A Bathrobe for Your Dog

A dog bathrobe is perfect to keep your dog warm after a bath. Learn how to choose one well.

Why leave your dog freezing to death after a bath when you can wrap him up with the most luxurious designer bath robes. They add warmth to your pet, look fabulous and only make your dog more worthy of being snuggled.

Why a Bath Robe over a Towel

Both bath robes and towels can be used before and after bathing. However, if you want something that’s more convenient, especially for a dog, you’d definitely go for the latter. First, pooches are known to run around after every bath; thus, towels tend to fall off easily. When this happens, don’t be surprised to see your floors all wet and messy. Second, a bath robe allows your dogs to dry up completely. You have, after all, a choice to leave it for a longer time, until the robe absorbs all moisture from your dog’s coat.

How to Choose a Dog Bath Robe

Picking the right kind of bath robe for your dog is essential. You want to give him something that’s comfortable, easy to wear and clean, and stylish:

1. Measure the size of your dogs. Dog bath robes can come in different sizes; however, sizes tend to differ depending on the designer. Hence, what could be small for designer A may be medium for designer B. Just to be sure, measure the dog’s size and compare it to the size chart you can usually find in the store or website. Normally online shopping sites also have a measuring guide, so it’s quite simple for you to follow.

2. Choose the material you want for the robe. A bath robe for your pooch may be made of fleece, terry cloth, silk, cotton, or satin. You can also match the material based on the season or the climate of your location. If you’re living in warmer climates, terry cloth is the most ideal choice, along with silk. This is because the fabrics are thinner and allows air to pass through. When the weather gets cooler and during winter, you can change the bath robe to something that is made of fleece or flannel. The fabrics are a lot thicker, allowing your dog to gain warmth and get rid of chills and coldness right away. Cotton, on the other hand, is perfect since it can absorb water quickly.

3. Make sure the fabrics are of great quality. Softer fabrics get easily broken or worn out, especially when the dog loves to move around. You may want to stick with average- to high-priced fabrics that will last.

4. Check the inside and outside of the robe. As much as possible, you want your dog to feel comfortable with the robe. Thus, make sure it feels good on their skin. If you find them itching or scratching, then it’s a sign that you may need to change his bathrobe right away before he starts to get irritated.

5. Go for those with straps or ties. Ties or straps will allow you to secure the bath robe to your dog. Hence, no matter what movements he does, it wouldn’t be removed.

The next time you’re shopping for dog apparel, don’t forget to include a bath robe for your pooch. There are many quality online stores offering a comprehensive range of dog clothing, including bath time accessories.

By Bei Maniago Published: 7/28/2008

Dog Sweaters and Coats – More than Just a Fashion Statement

Although doggie couture is all the rage, preparing your dog for the elements is not something to be taken lightly. Find out when it’s wise to protect your pup.

Dogs donning doggie couture are not a rare sight. Dog apparel stores are everywhere and even retailers like Old Navy sell dog clothes and accessories. Yet with all the ‘cool’ surrounding our furry friends and their fashionable garb, in the wake of winter’s cold weather, some dogs actually need warm clothes like dog sweaters and jackets to keep them warm when accompanying their owners on walks and car trips.

THE COLD
If you live in a coastal climate that doesn’t get below 0 degrees Celcius/32 degrees Fahrenheit and you have a dog with lots of insulation, it is likely fine for them to roam with you outside without much protection. Although, if you have a small to medium-sized, short-haired dog, they may require some extra warmth when the exterior temperatures are low.

For example, dogs like Chihuahuas, greyhounds and whippets do need extra protection from the elements in late fall and winter to regulate their internal body temperatures when they are exposed to cold, windy and rainy conditions. While some dogs like huskies are made for these types of climates, delicate dogs have less insulation to handle winter conditions.

BEING SEEN
Because winter has less light than other seasons, dogs are less visible to pedestrians, cars and bikes. When daylight is in short demand, it’s important to protect your dog and those he/she comes in contact with by making sure your pup is highly visible when playing outside. Therefore, even if you have a furry dog whose physique is well adapted to a cold climate, you still may need to consider a light-weight safety vest with reflectors to illuminate your dog in the dark.

OVERHEATING
With all this talk about making sure your dog is warm enough, it’s important to make sure your dog doesn’t overheat. Although this isn’t common in cold climates it’s still something to be aware of when dressing your dog for the cold.

Just as humans need to be properly dressed for each season, so do dogs. Canines are doing more and more activities with their human counterparts, for this reason, they too need the appropriate apparel for their adventures. Just remember, the more you do with your dog, the more considerations you’ll need to make for their safety and comfort.

By Erin Coal Published: 1/10/2007