Dobermans and Clothing

[StateOfMine]

Does anyone else's doberman just shut down when they're wearing something? Flint lays around a lot more and is less excitable when he has either his sparkpaws pajamas on or even the newest addition to my arsenal of keeping my dog warm, the fleece sweater made by MeadowCat (I freaking love it!).

I can't tell if Flint is being a diva and is protesting his clothing, or if maybe it actually calms him down? We're on the couch right now and its normally a good 20 minutes of poking me and crawling on me. With his Meadowcat sweater on, he lie down and went immediately to sleep. His paws are twitching!

Here are some pics to show off his new sweater. I think I know what he's thinking but its probably not very nice lol

 

[DD4MSpock]

I often found it difficult to keep a winter "coat" on Mr. Spock. He'd find a way to shake it off, even in the cold weather (which we understood wasn't good for dobies). Weird, being bred and raised in Thuringia, Germany. Forget about any other kind of clothing/sunglasses, deer antlers, etc. etc.

That said, Mr. Spock definitely hated the cold. We would let him out in the back yard for a quick pee before we took him on his scheduled walks. He'd signal when he was ready to come back in. Our back yard door had a screen door in front of it. The screen door had a metal pane on the bottom in stippled aluminum. He'd scratch on that metal panel when he'd be ready to come back in.

 

[remy]

I know a few people with dogs who hate wearing things. My grandma’s dog acts like he can’t walk if he has a sweater on lol. As long as the clothes are properly fitted and aren’t restricting movement, I would think the dog just needs more exposure to wearing things. Make it really positive!

I have heard of certain types of clothes having a calming effect for dogs, but they usually seem to be tightly fitted. Think Thunder Shirt. If his sweater is a little snug it could possibly have the same effect?

Remy has worn a lot of different things and doesn’t have a problem. He mostly wear the sweaters outside to play or go for a walk, so again, I think making it a positive (by doing something fun while he wears it) could help!

Some pics of Remy in his Made By Meadowcat sweaters!

 

[Ravenbird]

I know that my dog fidgets and fusses if she's cold and falls asleep quickly (twitchy paws dreaming and all) if she is warm. My house in too cool for her in the winter but if the fire is going she always rests better. I'm guessing Flint is happy to be cozy warm!

 

[JanS]

We have the fleece coats from Made by Meadowcat and sometimes put it on in the house when it's cool. When poor Phoebe was sick she had one on her most of the time but these two like being covered in a plush blanket together when they are relaxing so I haven't used them much lately.

 

[Two Dobes]

Coming from Illinois, I always had my dobes bundled up in the winter. They were used to wearing coats and boots, and never had an issue. Down here it doesn't get cold enough for boots, but I do put coats on them when we walk or play outside when it is in the 30's out. Glory seems to get colder than Falcon.
Photos of past dobes in Illinois...they were so tolerant