Depressed when dressed!

Canada
October 5, 2011 9:52am CST
I live in Canada and, recently, we had a turn in the weather. Really chilly, raining every day... pretty much miserable. I have a miniature dachshund that I got on May 27th. Like all dachshunds he LOVES the sun and being warm. When the weather got chilly, he naturally didn't want to go out and, each time he did, he'd shiver and shake like crazy. I had a little jacket for him but it is the velcro down the chest style and it didn't really cover him closely. So, I found some pull on, knit sweaters at Walmart that are really nice -- not too heavy -- but I thought it would do a better job of keeping him warm. I put his legs through and pulled it over his head and down his body and it fit well! I thought "yay! he'll be much warmer now." He had it on for a couple of days and I felt better about keeping him comfortable. But I noticed he got VERY quiet. He didn't want to play. He ate fine and went outside but, around the house, all he wanted to do was burrow under a fleece blanket or lay beside me on the kitchen floor. I thought it was the weather he wasn't liking. Yesterday, he was laying on the couch and he actually made this whimpering sound. I didn't know what to do for him so I decided to remove the sweater. INSTANTLY, he was active! Jumping, playing, releasing ALL that pent-up energy at one time So, it turns out, he HATES the sweater! I don't believe in dressing him in outfits or anything. I just wanted to know he'd be warm to go outside. The winter will be interesting! I've never had a dog get depressed over a coat or sweater before ... have you?
3 people like this
10 responses
inu1711
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
6 Oct 11
Hello Thinkingoutloud, I don't think there is any dog who like being dressed. I have a friend whose dog hides under the bed when he sees her taking his vest from the closet. I made a vest for my old dog a few years ago and she also didn't like to be dressed. But in a few days she got used to it and she didn't objected any more. But I only used it for walks, because she was old and she needed to be warm in the cold weather. Maybe you should put his sweater only when you two go out. He will do his duties fast and then you go back inside when it's warm and he doesn't need any clothes. Have you heard about ThunderShirt? Maybe the sweater you bought for your doxie acts like a thundershirt?
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thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
7 Oct 11
Wow that's very interesting inu! I did not know about Thundershirts but I watched a video. My dog's reaction was somewhat like that, yes! However, after a few days of using the sweater, he actually started whimpering. So, my impression was that it bothered him. His energy level changed drastically without it. I'm going to have to read a bit more on this and see if there's a correlation!! Thanks for the tip!
1 person likes this
inu1711
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
7 Oct 11
I hadn't known about ThunderShirt until some user mentioned it in a discussion here. I wish I knew about it years ago, when I had my dog terrified of loud noises. I understood this tightening is the principle of the ThunderShirt and probably the sweater you used for your Doxie was tight and acted like a ThunderShirt. Or it was way too tight that it maked him whimper... Is he afraid of loud noises?
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thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
11 Oct 11
I don't think the sweater was too tight because, in this case, it was a stretchy knit one... so it just sort of conformed to his body shape. He isn't too bad with loud noises... especially if he's around me or sitting with me, they don't bother him... but I imagine if he was all alone, it would probably be different. I wonder now if the sweater was making him itchy. Since dachshunds have such a short coat, the fabric would have more contact with his skin. I know that I don't like wool for that reason...I was thinking that I will wash it again and perhaps re-try, just to see if I get the same reaction from him. Maybe making it softer is a possible solution
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Amber
@AmbiePam (120905)
• United States
17 Oct 11
That's so funny! I always put a sweater on my dog when winter came because I don't want them to get sick. And when it's snowing it's even worse. My dog Annabelle will be experiencing her first winter this year and I'll be getting her something. The last dog I had, my late Sherlock, hated the sweater too. But when I'd get it out, he would know he was going outside. So he'd prance around so excited. He'd try to stick his head through the opening before I could even put it on him. Of course when we would get back inside he'd chew at it until I took it off of him. lol
1 person likes this
thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
18 Oct 11
LOL! I imagine Charlie will do the same thing... lately he is totally preoccupied with fabric. He doesn't destroy anything, doesn't bite through anything... but he loves to just chew on it. The corner of a blanket, the fabric end of his pull toy ~ he just puts it in his mouth and kind of "gums" it. In fact, he loves it so much that he even lays there and closes his eyes while he chews I suppose it's like a gum massage for him and he loves it. The weather is turning back to cool here again, now, so it'll be time to break out the last sweater I have that he hasn't worn yet. Hopefully, it fits him close enough to keep him warm and maybe he'll tolerate it *crossing my fingers!*
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Amber
@AmbiePam (120905)
• United States
18 Oct 11
Annabelle does that too! It's like it's a pacifier that puts her to sleep. But while she has her eyes closed and she's chewing on it, her hands (I called the front paws, hands) are like massaging the toy. It's hilarious, but it puts her to sleep. Suddenly her hands will stop and her head will tilt and she's out.
ladygator
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
7 Oct 11
Thats a funny little story about your dog! I have never been one to dress my dogs or cats. I have considered putting little shoes on her though for the salt and ice thats on the ground in the winter.
1 person likes this
thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
7 Oct 11
I don't believe in dressing them up every day either. I see dogs in dresses and funny costumes and I personally wouldn't do that. However, I know what you mean about shoes/boots. I watch Charlie at night and, because the grass is cold and wet, he doesn't want to walk around on it. He steps off the patio only enough to be on actual grass to do his business and then he hops back onto the cement blocks. If he's on the grass, he generally alternates paws so he's only ever standing on three legs I can only imagine what it will be like in snow. On the up side, I've watched a lot of videos of dogs on youtube and it seems they are plenty of dachshunds that love to run and jump in the snow... maybe, just maybe, he'll like it too.
katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
8 Oct 11
That's actually pretty funny! I guess you'll have to go back to the velcro one, but only when he goes outside, then take it off him when he comes back in.
1 person likes this
thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
11 Oct 11
I was so surprised! lol Of course, I also felt bad for putting it on him and him being miserable... but, now, I'm thinking he might have been itchy. As soon as I took it off, he was scratching some - and he doesn't have a very thick coat between him and the fabric. I have the one more that he hasn't worn yet and I will try it... but he may be destined for a winter of shivering outside and blankets inside if I can't find a suitable one.
savypat
@savypat (20216)
• United States
6 Oct 11
Dogs get insuslted by certian things and each dog is different. We had one that got that way if you stuck your tough out at him. The bet way to intruduce something new is to make a big deal of it, lot's of good by, fun things, ane what ever else they like. It still may not work. Get a new coat and try again with lots of fun. It still may not work. Dogs rule.
1 person likes this
thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
7 Oct 11
That's so true savypat! My last dog had a sheepskin-lined, waterproof coat that he adored. He pranced around it like he was on a fashion runway LOL I do have one more little coat thing left that I've not tried on him yet. It's a soft fleece one versus the knitted one I just stopped using. I'm giving him a few days without anything and then I'm going to give it a try... but, ultimately, he'll decide. As you said, they rule the roost!
JenInTN
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
6 Oct 11
Yes!!! I have a teacup chihuahua that loves his little hoodie. He will put his head down so that I can put it on him. He loves it. I decided to get a pink one for my little female teacup and the moment I put it on her...she was horribly depressed. I thought that I had hurt her or something when I put it on her but I also knew I had been very gentle. She wouldn't walk around or play. She didn't even want to go outside or follow me around for a treat! The second I took it off...she was the happiest little thing in the world..LOL. I tried it a couple of times after that to see if she would warm up to the idea but she never has.
1 person likes this
thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
7 Oct 11
They must be SO tiny! I actually do have a hoodie for him that he's worn a few times but it's too big on him... since he's a dachshund he's really low to the ground and I bought a medium rather than a small so it hangs too low and away from his body. I figure that can't do much to keep him warm. That's why I bought the knit sweater that I thought would wrap him better. He will walk around in it and he still did his business outside fine... but all he did was lay around. I couldn't interest him in any of his toys and he wasn't at all playful or joyful. In fact, he was so active when I took it off that I told him jokingly "You better calm down or I know what to do next time!"
vivasuzi
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
5 Oct 11
When I had a dog, he didn't like if we put ANYTHING on him. It was hard even getting him used to the collar. I wouldn't give up just yet - maybe he doesn't need it all day in the house, but keep it for walks outside in the winter :) Maybe he just needs to slowly get used to it. We are having the same trouble with my 9 month old daughter :) I tried her new jacket on a few weeks ago and she had no issue with it. Now when it actually gets cold and I want to put it on, she gets really upset! I think she got used to rolling around in summer clothes all summer and now this just feels confining to her. I'm adjusting her slowly to the jacket by putting it on at home for a few minutes here or there so she doesn't think it's such a big deal. Maybe that would work for your dog :-D
1 person likes this
thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
5 Oct 11
His reaction surprised me because dachshunds adore burrowing. He doesn't just lay on top of a fleece blanket - he bunches it up and gets totally inside it lol He sleeps with the blanket completely over his head and everything so I thought he would find a sweater sort of "comforting." I guess he has to choose to be covered :) I think the situation with your daughter is actually really similar! The summer is so free and easy... non-restrictive clothing, easy to just run in and out of the house with little bother... and then the weather changes and so does the whole routine. We're all creatures of habit but I think children and our pets are even more so.
MandaLee
@MandaLee (3804)
• United States
5 Oct 11
Hi thinkingoutloud, I had a Yorkshire Terrier. She would cry and wimper if she had to wear a sweater. We eventually got the message. We quit making her wear sweaters and she was back to her happy and playful self!
1 person likes this
thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
5 Oct 11
It's funny because, when I noticed how quiet he had gotten, I said to one of my daughters, "It couldn't be the sweater, could it??" The last dog I had, years ago, he had a winter jacket and he loved it. I guess I didn't expect such a noticeable reaction with Charlie! My sister is a Yorkie lover too! Such adorable dogs! She has one that we believe is full Yorkie and another that appears to be a mix of Yorkie and Dachshund. She has a very stocky body and chest but the rest of her is definitely a Yorkshire Terrier! All of our dogs have come through the same rescue facility so some things about them are "best guess" from the vets :)
Author-Lissa
@Firestorm0122 (763)
• United States
5 Oct 11
I've never made my dogs wear anything for very long. Although I do remember putting a red t-shirt on one of my dogs several years ago. He actually loved it. Then again, this dog was happy all of the time, especially when he was with me. He'd wear sunglasses, a t-shirt, even a gold chain necklace. The dogs I have today... yeah they wouldn't wear anything like that. And I wouldn't force them to either. Sure, I'd try something on them, but if they took it off and looked upset I wouldn't try it again. I do however have a pic somewhere of one of my dogs wearing a headset. I took it for a funny picture years ago.
1 person likes this
thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
7 Oct 11
I am hoping to find something that he doesn't mind wearing... I mean, he has now gotten his "winter coat" naturally - his hair has thickened up a LOT in the past couple of weeks and he feels heavier. I guess his body is preparing itself for the cold of winter. I just look at him and he appears to be shivering. Dachshunds are pretty sleek looking dogs and don't seem to have much to keep them warm. I have one more little coat thing that I haven't tried on him yet so it remains to be seen if he'll wear that one. If not, he'll have to work his way up to tolerating the cold when it starts snowing lol
rmendoza123
@rmendoza123 (637)
• Philippines
6 Oct 11
WOW! Your dog is really nice! I hope the weather in Canada will be fine soon, so that your dog can play around again. And I commending you for being such a loving owner.
1 person likes this
thinkingoutloud
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
7 Oct 11
Thank you so much for the compliment... I adore my dog! It's been almost 7 years now since I had a dog in the house and I am so happy to have him. I think the winter will be rough for him but he will get adjusted to it. We all have to do that - humans included! LOL