Dear Dog Lady,
Recently I was browsing a dog magazine. Most of the articles were interesting but one stinker turned me off. “How to Get Your Dog Into A Halloween Costume” seemed like the stupidest excuse to fill space. What’s your stand on Halloween costumes for dogs?
Conrad
A: Dog Lady’s stand is on shaky ground when it comes to Halloween costumes for dogs. Why do people torment the dear beasts by forcing them to wear silly garments? And why would a magazine dedicated to canines even write about this? Probably because dog costumes make a lot of money in a pet industry estimated to generate $50.84 billion in 2011, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, a trade group.
Dog Lady has been around enough dogs to sense they’re miserable in clothes. Woofers of all sizes are nudists by nature and want to wear their birthday suits on Halloween. Actually, if a dog must wear anything on the ghouls’ holiday, neckwear – a cute scarf, a bowtie, a flashing ruff of orange and black — will do the trick nicely since domesticated dogs are already accustomed to neck restriction from their everyday collars.
Dog Lady doesn’t want to be a killjoy but with all the doorbell chiming, kids shrieking, pumpkins glowing, candy chewing, eggs flying, mischief making, your dog will be much calmer and safer sleeping through Halloween.
That being said — phew! — Dog Lady is only human and the sight of dogs in crazy costumes can make her go gooey with chuckles. She just doesn’t want to be the one dressing them.
