An animal charity is warning dog owners that their pets “naturally resent” wearing clothing and jewellery.
Dogs Trust Ireland is also raising concerns that such items could cause skin abrasions or irritation in dogs, reports Breaking News.
According to Fediaft Europe Pet Food, based in Belgium, there are approximately 520,000 dogs in Ireland.
Paulina Padlo, a spokesperson for the charity, explained that since dog welfare is their “main priority,” they recommend “against dressing a dog up for aesthetic reasons, especially when it causes unnecessary discomfort or irritation to the dog,” reports Breaking News.
Ms Padlo added that while dressing a dog in a hoody or fancy outfit may seem “fun,” dogs don’t feel embarrassment “as far as we know,” but they can experience discomfort, abrasions, irritation, overheating, or feel restricted. Overheating may lead to a heat rash with physical symptoms, she warned. “Clothing should also not be worn if it prevents a dog from expressing normal behaviour or if they show signs of being worried or anxious,” she pointed out, reports Breaking News.
The pet clothing market in Ireland is expected to grow by 2.61 percent by 2027. The largest market is Germany, followed by the UK, France, Italy, and Russia, according to research by 6Wresearch.com.
Globally, the pet clothing market was valued at €4.4 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach €6.5 billion by 2031, reports Breaking News.
The market’s growth is attributed to increased pet ownership worldwide, driven by rising disposable incomes and greater awareness of the health benefits of having a pet.
Several factors contributing to the market’s expansion include the rise of nuclear families, the rapid humanization of pets, and growing awareness about pet health, reports Breaking News.
The spokesperson noted that coats and jumpers to protect dogs from cold or rainy weather can be a “good idea,” especially for breeds like greyhounds and whippets, which have little body fat and are particularly vulnerable to the cold.
“The same applies to socks: once they are trained and comfortable wearing them, and it’s for safety and welfare reasons, they might work well for your dog,” said Ms Padlo, reports Breaking News.
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