[Dailydrool] Coats and sweaters

[Pamela McQuade]

I am not a real fan of dressing up dogs, but I have found that if I have 
a dog that's thin, it may need a coat in our sometimes-frigid New Jersey 
temperatures.

Belvedere, my heart dog, came to us rather thin. Before I could chub him 
up a bit, cold weather arrived, and every time I'd take him out, he 
would shiver in the wind. Happily he came with a sweater, though it was 
pretty thin and not in great shape. I knitted him another that 
unfortunately was not designed for the basset shape and had extra space 
in the chest, so he rarely used it--though it was beautiful, if I say so 
myself. (Someday I will find a dog who can use it.) Then a coworker of 
Drew's gave Bel a beautiful sweater that he was proud to wear and that 
fit perfectly. I still have pictures of him in it.

Dexter came to us pretty slim too. Again, cold weather made him shiver. 
So, since Bel's sweater didn't fit him, I made him a beautiful 
horse-blanket-style quilted coat, with red Sherpa-like fleece and denim 
and a beautiful binding that matched both. I have pictures of him, too, 
standing there saying (I swear he really did), "I look like a dork!" But 
it keeps him toasty. Last year he didn't wear it very much, though, 
since he didn't shiver very much. I think he just wills himself not to 
shiver, so he doesn't have to wear it--though he looks absolutely 
adorable in it. (Scroll down to August 22 on my Facebook page, and you 
can see him in it.)

I don't really dress dogs, unless they really need it, but those skinny 
bassets who come from not-so-great places or have had medical problems 
and haven't eaten well may just need some help until they put on the 
pounds. If Dex's coat no longer fits him, I may pass it on to Horton, if 
it isn't too big for him. This is supposed to be a seriously cold 
winter.
Pam, food slave and clother of the Dashing Bassets