When Gertie was just a puppy, I struck a deal with her that I would only dress her up once per year. So while I have admired the many adorable canine Halloween costumes I’ve seen floating around the web since Monday (I have listed some of my favorites below), I did not put Gertie or Duke in costume. (Full disclosure: I was actually out of town on Halloween, and Tom did put scarves on the dogs for some reason. I’ll add pictures later.)
Though I know dogs feel uncomfortable and sometimes stressed when dressed up, I also can’t help but coo and laugh at how cute they look in their duds! I think it’s ok to dress up a dog for just a short time, as long as the costume isn’t painful or especially uncomfortable. Check out A Belle, A Bean, A Chicago Dog’s post featuring her adorable Sea Creature Crew (kids and dogs), as well as Kissbeep’s rundown of cute canines in costumes. My favorite costume, however, has to be the Bob the Builder bulldog, whose picture headlined my post from Monday: A No Dog Howl-o-Ween.
While all of the above dogs looked festive on Halloween, I save my one day of doggie dress-up for our annual holiday card, in which Duke will get to participate this year (I’m sure he will be thrilled). I don’t think the photos in these cards accurately depict Gertie’s personality, since she’s so put out that she’s dressed up she can barely stand it. But I do think they’re pretty funny (if I do say so myself).
2008–The year that started it all:
About 10 days before we had these pictures taken, Gertie underwent surgery to remove two large cysts from her head. She was well-healed when we did the pictures, but she still had a large square shaved into her head. So, she had to wear the Santa hat (though you can still see the shaved patch in one picture). Gertie is a very sweet dog, but it probably took all her will to resist biting the back of my neck in the first picture because she hated that sweater. Notice that she’s not wearing it in the second picture–we’re not that mean!
2009–Oops, we missed Christmas!
The look on Gertie’s face in the middle picture doesn’t actually suggest warm wishes (or warm-up wishes).
2010–Continuing the tradition
Gertie is wearing a vest in the top left picture, though it was so big it looks more like a cape. I like how she’s looking at us like we’re crazy in the largest picture. She’s probably right.
2011–Wait and see!
We have already planned our theme for our 2011 holiday card, though we have to collect all the props to make it work. We also have to figure out where we’ll get the pictures taken since the place we’ve gone the past three years has closed. We may try to take the pictures ourselves. Is that a crazy notion? Can we get a good picture of two dogs and two people using the timer on my camera? Stay tuned to find out!
Do you include your dog(s) in your holiday card? How do you feel about dressing up your dog(s)?
By the way, check out this new event in Eastern Iowa: Iowa Humane Alliance Community Mosaic Art Project, Thursday, November 17. For information about dog-related events in Iowa (and the Midwest), check the DoggiEvents page. You can also find links to read about past events.
Oh you all are just too cute…and oh so creative! I can just imagine your friends and family bursting into delight when these cards arrive. They would stay on my fridge year-round. I have a cousin who includes the bunny in their family line-up and it seems so a propos to have ALL members represented. I will personally be looking ahead to my on-line holiday 2011 card from Gertie and Duke. Debra
Thanks Debra! Some of our friends and family do keep the cards on the fridge year-round. And the ones who don’t are no longer friends…haha. I think we have actually set ourselves up to feel some pressure to perform for our cards each year!
Hopefully we can fulfill expectations this year! I agree that all family members should be featured in the holiday cards.
Boxers are so expressive. In 2008, if looks could kill……
You are creative, perhaps we’ll do a Christmas card with Bubba this year. I’ll just blame you for it.
I hope you post the 2011 card on line. Can’t wait.
I would love to see your card featuring Bubba–I’ll gladly take the blame.
I will be posting the card on the blog after I send them all out. I’m excited!
Lola is always in our Christmas card photo with us, but we do a pretty boring pose. I love your zany cards!
I do sometimes put bandanas on Lola, but she doesn’t tolerate costumes very well. The trainer we used for obedience classes also trains service dogs and she recommends having dogs wear costumes sometimes. She says it teaches them to adjust to being in slightly uncomfortable situations, a necessity for a service dog.
Thanks Shary! That’s really interesting about the recommendation to put service dogs in costumes once in a while. It does make sense.
very creative. The dogs are always in my photo christmas cards. I dress them up with a few props for the photos dont care for it but they put up with it for me
I dont do the halloween thing either but I do enjoy looking at all the photos.
Yeah, you can’t help but ooh, ahh, and laugh at some of those doggie Halloween photos! And apparently some dogs actually like to dress up (that’s what Bella–in a comment above–says). Have fun with your Christmas card this year!
Fantastic holiday cards! You all look great
Thanks Bassa!
Fun cards. I haven’t done photo cards in several years. My son doesn’t like to sit for photos. I wonder if I could get Bongo to sit this year. He’s a different kind of challenge when it comes to photos.
I agree–it’s quite a challenge. It should be interesting for us this year with two canines!
No, I cannot imagine ANYONE who would decorate up their pets. Even a cooperative pet who’s too young to know any better and gets wrapped up as a Christmas present.
http://dogear6.com/2011/04/15/fool/
Nancy
Haha, yeah WHO would do that?!
Love your holiday cards; they are all so creative! Thanks for sharing
Thanks Deanna!
The Christmas cards are a hoot! I loved seeing Gertie dressed up! My dog Roxy loves dressing up. In fact, she wears a little t-shirt when it’s cold and if for some reason, I take it off, she barks till I put it back on! I recently did a Halloween post where she’s wearing two costumes!
Thanks, Bella–and thanks for stopping by! I checked out Roxy’s Halloween costumes–so cute. I can’t believe she demands to put them back on when you take them off!
Good lord, these are HYSTERICAL! Thank you for sharing – they have put a smile on all of our faces!
Thanks–I’m glad you liked them!