Archives for November, 2008
Posted on Nov 29, 2008 under small dogs |
All breeds of dog need to be groomed and bathed on a regular basis, no matter what the length of their coat. Most will enjoy being clean, you can see how playful they become after their grooming sessions, even if the actual bathing experience is not always easy. Your dog will love the fuss you make of it when it is well groomed, and a clean dog is much more fun to train than a dirty one.
Some dogs have coats that repel dirt and pollution effectively whilst others seem to positively attract it. The state of your dog’s coat will also depend greatly on the environment you live in, the dog’s exposure to dirt and the type of food it eats. The only golden rule about bathing frequency is; when your dog smells like a dog, he needs bathing!
The bathtub is the most practical place to bathe your dog. You will need hot and cold water to get the shampoo out of their coat, as well as a dog shower attachment for a faucet and a rubber mat to prevent slipping. You should start bathing your dog when still a puppy and easy to maneuver in and out of the tub. As they get bigger the dog should be able to climb in and out of the tub unaided, but you should encourage them by giving them a treat once they are in the bath and another once the bathing is finished. Teaching your dog to stand on command will help you to get them in and out of the tub. Although there are exceptions, most dogs will enjoy the attention of being bathed in the tub and the warm water should make them relaxed and calm.
If you use full strength shampoo it will take a long time to rinse your dog and get all the soap out of their coat. Rinsing is easier and quicker if you use shampoo diluted with water. A mild herb shampoo that you would use for yourself is ideal. Giving your dog a final rinse in a solution of apple cider, vinegar and water will help to repel fleas and skin parasites. This will also avoid skin irritations by balancing the pH levels in the dog’s skin, and will leave them with a really shiny coat. Dry them thoroughly with a thick towel to absorb as much water as possible, or they will try to shake the water out of their coat when they get out of the bath.
If your dog is small, bathing him in the kitchen sink may cause less strain on your back. Alternatively you could use a washtub outside, which will prevent too much water on the floor in your house, but may not be practical in winter or if access to warm water is difficult.
Technorati Tags: dog shower, dog washing
Posted on Nov 29, 2008 under puppy training |
Imagine the next time you join a discussion about puppy training. When you start sharing the fascinating puppy training facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.
Dealing with problem puppy behaviors:
Everyone who owns a puppy or dog will eventually have to deal with and correct less than desirable behaviors on the part of their companion animal. There are a number of behaviors that should be nipped in the bud, including:
Jumping up on people. This is one of those behaviors that many owners inadvertently encourage in their animals, since jumping up, wagging his tail and the like can be adorable in a young puppy. When that puppy is older, larger and heavier, however, this jumping up behavior ceases to be cute and begins to become annoying and even dangerous.
A large, heavy dog jumping up on people can be dangerous to young children and even to some adults, since a large, 100 pound plus dog can easily knock down a child or small adult. Since you as the owner are responsible for the behavior of your dog, it is important to nip this problem behavior in the bud.
The best time to do that, of course, is when the puppy is still small and easy to handle. When the puppy jumps up on you or someone else, gently place the puppy’s feet back on the floor. When the dog remains standing there, be sure to praise it extensively.
Those of you not familiar with the latest on dog training now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.
It is also important to give the puppy an alternative to jumping up. Puppies jump up on people to express their enthusiasm, so it is important to redirect this energy in a more socially acceptable direction. Try teaching the puppy to present his paw instead of jumping up.
When teaching the puppy to not jump up on people, it is important to be consistent. Consistency is important in any training program, and all members of the family must understand that the puppy is not permitted to jump on them.
Pulling, charging and tugging on the lead. One problem you definitely want to nip in the bud is this one. It is important that the puppy learn to respect the collar and leash now, when he is still small and light enough to handle. Teaching this lesson to a 10 pound puppy will be much easier than teaching the same lesson to a 150 pound dog.
Using a good strong body harness or head collar can be a big help when training a puppy not to pull, or to retrain a dog that has already learned to pull on the leash. When first fitting a harness, it is important to allow the puppy to walk around wearing it, so that he can get used to wearing it. The first thing your puppy must learn, and the basis of all subsequent training, is teaching your dog to heel. Teaching your dog to walk quietly at your side on a loose lead is the basis of all dog training, and until your puppy has mastered this vital skill he will be unable to move onto more advanced training.
When walking with a puppy on a leash, it is important to always keep slack in the leash. If the puppy begins to pull on the leash, the handler should quickly change directions. The puppy will then find itself lagging behind instead of forging ahead. The least will be loose except for the split second it takes to change directions. It is important for the handler to use a quick tug of the leash, followed by an immediate loosening, when teaching this lesson.
When teaching the puppy to walk properly, it is important to never allow the puppy to pull you around, or to forge ahead on the leash. Allowing the puppy to pull you around will teach him exactly the wrong lesson.
If you’ve picked some pointers about dog training that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won’t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don’t use it.
Technorati Tags: corrective training, dog behavior, dog behaviour, dog training, puppy problems, puppy training
Posted on Nov 26, 2008 under small dogs |
Were you aware that there are literally hundreds of distinct dog breeds? When you decide to get a dog, choosing the right dog breed for you and your family is essential. With so many different dog breeds available, this can become a very daunting task. Luckily, there are ways in which you can narrow down your options somewhat, making the whole thing a lot easier.
First and foremost you should be considering one major factor….. How much space do you have? If you live in an apartment there is little point in getting a large dog that takes up a lot of room and may also need a lot of exercising. For living areas with limited space, consider the Toy group of dogs such as the Terrier Group or Miniature Pinscher. Also the cost of keeping your dog should be evaluated. Very large dogs may eat significant amounts of food whereas smaller dogs will eat very little in comparison. Try doing a rough calculation of cost for several different dog breeds over a twelve month period. Take into consideration food and regular visits to the vet for inoculation, worming etc. You will see that larger dogs are very often much more expensive to keep.
If you have children, you may want to consider what dog breed would suit them. Children can be quite heavy handed with pets sometimes; getting a Chihuahua for example may not be such a good idea as they are delicate animals. Similarly, having a Great Dane or Saint Bernard marauding around the house could be dangerous for a child. The age and number of children you have should definitely be considered as this will affect what type of dog would best suit your circumstances.
Another major point to consider is how much exercise you can offer your dog. If you have a reasonable sized yard, fencing it off will provide a good space for your dog to exercise itself. If you live in an apartment, consider getting a dog that requires very little exercise. An excitable Border collie would be a poor choice for an apartment life. Also, how much exercise can YOU put up with? There is no point getting a dog that requires lots of exercise such as a Hunting or Sporting dog breed if you cannot keep up the exercise regime. Try and get a dog that suits your lifestyle.
Grooming you dog is something to think about. If you do not have a lot of spare time in your life try to avoid dog breeds like the Standard Poodle which will need very regular grooming sessions. The short haired Terriers or Whippets make a good choice for somebody who has little time to sit and groom for hours at a time. Conversely if you have a lot of free time, regular grooming sessions with your dog will provide you both with a lot of quality time that you will both enjoy.
When choosing your dog, take a look at the bigger picture. Try to resist the temptation to go for the cutest, cuddliest, adorable dog you can find. Consider your lifestyle, your home, your family and try to find a dog breed that fits best with your life. After all, your new dog will be sharing your life with you for many years to come so making sure that you are both happy is an important thing to consider.
Technorati Tags: choosing a dog, dog breed, dog breed types, dog breeds, indoor dog breeds, indoor dogs, large dog, outdoor dog breeds, outdoor dogs, right dog, small dog
Posted on Nov 26, 2008 under puppy training |
Housebreaking any new pet can be a difficult chore, but with repetition and practice the challenge will become easier and easier. If you want the puppy to listen only to you, then don’t allow him to play with other persons. Potty training your new puppy is a necessary evil.
You must do the same routine every single day and it is important to give your puppy a lot of extra attention as this will make the house breaking process much easier.
Your pet is living in a human world full of confusing things and behavior he can’t understand. It is better to create good habits in the beginning, if you start early you can stop behavior problems such as biting or jumping on furniture.
Every dog owner knows that when he/she treats the dog with praise the dog will get greater satisfaction and will execute the command more readily than if the dog receives discipline in another fashion. So when training your dog needs positive reinforcement.
You can train a dog on your own, or you can join an obedience training class and get instruction from professionals. You will find many resources online and most of the online sites are free and you will find many tips and secrets to dog training.
If you really want to train your puppy you will need to put some effort into it. And some type of dog is trained just for that.
Having a dog that can perform tricks and is very obedient and well trained is the pride and joy of every dog owner. While they are generally warm, loving and loyal, they can be trained to be more obedient. Even if you only have your dog inside for a short amount of time he or she must be trained not to leave a mess.
The correct position for the heel command is your dog at your left side with his shoulder and front leg aligned with your left leg. When you and your dog have a good relationship and training will come very easily. As your dog progresses in his training, youâ??ll be able to give him a command in the middle of a crowded area and heâ??ll obey you.
When training your puppy make sure you use positive experiences because negative experiences might affect your puppy, so make sure you make the training positive and fun. And this training requires frequent, consistent, and appropriately timed positive reinforcement. Unlike man, dogs do not know how to differentiate between positive and negative attention.
Your dog will its best when it receives praise, so using positive words and reinforcement you dog will do it best when training him/her. There are two elements at work here: positive reinforcement and intermittent reinforcement. All positive commands should be spoken sharply and distinctly during training.
When training your pet you can use the treat system, this system is training with a treat by rewarding your dog with his/her favorite snack for following your commands or doing something good. Try to go outside with him at least every thirty minutes or so, and make sure you praise or reward him for relieving himself outside.
Properly crate training your puppy is one of the best things that you could possibly do.
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Posted on Nov 23, 2008 under small dogs |
Most dogs go through a phase where they will chew on anything that will fit in their mouth. There are also dogs that donâ??t even grow out of the chewing phase. There are even some breeds that have a tendency to chew more than other breeds.
It may be cute at first when your puppy begins to chew on your shoes or socks but can be very dangerous. If your dog gets into something poisonous or swallows an object it could lead to death.
Puppies typically will chew more than an older dog and will chew on pretty much anything. It is much easier to teach dogs not to chew at younger ages than it is an older dog. Use this to your advantage.
The first thing to do when training your dog not to chew is to put the items he likes to chew out of reach. It is important to keep these away from your dog at all times. The less exposure the dog has with the items, the less likely he is to chew on them at later times.
When you get everything out of your dogâ??s reach give him something that you donâ??t mind him chewing on. This can be a chew toy, rawhide bones, or rubber bones. Buy one of each and see which one your dog prefers. It may take a while before you dog will stop wanting to chew on other things such as your shoes but be patient.
After your dog has something good to chew on is when you want to start training him. If you catch your dog chewing on something it isnâ??t supposed to you need to let them know that what they are doing is wrong. You can tell your dog this by speaking in a sharp tone and giving him a gentle tap on his head.
Remember to be persistent, dogs are not stupid, if they know they can get away with something they will keep doing it. You should also refrain from yelling at your dog or hitting him at all times, no matter how frustrated you get. When you yell at or hit a dog it only prolongs the dogâ??s learning.
You can even practice with your dog by putting him on a leash and putting an object in front of him. When the dog gets the urge and moves too close to the object give the leash a small jerk. This will teach the dog that you do not want him to chew on the object.
When you are training the dog with a leash make sure to stand off to the side. You do not want to be standing directly behind the dog when you jerk the leash, it could cause damage to their throat. Remember, leash training is not to hurt or punish the dog; it is to simply tell the dog that his actions were wrong.
Training your dog will take a lot of time and persistence. Do not give up, if you do your dog will never learn. Remember to be patient, your dog will not stop chewing over night, it may take weeks or even months.
Posted on Nov 23, 2008 under puppy training |
Puppy name choices usually just have to do with what sounds cute or what fits your puppy or what you find funny or whatever pops into your head. And of course, that’s fine. But before you land on a puppy name and stick with it, you need to think about some puppy name considerations.
Here are two important puppy name considerations to keep in mind:
1. Remember that your puppy name needs to be unique to your puppy. When you choose a puppy name that sounds quite similar to some other word that you use, your puppy will be confused. Puppies (and dogs) don’t know the meaning of words or names. They just know sounds. They associate sounds with actions or objects.
Because you use your puppy’s name often, your puppy learns to associate the sound with him. He begins to understand that when you are speaking to him, you use this particular sound, his name.
Female puppy names, for example can sound like some dog training commands. Stacey, for instance, can sound a lot like “Stay.” Dawn can sound quite a bit like “Down.”
Be sure you pick a name that won’t be confused with some command you plan to give your puppy. Female puppy names are easy to choose without getting to close to a command.
2. Your puppy name must be chosen with the public in mind. Male puppy names that might sound fun at home might not work in public.
For instance, the male puppy name, Boner, might make sense at home because your puppy loves bones, but that word has another meaning in society’s sexual vernacular. You might not want to stand in the middle of a park and yell out, “Boner!”
Keeping these two considerations in mindsimilarity in sound to another word and acceptably used in mixed companyis a good idea when you choose your puppy name
Technorati Tags: dogs, indoor dogs, puppy names
Posted on Nov 20, 2008 under small dogs |
The Collie dog makes an excellent sporting dog, and can be taught to do the work of the Pointer and the Setter, as well as that of the Water Spaniel and the Retriever. He can be trained to perform the duties of other breeds. He is clever at hunting, having an excellent nose, is a good vermin-killer, and a most faithful watch, guard, and companion.
Little is known with certainty of the origin of the Collie, but his cunning and his outward appearance would seem to indicate a relationship with the wild dog. Buffon was of opinion that he was the true dog of nature, the stock and model of the whole canine species. He considered the Sheepdog superior in instinct and intelligence to all other breeds, and that, with a character in which education has comparatively little share, he is the only animal born perfectly trained for the service of man.
At the shows this type of dog is invariably at the top of the class. He is considered the most tractable, and is certainly the most agile. Second to this type in favour is the smooth-coated variety, a very hard, useful dog, well adapted for hill work and usually very fleet of foot. He is not so sweet in temper as the black and white, and is slow to make friends. There is not a more graceful and physically beautiful dog to be seen than the show Collie of the present period. Produced from the old working type, he is now practically a distinct breed.
The skull should be flat, moderately wide between the ears, and gradually tapering towards the eyes. There should only be a slight depression at stop. The width of skull necessarily depends upon combined length of skull and muzzle; and the whole must be considered in connection with the size of the dog. The cheek should not be full or prominent.
The muzzle should be of fair length, tapering to the nose, and must not show weakness or be snipy or lippy. Whatever the colour of the dog may be, the nose must be black. The teeth should be of good size, sound and level; very slight unevenness is permissible. The jaws Clean cut and powerful. The eyes are a very important feature, and give expression to the dog; they should be of medium size, set somewhat obliquely, of almond shape, and of a brown colour except in the case of merles, when the eyes are frequently (one or both) blue and white or china; expression full of intelligence, with a quick alert look when listening. The ears should be small and moderately wide at the base, and placed not too close together but on the top of the skull and not on the side of the head. When in repose they should be usually carried thrown back, but when on the alert brought forward and carried semi-erect, with tips slightly drooping in attitude of listening.
The neck should be muscular, powerful and of fair length, and somewhat arched. The body should be strong, with well sprung ribs, chest deep, fairly broad behind the shoulders, which should be sloped, loins very powerful. The dog should be straight in front. The fore-legs should be straight and muscular, neither in nor out at elbows, with a fair amount of bone; the forearm somewhat fleshy, the pasterns showing flexibility without weakness. The hind-legs should be muscular at the thighs, clean and sinewy below the hocks, with well bent stifles. The feet should be oval in shape, soles well padded, and the toes arched and close together.
In general character he is a lithe active dog, his deep chest showing lung power, his neck strength, his sloping shoulders and well bent hocks indicating speed, and his expression high intelligence. He should be a fair length on the leg, giving him more of a racy than a cloddy appearance. In a few words, a Collie should show endurance, activity, and intelligence, with free and true action. In height dogs should be 22 ins. to 24 ins. at the shoulders, bitches 20 ins. to 22 ins. The weight for dogs is 45 to 65 lbs., bitches 40 to 55 lbs. The smooth collie only differs from the rough in its coat, which should be hard, dense and quite smooth.
Technorati Tags: buffon, canine, cocker spaniel, collie dog, collies, irish settor, pointer, retriever, setter, sheepdog, sporting collie, sporting dog, true dog, water spaniel
Posted on Nov 20, 2008 under puppy training |
Just like babies, puppies have no control of when or where they “unleash their goods”. Having a puppy urinate inside your house is definitely not going to make you happy and it won’t do any good for your puppy when you get mad with him/her.
It’s important that you tackle this issue early on in the pup’s life and teach them some discipline. You may be surprised to hear this, but it’s true that a dog that has an authority figure and learns right from wrong will lead a more prosperous life and will make your job of caring for them much easier.
It’s not too difficult to correctly potty train your puppy, however keep in mind the process can take anything up to 1 year.
So how exactly do you potty train your puppy? Read on to find out the basic techniques and a lot of useful advice.
Restrict the Puppy’s Freedom
You should restrict the area in which the puppy can move around. What this will do is decrease the chance of the puppy urinating in a place, which they shouldn’t. Lay the potty paper in an area outside and then put a fence around so the puppy cannot roam elsewhere. It’s not supposed to be a jail so make it large enough so the puppy can run around and have fun. Of course you can take the puppy inside occasionally but you need to make it clear that the area is their home for the time being.
Wet the Potty
When setting up your potty you should place some of your pup’s urine on the paper and then walk them to it so they can smell it. This will give them the idea that the area is where they should be urinating.
One Potty,One Place
Many people who try to potty train their puppy have great difficulty, so they decide to set up multiple potty areas in hope that the puppy will use at least one of them. This is a bad idea as it will only confuse your puppy and they will not learn to use a potty effectively. You should only ever need one potty area.
It Takes Time
Younger pups need to go to the toilet every few hours, so put a leash on them and take them to the potty area and give the puppy 10 minutes to do their thing. If they don’t need to go, take the puppy back to its area and then try again in about 20 minutes. You should not play with the puppy until it uses the potty, once they do, you should reward them by playing with them, praising them or feeding them.
Reward Good Behavior
Whether you feed them or praise them, it’s essential that you reward your puppy for their good behavior. Rewarding a puppy will make them happier and teach them discipline and a happier dog in the long run is going to listen to you. A good idea is to reward them every time they use the potty.
Make a Potty Journal
By keeping a journal of the time it takes your puppy to urinate after eating, it will make it easier for you to train them and understand their habits.
Mistakes will Happen
Please remember not to get angry with your puppy if they urinate in the wrong area. At an early age they lack many skills that older dogs have much like how a toddler may urinate before they make it to the toilet. The best thing to do if your puppy urinates in a wrong place, is to simply say “no” or “bad dog”and then walk them to their potty area.
All in all, by following the above advice, your puppy will be well on there way to being potty trained and you will have a well mannered and obedient dog because of it. However make sure you give it time, it’s not something that most puppies can learn in a week or so.
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Posted on Nov 17, 2008 under puppy training |
The Golden Retriever is truly one of the most beautiful dogs on the planet.
They have a beautiful coat, an amazing face, a strong, sleek, and muscular body, a fantastic personality, a tail that never stops waging, and they are a joy to watch at work, when flushing a pheasant, swimming in the water, or chasing a Frisbee.
The Golden Retriever was originally bred as a hunting dog in Scotland, around 1908, but is now very popular as a house pet, a therapy dog in convalescent homes and childrenâ??s hospitals, and is used by law enforcement for drug detection.
Although they do not make very good guard dogs, they will bark loudly if a stranger approaches.
If you have children the Golden Retriever can be the perfect pet. Because of their natural nurturing instincts, and very gentle nature they make the perfect companion.
In 1974 President Gerald Ford made the First Family dog a Golden Retriever named Liberty.
If you are considering getting a Golden Retriever puppy, you need to find a reputable breeder that specializes in breeding Golden Retrievers.
There are plenty of pet shops and back yard breeders that are selling Goldens, that may have serious breed problems ranging from aggression, to hip and eye problems, and a host of other problems that may not be noticeable at the puppy stage.
A reputable breeder will check the blood lines of the parents carefully to make sure they do not have a history of these problems, before breeding. This will be your best chance at having a trouble free pet.
Training your Golden Retriever is not as hard as you may think. These are very intelligent dogs, and eager to learn. They want to please you, and hate to be scowled.
The first thing to remember is that puppies will be puppies, so donâ??t expect too much too soon.
You can start to bathroom train right away, but if there is anything around you care about within the puppies grasp like shoes, or your favorite slippers, I would put them away, because your puppyâ??s going to chew them if he gets them.
Give your puppy something of his own to chew. They are teething, and want to naturally chew things because their gums hurt. Make it clear early on that he or she is to chew what you gave them, and nothing else.
If you expect your Golden to respond to your commands, then you want to avoid confusing him. Itâ??s easy to forget that they do not understand the English language.
They respond to certain sounds, or words, based on your body language, and tone of voice. The trick to making the training as simple as possible is to use a few basic words and stick with them.
If you want your Golden to get out of the trash, and you say â??noâ? one time, and â??stopâ? the next time, and then â??heyâ? the next time, they never really get what you are telling them.
The six words that I have found over the years that work best are â??NOâ? â??SITâ? â??DOWNâ? â??COMEâ? “HEEL” and â??STAYâ?. I find they work best if said without the dogs name. These are discipline words, and are better left by themselves.
Itâ??s important that you show your Golden Retriever that you are the boss. You must establish that you are the leader to be successful with his training.
If you give one of your commands, and he does not comply, reinforce the command with a little different tone of voice until he complies.
If that still doesnâ??t work, donâ??t just walk away. That will send a bad message. Stick with it until you get the desired results. It will happen.
Never yell at your pet or hit them, or raise your hand in a gesture to do so. You also never want to use anything like a rolled up newspaper, or a belt, or any object of this type to discipline them.
This will only scare and confuse them, and loose their trust, which will make it much harder to achieve the results you are looking for.
If you use the word “No” Firmly, to stop him from what he is doing, or gently show him you want him to â??Sitâ? or lay â??Downâ?, or use the word â??Come” when you want him to come to you, or say â??Outâ? when it is time for her to go outside - I think you will be very surprised at how fast he or she learns.
Whatever words work for you are fine, as long as you keep them simple, and stay with the same words all the time I think you will get surprising results.
And donâ??t forget the most important word of all, GOOD. Using that word combined with boy or girl, or the dogâ??s name such as â??Good Sammyâ?, can work wonders.
They learn to like that real fast. Saying Good Boy, or Good Girl, or What a Good Girl, with the right tone in your voice, combined with a pat on the head, a biscuit, or a rubbing of their belly, will practically send a Golden Retriever into orbit.
They are beautiful animals. Just be patient, and you will have a great friend for many years.
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Posted on Nov 17, 2008 under small dogs |
The dog clothing market is huge. People used to buy dog clothes for a specific function such as a warm sweater, for a tiny dog to wear in cold weather. Some dog fashions are beneficial for our dogs. There are dog boots that protect your little dog’s feet from ice, cold, snow or even rock salt. Some dogs just do not like their feet getting wet, so rubber boots are great for them. Dog coats and dog sweaters protect our tiny companions from losing heat in the cold weather or from indoor air conditioning. Dogs such as the hairless Chinese crested need clothing to protect them from the cold or sun, so having a wardrobe for your little dog is necessary for some pets.
Many people buy wonderful clothes for their beloved pet strictly for fashion. Some just want their pampered pooches to look as good as they do and feel money is no object. Celebrities certainly were instrumental in making dog clothing popular, by showing their pets wearing fantastic outfits and accessories. Clothes designers have got on the bandwagon. They are now designing and making fabulous clothes for our wonderful dogs.
Many dog owners love special holidays such as Easter, Christmas and Halloween, so they can dress their pampered pets in Santa suits, ghost outfits or even as cupid. Often pets enjoy the attention they get from their owners dressing them up and pampering them.
Unlike years ago, there is a huge, varied selection of pet clothing and accessories because of the market demands. No longer just for smaller breeds of dog, there is clothing available for both large and smaller dogs that keep your pet dry, warm or fashionable. Our pets are such a valuable and loved member of our household and give us unconditional love. In return, we feed and shelter them and love them back. We have now added â??clothe them’ to this. Because domestic breeds have adjusted to our environment standards, they require more protection from bad weather just as we do. Many of the smaller breeds lose body heat fast, so protective clothing helps reduce this loss.
When shopping for dog clothes remember there are dog boutiques and shops that specialize in everything from daywear dog fashions, designer dog clothing, cold weather wear, to unique and fabulous evening dog clothes. Make sure you have extra room in your drawers or closets for your pets clothing. Better yet buy them their own dresser to store your pampered dog’s outfits.
Many of the doggie clothing boutiques allow owners to bring their pets in when they are choosing clothing for them. This way you see what the outfit looks like and have the fun of seeing others with their cute dressed dogs. Just like our clothing, dog’s outfits come in sizes from extra, extra small to extra large. Make sure that whatever outfits your decide to purchase, they fit your dog properly. Safety is extremely important, so dog outfits should have nothing that a dog can pull off or injure him or herself on.