The Urge To Accessorize Our Dogs

by Amy Tokic

Published: September 30th, 2013

Playing dress-up with our dogs – have we gone too far?

We love to dress up our dogs. It could be as simple as a snazzy collar or a cute bow. It could be for practical reasons, such as hiking gear or a sweater in colder weather. Or it could be as over the top as a tuxedo and dress for a doggy wedding or a diamond-studded leash for a red carpet event. No matter where you fall in the range of accessorizing, we all have our reasons… and it’s a trend that’s not going away any time soon.

As pet parents who choose to accessorize our dogs, you get a lot of flack from people who just don’t get it. Many say that it’s silly, a waste of money. But to us, that’s not the case. It’s a way to show the world what we see every day – a one-of-a-kind personality that deserves to stand out.

I admit that I get wide-eyed when I see my favorite dog boutique launch their season line of accessories. I want to whip out my credit card and go to town. By some strange miracle, I usually walk out with just an item or two, and nothing that Oscar would be embarrassed wearing.

For the most part, these purchases have to do with winter weather. Sweater, jackets and booties are not just fashion statements; they’re essentials to ensure our cold weather walks are as comfortable as possible. But don’t get me wrong – these dog clothes are awww-inspiring. A faux-fur lined parka; an orange and brown preppie argyle sweater; color-coordinated winter boots. I walk a thin line of practical and dog fashionista. And I’m not ashamed to dress my dog or spend the money it takes to outfit him in style.

With Halloween around the corner, I’ve been delighted to see such a wide array of costumes available for our dogs. It brings such happiness to everyone who gets to see your furry hotdog or devil. And as long as your dog doesn’t mind wearing it, I don’t see the problem with dressing your dog for Halloween. Let those Halloween hum-buggers shake their head in disgust with our frivolous festivities. I think that the happiness our accessorized dogs bring to us and those around us far outweigh the negative hype.

I’d like to hear where you stand on the subject of accessorizing your dog. Do you do it? How far do you go? Do you dress up your dog just on special occasions, such as Halloween? Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.

Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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Poll Reveals Biggest Pet Peeves of Dog Owners in the U.S.

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Dogs can be heroes, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to the story of a very special police K9 in Auburn, Massachusetts. When a 12-year-old went missing from their home and couldn’t be found for roughly two hours, Auburn police knew that they had to work quickly, and Biza the dog played an integral role in the child’s rescue.Child Found with the Help of a Police K9 Named BizaAccording to a Facebook post by Auburn MA Police Department, information about a missing child was received around 10:30 p.m. on January 31, 2024. The child had been missing since around 8:30 p.m., when they had left their home. No one knew where the child could be, and the frigid temperatures made everyone worry even more about their safety.Because the child had last been seen in the Pakachoag Hill area, Auburn police officers, Massachusetts State Police troopers, and detectives got to work looking for them. But it would be Biza, the K9 partner of Officer Ljunggren, who would really come through and help the search end successfully that night.Following the Scent to a Missing ChildBiza picked up the child’s scent and tracked it for more than two miles. The police were able to find signs that the missing child had been in the area, so they kept up the search until they were able to find them and bring them home to their family just a short while later.This is one example of many times that Biza has helped police in Auburn succeed since she joined them in 2022 from Germany. In addition to helping find missing people, she has also helped police track down suspects.  Thanks to Biza and her ability to track the right scent that night, a child was saved from the cold and made it home safe.Here’s a quick video about this story, showcasing a few photos of beautiful Biza:

American Airlines Makes It Easier To Travel With Pets

They say to travel is to live, but deciding to leave a beloved pet at home can make you feel guilty - and bringing them along on an adventure can be tough on the bank account. No one truly wants to leave their four-legged best friend behind and figure out whether to hire a pet sitter or look for a boarding facility, but airlines don’t always make it easy for pet parents to travel with their fur babies.Finally, there’s some good news for pet parents and their four-legged companions! American Airlines has changed their pet policy, making it easier and more affordable for pet owners to fly with their fur babies.“On flights with American, you can bring one pet carrier as a carry-on if: You pay the carry-on pet fee; Your pet stays in the pet carrier and under the seat in front of you the entire flight,” shared American Airlines’ on their website. The company added that passengers can also bring “only one additional item on board with your pet” which can be a small personal item like a handbag or a purse, or a carry-on bag that meets the airline’s requirements and fits in the overhead bin compartment. The important thing to note is that you can only bring one with your pet carrier, not both.In the past, people who traveled with pets could only bring one small personal item abroad, which could fit under the seat. Anything bigger than that - for example, a larger carry-on bag that usually goes in the overhead bin - had to be checked, which was an additional $35. As an alternative, pet owners could transport their pets in the cargo hold if they wanted to take a bigger bag with them on the flight. Thanks to recent policy changes, people traveling with pets can now bring a pet aboard and choose whether they’ll travel with a carry-on bag or a personal item. At the same time, no changes to American Airlines' pet travel fee have been made. According to the company’s website, the fee remains fixed at $150 and applies per kennel, each way. For now, pet strollers must be checked at the ticket counter, and all checked bag fees apply. There are a few things to keep in mind before flying off into the sunset with your four-legged friend. All airlines are different. Every airline has its own policies for traveling with pets, so be sure to check the specific restrictions and fees on your flight before you book the tickets. Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, Alaska, and United are a few other airlines that allow pet travel, but each has its own travel requirements. Each airline specifies what pets can travel where. There are also limitations on the number of pets a passenger can bring abroad on different aircrafts. Only two pets in the same carrier can come aboard for American Airlines flights. Don’t forget that capacity is limited, meaning that checked pets are accepted on a first-come basis. Country-based restrictions also apply, and people traveling with pets should check and understand destination restrictions when traveling abroad.Lastly, whatever airline you decide to fly with, you have to find your pet an airline-compliant carrier. Without the right pet carrier, your fur baby won’t be able to fly on a plane with you. There is a lot to think about when traveling with a pet. But all will become worth it when you touch down and start making fun and exciting travel memories with your four-legged companion. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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