When asked if they thought dogs should be dressed in Christmas jumpers, 63% of our customers were happy, but only if the dog was content to wear it. And while 5% didn’t have an opinion on dressing dogs in Christmas jumpers, another 30% felt that it wasn’t something they’d do with their pet. If you’re looking to keep your pet warm, a purpose-made dog coat is a better choice than novelty clothing. Dog Christmas jumpers are not built to protect dogs from the wind and rain, and they are unlikely to be very breathable. If worn in the rain, they could actually end up making your dog even more cold rather than warming them. The results tell us that the majority of pet owners we surveyed feel it’s important to be completely sure that our dogs are comfortable with any clothing we intend them to wear. We love our pets so it’s no surprise that our survey results reflect the concern we have for their happiness and comfort. Unsurprisingly, we discovered that the overwhelming majority (90%) of respondents thought that all kinds of novelty clothing for dogs should be designed to consider the dog’s safety, comfort and happiness.

We recently conducted a survey with 4,833 Animed customers to ask their opinions around dressing up dogs. For this survey, we defined dressing up dogs as using novelty clothing that is purely for fun, such as Christmas jumpers, dog bow ties or dog headbands. Our definition did not include items intended to protect dogs from the weather such as coats, raincoats or foot protection, or items such as Thundershirts.Dogs can find wool very itchy, so it’s best to avoid this material. Meanwhile, synthetic materials made from plastic fibres like polyester and nylon are not very breathable and can make your dog hot. Dog jumpers made from pure cotton are best, as cotton is breathable, soft and lightweight. Other Dos and Don’ts with a Dog Christmas Jumper: We recommend using a protective dog coat, made with waterproof material or with insulating padding. For more information on how to choose a winter dog coat, take a look at this blog. We know that novelty Christmas clothing isn’t for everyone, so we wanted to hear more about what our Animed customers thought when it came to their pets!

Please note some of our ‘National Colours’ McTogs use a combination of the above – the listing will specify the material used. Don’t leave your pet unattended when they are wearing clothing. This way you can monitor their behaviour and watch out for signs that they are uncomfortable or getting hot. You’ll also be there to help in case the jumper gets caught on something.Don’t let your dog wear the jumper for extended periods of time. Even if your dog doesn’t seem to show any signs of discomfort, they still shouldn’t wear any kind of novelty clothing for too long.