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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that animals shouldn't wear clothes?

114 replies

FasterHigherBeardierDaddyman · 09/08/2012 16:18

It's a bit fucked up really isn't it? What kind of person thinks it's a good idea to take an animal that has evolved quite happily to not need clothes and dress them up? Plus it really creeps me out!

Dogs don't need clothes!

Cats don't need clothes!

Horses don't like fancy dress!

he wants to know what he did to deserve this

OP posts:

yellowraincoat · 09/08/2012 17:28

QoD's this thread isn't really about functional clothes though, is it?

mercury, are you saying animals don't feel happy or sad or scared? Whether you could identify it as "shame" per se, my dog will not poop in front of anyone. If you happen to see him, he will go elsewhere.

Of course it's a learned response, but so is everything humans feel.

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 09/08/2012 17:34

Yellow

"I really hate people putting dogs in clothes. And no, I don't mean greyhounds in proper dog blankets in winter, I mean fucking T-shirts and things."

This sort of comment is what i was responding to. I know there is a difference between me dressing my dogs for their own good, and sticking a dog in a tutu or whatever.

We do buy 'funny' t shirts sometimes, Just for a change, but only if they're practical. For example, i want a doggy t shirt i saw that says 'Doing it doggy style' for one of the males to use when he goes to cover a bitch. It would only be used for a reason though, i wouldn't buy it them 'just because' IYSWIM?

yellowraincoat · 09/08/2012 17:35

Wow. Just wow. "Doing it doggy style".

I think I want to cry.

mercury7 · 09/08/2012 17:37

I'm saying we cant know what animals feel, we can make inferences based on their behaviour but we cant know anything about their subjective experiences.
We can assume, based on their lack of frontal cortex (as compared to humans) that their experience of emotions is quite different from ours.

We are endlessly anthropomorphic, we attribute human feelings to animals.
What you see as evidence of shame in your dogs behaviour probably just reflects your own feelings

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 09/08/2012 17:38

Yellow - Why?

yellowraincoat · 09/08/2012 17:41

mercury, maybe you're right, maybe not. We have no idea how animals experience emotions, and I don't think I ever said that I did know that. I still afford the dog the respect of not putting stuff on it that it doesn't need.

QoD, it's just so utterly depressing to me, in a way I can't explain.

SoleSource · 09/08/2012 17:43

Err do you mind? My goldfish love his baseball cap on elastic.

squoosh · 09/08/2012 17:43

You may think people who dress their dogs up as Darth Vader are silly but it's hardly worth wringing your hands over. These are owners who are heavily invested in their dog's well being.

Worry about all those dogs who are discarded once the novelty of ownership wears off.

yellowraincoat · 09/08/2012 17:44

squoosh, being pissed off about one thing doesn't preclude me from being pissed off about another.

JumpingThroughHoops · 09/08/2012 17:44

Well, there must be a market for it, seeing as Pets @ Home do an horrendous range of bling bling dog clothes.

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 09/08/2012 17:45

I don't see why it's depressing. He needs a top to keep him warm. I find the slogan funny because of what he is used for. The same way as i might find a top with a funny slogan about me riding horses on funny and buy it - because i need a new top and i like that one.

yellowraincoat · 09/08/2012 17:46

I just don't find dogs "funny" in that way. I find it weird to want to put something on a dog to make it funny. In the same way I find babies clothes with "funny" slogans on it weird.

squoosh · 09/08/2012 17:50

Well that's quite clear yellowraincoat.

yellowraincoat · 09/08/2012 17:51

squoosh sorry if you don't like my answer. I can't explain it any better than that.

FrankieAndArthur · 09/08/2012 18:12

Hmmm..... I have told the DC's that if I ever cave in and get us a dog, there is NO WAY ON GOD'S EARTH it will ever be dressed up. Ever.

However, where other people are concerned, I shrug and often smile despite myself. I hope that if the dog really, really didn't like it the owner would know and not do it. But the relationship between pet and owner is complex and I do actually think some of them enjoy it.

The pissed off cat made me chuckle.

My Dad's dog used to insert himself into one of Dad's jumpers, and then sit there with an erection It floated his boat, obviously.
That dog adored my Dad.

ThePigOnTheWall · 09/08/2012 18:17

Dressed up animals make my toes curl. Hate it. Not cute. Just horrid :(

honeytea · 09/08/2012 18:21

We eat animals, I would much rather someone put a tutu on me rather than made me into a burger.

Our dog has a christmas outfit, she is a very silly jack russell but she is very very good in her christmas outfit. She has it on every time we have guests, even if it is summer!

VerityClinch · 09/08/2012 18:25

how has BEE-DOGS not been linked to yet?

Slumberparty · 09/08/2012 19:07

But what if they are really really funny?
poor dog

rogersmellyonthetelly · 09/08/2012 19:44

My dog wears a coat in winter because she whines and shivers when it gets cold. My horse has about 20 different rugs for various occasions, mostly for keeping him dry in summer and warm and dry in winter, but also for keeping his white bits clean before a show and his lovely hairdo in place. he also has a fancy dress outfit because it's lots of fun. He really doesn't mind what he wears as long as there's a pat and some mints in it for him!

ThePigOnTheWall · 09/08/2012 19:59

I have no problem with practical items like horse rugs and coats for dogs not designed for UK conditions.

But dressing them as pirates or fairies or whatever. Just embarrassing. Not for the animals. For the owners who I would consider to be utterly naff

A T-shirt with "doing it doggy style" on? That is about the most crass thing I've ever read. It's not funny. It's not cute. It's just embarrassing

There. Said it!

Camusfearna · 09/08/2012 20:06

My cat has a fez which he got for Christmas (seriously). Not sure he's particularly keen to wear it but by God he looks stunning!

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 09/08/2012 20:08

Thepig - That's fine, I might think the same about your choice of clothes. The dog needs clothes. An outdoor dog coat would be uncomfortable for all day use, and too heavy in milder but not warm enough to be naked weather. The slogan is a bit of an in joke because he's a stud dog. I don't mind if others don't like it, same as I don't care what people think of my own clothes.

ThePigOnTheWall · 09/08/2012 20:12

I thought jokes were supposed to be funny. It's the dog equivilent of the naff t-shirts I see teenaged boys wearing claiming to be sex gods like these

I suppose as long as you like it, that's fine then. Thank god the dog can't read.

Catsmamma · 09/08/2012 20:20

I just love the implication that should wildfig 's dog have a proper bow tie he would go out to serious function! :D

I'd dress mine up in a heart beat if dh wasn't such a party pooper. We had a proper dog fleece for our old boy and I intend to buy others for the boys when they get a bit old and doddery. And I do have a wide selection of bandannas for them but not sure that really counts as clothes!

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