Bowties for Dogs: Safe Ways to Dress Up Your Pet
By Katharine Swan

Remember playing “dress up” as a child?  Now your pet can play too!  Dressing up the dog isn’t just a game for kids anymore, and many companies are manufacturing doggie bowties and costumes to meet the growing demands of pet owners.  Although you might be concerned about how safe these fads are for your dog, rest assured that they are made with Fido’s safety in mind, just as with any other pet product.  Here are a few different ways to safely spruce up the pooch.

Try a bowtie collar.  A bowtie collar is just like a normal collar for your dog, except that it sports a darling bowtie.  Bowtie collars come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, and they are fully adjustable, just like any collar.  Sturdier fabrics and more casual colors are available for everyday wear – or choose a more dressy collar, such as one with a satin bowtie or rhinestone embellishments, for a special occasion.

Cover your dog’s collar with a bowtie collar cover.  Another option is to purchase a collar cover – a soft fabric cover that slips right on over the dog’s collar, usually with an opening for easy access to the tags or for hooking up a leash.  The advantage to a collar cover is that it can create a dressier appearance than simply a leash with a bowtie attached, especially if the cover and bowtie are made of a material such as satin.

Put a bowtie in your dog’s ’do.  Another option for dog owners – particularly those with smaller, fluffier dogs – is to put a bowtie in your dog’s hair.  Many dog owners like to style their dogs’ hair in a single tuft on top of its head, decorated with a little bowtie.  These bowties are often similar to a child’s hair barrette.

Although there are many ways to dress up your dog safely, it is also important to listen to your dog’s thoughts on the matter.  Some dogs simply do not like getting dressed up.  If your dog shows signs disliking the bowtie – shaking his head or pawing continuously at the decoration, for instance – you might still be able to acclimate your dog to dressing up.  Try putting the bowtie on your dog for a few minutes at a time, while showering her with lots of positive attention; each time, you can leave the bowtie on a little longer.  However, if the dog won’t learn to leave his bowtie alone, you might need to concede on the matter and find another way to dress him up.

Man’s best friend deserves his chance to look his best.  A bowtie is just the thing for it: with no constraining or excessive folds of cloth, your pooch is free to feel just as good as he looks!