My Pepper doesn't have long coat, even when he's out sporting just a harness (as long as it gets up to the 50s and up I try to avoid clothes unless there's some special occassion) and everybody asks if it's a boy or a girl. I'm learning to topknot him right now but I think I'd be skipping bows altogether, just the elastic (I'm still searching for the right one) - his hair is getting a little long and gets in his eyes and all over the ears sometimes
. I think it's a matter of one's choice, to bow or not to bow. The showdogs are all bowed and long-coated, no matter boy and girl. If you want to dress your boy in flowery bows, it's only your choice. I'd be the last one to say anything about it...