29/10/2025
Cute Isn’t Always Kind: A Seasonal Reflection on Dogs, Dress-Up, and Misunderstanding
I worry sometimes that when I speak up about things like this, I sound like the Grinch at Christmas. I know people love their dogs. I know they find joy in dressing them up, sharing festive photos, and celebrating the season with their companions. And I know it’s coming from a place of affection.
But I also know what misunderstanding looks like. I’ve seen it in shelters, in homes, and in the aftermath of well-meaning choices. I’ve spent a decade helping people, many of whom have had dogs all their lives, learn how to truly listen to them. And I’ve seen the cost when we don’t.
As Halloween and Christmas approach, I see more dogs in outfits. More social media posts. More normalisation of something that, for many dogs, is deeply uncomfortable. And before you dismiss this as overprotective, I ask you to consider a few things.
Children Don’t Understand Dog Body Language
Many adults don’t either. Children often mistake a growl for a smile. They copy what they see. When we normalise dressing dogs or other animals up, we teach children that dogs are props for our amusement. We teach them that dogs tolerate anything we do to them. And we miss the subtle signs that say otherwise. Sadly this see's a large proportion of bites happen every year. And dogs lose their lives when they are misunderstood. And children are put n dangerous situations. We need to set the example.
Listening Isn’t Easy
A head turn. A shift in weight. A flick of the tongue. These are signs of discomfort. Stillness, often mistaken for calmness, is frequently a dog’s last resort, a quiet surrender after trying to say no and being ignored. We grow up being told we “get” dogs. But understanding them takes humility, not ownership. We often get it wrong and there really is no need for the sake of a funny picture of them.
Who Is This Really For?
When we dress dogs or other animals up, who benefits? Is it them, or is it us? Are we honouring their species, or humanising them into something they’re not? If your dog genuinely enjoys it, perhaps keep it private. Because your dog doesn’t care about their photo being shared. That part is about you.
Coats Are Different
Some dogs need coats. That’s about their wellbeing, not our obsession with cuteness. There’s a difference between functional care and aesthetic indulgence. One respects the dog. The other risks turning them into fun with a risk to their wellbeing.
I know this isn’t easy to hear. I know it challenges something that makes people smile. But I believe we can love dogs and still be brave enough to look in the mirror. To ask: what about us needs animals dressed in human clothes? What are we missing when we treat dogs like little humans?
Let them be dogs. Let them communicate. Let them say no. And let’s be the kind of people who listen.
They deserve that.
