Will my puppy ever like clothes?

[Handlewithcare]

It is now quite cold here in the UK and J is really feeling it! He has pulled a few more cuddly toys into his crate which he surrounds himself with as he sleeps and he seems happy with the extra blanket we've given him. When outside in the cold he shivers (and it takes 20-30mins to get him warm again once inside) and cries and whimpers uncontrollably. He won't pee or poop in the cold either...although he loved the bit of snow we had this morning!

I've bought him a few pieces of clothing and he HATES them. He'll bite us like crazy when we try to put them on - he doesn't bite us at all usually. He cries when they're being put on (they are not too tight, don't restrict and nor do they appear to irritate because he doesn't scratch) and once on he becomes slow and withdrawn. He won't play, nor will he perform his new favourite 'trick' of PAW! for treats and will only eat when prompted via my hand. Poop and pee is only forthcoming when utterly desperate - when up to this point he was almost going to potty on command, at least for poop.

Once the clothing is off and he is indoors he runs around like normal, imfact even more so to let out the pent up energy.



Do I have to just ride it out and let him get used to them? This is a cold rainy part of the UK so I can't see many days from Sept-May for the rest of his life where he won't have to wear clothes.

[Harrysmum]

Good afternoon! Yucky here isn't it?!!?

I know that many (most?) people on here put clothes on their Littlies, and many of the pups LOVE them, and wait to be dressed, and lift up their little paws.

Oh I wish Harry would be like that....I've tried since he was 12 weeks old - we've had many a 'Tah Dah' moment when he's re-appeared NAKED I've unfortunately reached the conclusion that he hates clothing (he's a bit of a boy!).

Which items have you tried? Maybe a jumper or fleece instead of a coat?

What I've resorted to is the thickest, most covering-ish harness that I could find - Puppia in fact....do you think that might work? Good luck! Sally + Harry x

[Handlewithcare]

I've tried a coat, a jumper and a little fleece thing. He stops shivering in all of them instantly but it is like he is a different dog in a split second. I want him to be warm but I don't want to upset him.

I will seek out a bigger harness though, that is a great idea! Thanks.

[Harrysmum]

Did you ever have a look at www.petlondon.net? Loads of wonderful, thicker harnesses on there - some with hoods too Sally + Harry x

[normarae63]

Another thing to try is a light tshirt indoors a few minutes at a time. This will also allow you to better see how clothing items fit your pup. I used to layer Tuffy's clothing whenever we were in cold climates/snow.
After post thought: make sure the clothing doesn't touch his "privates".

[Marhcarter]

My Huey hates being dressed, also. He runs when he sees the clothes, fights the getting dressed, and is more subdued when dressed. A t shirt is usually ok, a sweater makes him less active, a Halloween costume causes him to become a statue until it is removed. His mother was one who stood and held her arms up for clothing, rarely saw her "naked". Huey did not inherit this love of clothing, but I still keep trying.

[navillusc]

Well, I am one of those on here whose littlies LOVE their clothes...which seems odd when you consider that I got Brody when he was 14 months old and he never wore clothes until I'd had him 7 more months, and that Mia's former mommy would dress her up but said she didn't like it. Mia is only 6 days older than Brody, but both Brody and Mia were 17 months old when Mia came to live with us.

I see other good suggestions have already been made, but you might try putting garments on J ONLY when he is getting a special treat...cookie or trip somewhere that he loves to go. If you can associate the clothes with that special thing and get him used to getting it, you can expand his wear time...I'd make it two-fold...a trip somewhere and a special treat he only gets...at first...when he wears the garments.

BTW, the first garments I put on Brody and Mia were jackets for the cold. These were not full coats...just like a 'shaped quilted placemat' with velcro'd straps under the tummy and around the neck. They LOVED them so much the showed obvious disappointment on their faces when I took the garments away, and were jumping up and down, grabbing at them, trying to pull them out of my hands. Maybe if you try something like that at first...they work to keep body heat in like a hat does...on the top. Here's a photo...

[Harrysmum]

Cat...I'm sure your pups would do anything for such a wonderful mummy ....love the toy collection too! Sally + Naked Boy x

[melovetinky]

Zoë does not like sweaters, fleece, or anything with a hood. So I layer on the cotton and she's happy and warm. Daily, it's a jumpsuit with a preemie tshirt over that. When we go out, I put a cotton sweatshirt and puffy harness vest over what she's already wearing.

With changing her clothes twice daily, she now knows how to stick her head and front paws into the clothing when I hold it infront of her. I need to help her with sticking her hind legs into the jumper.

I suggest you try layering thinner items together

[gracielove]

Maybe try just a loose T-shirt for a while. Just light weight cotton until he starts to accept the clothing? Could he be stepping on salt when he is outside? That can be really painful to the feet and will make a dog cry for sure.

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

Cat...I'm sure your pups would do anything for such a wonderful mummy ....love the toy collection too! Sally + Naked Boy x

OMG it's grown so much since I took that picture. I just got more yesterday. Brody is one happy boy when a crinkly bag comes home.