Skin Deep

Paws for thought

by Samantha Altea

For about a year, I’ve been rebelling, fighting against one particular New York stereotype.

Don’t get me wrong, I love being a New Yorker, but dressing one’s dog in cutsie clothing, while he or she seems to look nothing but uncomfortable, and just plain silly, seemed crazy to me. That was until I took my sweet Piper out for a walk in the recent freezing temperatures and watched her shiver and quiver as if she were in Antarctica. We were taking our daily constitutional when Pi looked up at me as if to say, “how could you subject me to this, Mum?” Her big brown eyes seemed to plead with me as she shook and shivered, looking fragile and helpless, begging me to take her back home to her favorite bone and her best friend soft toy, Terence the Turtle. These days, I can’t get her once eager, summer lovin’, body off the sofa to go outside.

I suppose being from England, where temperatures don’t really get too cold, I’m not used to having to dress animals in warm clothing…… But if you think about it, Pipie has a point. Imagine you are going for a walk, it’s 20 degrees and you’re in the all-together? Even going coat and scarf-less is sheer torture. Perhaps it’s not always the proverbial dog’s life. So no matter where you live – NYC, East Hampton, Amagansett, or Vermont – you might want to think about the little emperors’ new clothes. I know I went straight out and bought Piper a fleece-lined coat so that she, too, could have some warmth and protection from the cold, wind and rain. What kind of mother would I be if I hadn’t?

Any pup on the smaller side gets just as cold as we do and though they are only dogs… Sorry Pi… I don’t really mean it…They can also be adversely effected by inclement weather. Larger, more robust pooches probably won’t feel the cold quite as much, but heck, a nice warm jacket never goes amiss. Though I hate to admit it, many of ‘em are pretty darn cute – Piper looks adorable in hers.

With this in mind, I decided to get four legs up on what’s tailwaggingly good this season in puppy warmth, wearability and yes, fashion. I sniffed out all the design-conscious pupsteristas in my ‘hood to find out where to score the latest puppy duds. The answer led me, to heel of course, straight for my favorite dog store owner Susan Bartholomew, where I marrow-boned up on what’s hot and what’s not in K9 Haute Couture.

Bartholomew told me that this season, her customers are looking for functional items. Keeping warm and dry as well as fashionable is key, but since the weather has been so changeable this winter, dogs aren’t wearing down coats with hoodies – just like us fashionistas, layering is à la mode. Lighter, more technical, fabric outer coats are coupled with sweaters or polar fleece underpinnings. Sweaters, knits and cable knits are big and easy to transition into coats, or vise versa. Zoomies’ Winter Tech Coat, made of stunning tech industrial fabric that molds to the body so that your animal retains heat, is waterproof, incredibly light and slightly reflective – perfect for late nights and dark days out in the woods or playing fetch on the beach. According to Bartholomew, it’s important to look for a coat with reflective piping, for dark, dank days as well as early nights.

When buying a K9 coat, make sure that it’s easy to get on and off with Velcro or snap-on attachments. Also, remember to make sure that your dog’s harness or leash is mobile enough under the clothing and won’t annoy or irritate. This season, styles are toned-down chic, none of the “over the top” embellishments that I personally hate, but have been fashionable in past years.

For some GREAT clothing resources, visit my favorite stores online: www.caninestyles.com, www.poutique.com, www.zoomiesnyc.com, www.pawprintzpetboutique.com,www.moderntails.com, www.sherpapet.net, www.trixieandpeanut.com and www.wiggle-n-waggle.com.

Finally, are Piper’s feet “paws” for concern? She doesn’t like to walk on salted sidewalks or wet dirt. I asked Bartholomew about boots and whether they were really worth thinking about. The answer? While some dogs tolerate wearing a boot, which does in fact keep paws dry and free from the stinging caused by salt, many don’t like to wear booties, and, let’s be honest, they do look a bit more than a bit ridiculous. An alternative would be Musher’s Wax, a waxy balm, which creates a layer on your dog’s foot to protect it. You can keep a pot in your bag and reapply if it’s particularly rough out, or you’re taking a long trip. Then, simply wipe it off when entering the house.

Just like the people they own, dogs need to keep warm this winter, so why not make them look good at the same time? It’s at least “paws” for thought.