetteMB (270)
• United States
25 May 11
LOL! yes, I know. You do sometimes get funny looks if the dog is dressed up. We put my dog in shirts sometimes, too. And she actually seems to like them. But then there are those who dress them in uncomfortable clothes and inappropriate clothes as well. Thanks for your comment!