There are lots of ways to showcase a pet’s personality. They can wear a flashy collar, colorful bandana, or funky sweater. But unless it’s Halloween or their birthday, you might not necessarily see a pet all gussied up. Get ready to change that on National Dress Up Your Pet Day. A great opportunity to highlight a pet’s savvy style, this event introduces safe costume practices for pets and their owners. Bonus points if you wear a matching outfit!
Easy Does It
For Dress Up Your Pet Day to be a success, careful planning is essential. You never want to rush your pet to accept their costume. Instead, give them ample time to sniff the costume and try it on several times before any events or photo shoots.
Slowly encourage your pet to try on their costume. If there are multiple pieces, do this in stages. Once they show a comfort level with the costume, see if they’ll wear it for increasing periods of time. Start with a few minutes and gradually increase until they become so used to it they don’t even notice.
Snacks are great incentives, and can be used to reward good behavior.
Know the Signs
While many pets adapt to their circumstances very well, others may feel stressed or anxious about wearing a costume. Keep an eye on their behavior and remove the costume if they demonstrate any of the following:
- Yawning
- Excessive lip-licking
- Panting
- Pacing
- Whining
- Pinned-back ears
- Dilated pupils
- Clinginess
- Social withdrawal
Comfort Tips
Pet costumes should always be free of choking hazards, like beaded strings, feathers, sequins or other embellishments. They should be able to move freely while wearing the costume with no restrictions to their vision, bathroom needs, or comfort. Some fabrics can increase internal body temperature; keep an eye on your pet’s thirst level and always have fresh water on hand.
Cheesing It Up
If National Dress Up Your Pet Day only yields one cute picture to post online, you’re well ahead of the game. It’s not easy convincing a pet to wear a costume, but if you follow these tips closely, you might be surprised at how well they learn that they aren’t in any danger.
Winter-Themed Pet Costumes
Since Dress Up Your Pet falls on January 14, it might be fun to try out some of these winter-themed costumes:
- Penguin
- Snowflake
- Yeti
- Snowman
- Woodland Creature, like Moose, Reindeer, Fox, or Squirrel
- Polar Bear
If you have any questions about dressing up your pet this winter, feel free to call us at (530) 533‑7513. Our staff at Oroville Animal Health Center is always happy to help you and your pet!