National Dress Up Your Pet Day Is January 14, 6 Fun Ways to Celebrate

It’s not every day that we can pick out an outfit for our pets. However, this weekend is the time to choose a dazzling and impressive outfit for them. National Dress Up Your Pet Day is celebrated on January 14. This means it’s right around the corner. To not miss out on the fun, go out shopping and discover some of the best outfit options for a pet this season. Make sure to do more than dress them up, though. It’s a holiday, so find a way to celebrate to the fullest.

History of National Dress Up Your Pet Day

National Dress Up Your Pet Day began in 2009 with Colleen Paige. Paige is a well-known animal behaviorist, author, writer, and more. Her experience with animals is impressive, and her advice has been featured in many newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications. She also wrote the book The Good Behavior Book for Dogs, which outlines advice on how to train dogs that might give their owners trouble. While she was the mind behind the National Dress Up Your Pet Day, she also inspired national holidays such as National Dog Day, National Cat Day, National Wildlife Day, and other holidays.

The History of Animal Fashion

While National Dress Up Your Pet Day is a relatively recent addition to the list of national holidays, the adornment of pets using clothes and collars has been around for thousands of years. Collars were first used by ancient Egyptians. Collars were made of expensive materials, though, so these items were reserved for the wealthier class. Furthermore, leather collars used by Egyptians were often engraved with depictions of important events in a dog’s life.

In ancient Chinese culture, collars were also a sign of wealth for many dog owners. These owners added jewels to the collars in many cases, making them as beautiful as they were functional. Furthermore, one of the oldest collars ever discovered belonged to the dog of King Cuo of Zhongshan. The collar was made of gold and silver.

During the days of ancient Rome, the dressing of dogs became both elaborate and functional. As Rome was a military state, dogs were often used alongside troops in war. Some of these animals wore armor, and the spiked collar developed during this period. The spiked collar was made up of metal plates with massive protruding spikes. These spikes were very sharp and could easily injure an enemy that provoked these war dogs.

While the popularity of animal fashion continued to grow across the world, the trend was likely most prominent in Europe. Dogs of nobility and royalty were dressed in outrageously expensive outfits, complete with gold, jewels, silks, and other fine textiles and adornments. During the Medieval period, the resurgence of war dog armor helped explorers in their conquests of the New World.

As dogs became more and more available to the middle and lower classes of citizens, founders of the animal fashion industry seized this opportunity to manufacture pet clothing. While it might have been out of the ordinary to see a dog or cat dressed up in the past, animal fashion became the new normal. Now, people can find almost any kind of clothing for their furry friends to enjoy.

Pet Outfit Ideas

For pet owners who need outfit inspiration for this holiday, we at A-Z-animals have plenty of ideas. From costumes to characters, innumerable incredible options exist online and in-store for pet owners. Below describe some of the best pet outfits for National Dress Up Your Pet Day.

Costumes

One amazing website, halloweencostumes.com, lists plenty of costume options for a pet. Looking to reenact some popular movies? This website has costumes from Top Gun, Beauty and the Beast, Ghostbusters, and more. Owners can also find superhero, celebrity, and animated character costumes. For instance, owners can dress up their dog as another dog this holiday in a Scooby-Doo costume. Overall, dozens of unique and adorable costumes are just a click away.

Designer Brands

Searching for something classy? Beverlyhillspup.com has tons of designer-brand pet outfits at an affordable price. Owners can dress up their dog or cat in Gucci, Prada, or Louis Vuitton for under $50. The best part about this purchase? The brands have been renamed to phrases like Chewy Vuiton or Pawda, which only adds to the cuteness! If you’re looking to make sure your pet follows the trends of high fashion, then these amazing outfits are made for you!

In-Store Options

Not looking to shop online this season? Not a problem. Stores like Petco and Petsmart have several clothing options for a furry friend. For instance, owners can match their pets this holiday by purchasing matching t-shirts and pajama sets. Furthermore, items like football jerseys and adorable accessories can add another element of fun to a pet’s look. Even small animals like guinea pigs can wear adorable hoodies and t-shirts from these locations.

Ways to Celebrate

There are tons of amazing ways to celebrate National Dress Up Your Pet Day this weekend. Discover some ideas on how to commemorate the holiday, listed below.

• Have a photoshoot. Dress up your pet or pets and make sure to take tons of amazing pictures to commemorate the holiday. Don’t forget to take a selfie, as you wouldn’t want to be left out on the fun.
• If you have kids or grandkids, make sure they get a few pictures alongside your incredible animals.
• Post your photos! Share with the world how you’re celebrating this holiday and use #DressUpYourPetDay, so others can see your pets.
• Attention owners! Dress up alongside your pets. Matching never goes out of style, especially when your twin is the most adorable animal out there.
• Dress up the kids, too! What’s cuter than kids wearing a matching set with their dog, cat, or another animal? Nothing!
• Take a walk, hike, or car ride with a pet and show everyone their new, stunning look.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © GrafixDezine/Shutterstock.com