Whenever I buy sweaters for Porky I have to take them over to my Mother-in-laws house and we get to work modifying them. We start by making the arm holes smaller or totally cutting off the sleeves, whichever is easiest. Then we add a small strip to the middle and attach velcro. That way it can be taken off even when Porky's squirming everywhere. :2funny: Since he usually gets his front paws caught when he runs we always have to do something with the sleeves so he doesn't do a nose dive in the snow or concrete.
One of these days when I have time, I'm going out to mom's and we're going to make a hoodie for Porky out of some really cute flannel I found. If it works I'' try and post a picture of it. Its going to have an elastic waist ( so it stays on and the length is more adjustable.), an elastic lined hood (maybe with ear holes??), a zipper down the back, and a pocket on the back. Oh...I forgot the leash hole under the hood. I have a picture drawn up of what I want to make, now we just have to figure out how.
I've been thinking on this one for a while so hopefully I can get it done in the near future. I would like to start making a bunch and selling them if they work out. I was going to put some type of pull attached to the elastic so you can adjust the tightness around the waist and scrunch it up for when they need to go potty. Kind of like the little things they put on human coats. But, I'm going to have to test where to put it so they can't chew on it. Porky's going to be my guniea pig.
What do you think? Would you buy something like this if the price was reasonable? I have a terrible time finding anything for Porky that fits right so I think a lot of dachshund owners feel the same way. Please voice your opinions and ideas. Thanks!!! :thumb:
I think that sounds like a great idea! I ALWAYS have problems trying to find something that fits my two. Neither of them like to put their front legs through the holes. I find that they really like the clothes that have the velcro strip around their front legs and the velcro strip around their bellys. I think you would do well to sell your hoodies....I would definitely buy one!!
I say go for it. But you might also check Dachsie Delights. That's where I got Clifford's Hug-A-Dox harness.
Living where it rains a lot, I have long searched for (and tried to dream up a plan but failed) a raincoat for Hallie that will keep her drier on our walks in the winter. I finally realized (with the help of a friend who makes AWESOME coats :wink: ) that it's next to impossible to make a coat that doesn't give (like fleece would for instance) that is waterproof and have sleeves for their little legs. It pulls when they walk or trot. My next hope was to figure out a hood of some kind...like a clear bubble, sort of an add on umbrella very light weight that would extend out past their nose and head and keep their head dry. After many attempts of plans gave up on that too. I've seen a lot of dog coats with hoods but the hoods only reach to about the back of their head which does no good keeping their whole head and nose dry.
So if you come up with anything that covers more of them and lets them move freely, U got a customer! :grin: Would you have an opening for a harness leash, I walk Hallie with a harness instead of a collar...
I would !!! The purple sweater that I got for Brandy that I posted earlier in the week - I like the arm holes on it - because they fit snug and arn not long.....and are a little bigger hole. But of course, it is too short.....hard to find them long enough to get to their booties !
Like I said, this is still in the dreaming and scheming stage so I have no idea, IF or WHEN it will happen. A hole for a harness and leash is a great idea Dee. I'll have to see if I can figure that one out. :thinik: The reason I was thinking of using a zipper instead of velcro was because Porky tends to escape out of his velcro sweaters when I put them on. I think the biggest challenges I face in making this are the arm holes and the hood. I was thinking about maybe doing elastic on the sleeves with a pull to make it tighter, but I'm not sure that would work for chewers. I'll make one like that and test it with Porky (the chewaholic), if he can't reach the ones on the arms I'll do that. That would make the arms fit any size of legs.
Also, I have to find a way to make the elastic comfortable since it tends to dig into skin if pulled too tight. As far as the hood goes, I'm going to try and make it elastic too. I think that if the pull for the hood is located on the back of the neck, they won't be able to reach it. :dontknow: Again, my little contortionist Porky will come in handy as a model. That would keep their ears and head warm. Unfortunately, it wouldn't cover the nose though. I have no idea what would work for that. Most likely the jacket wouldn't be waterproof either. I'm going for warmth first then if that idea works, i'll try a waterproof one later.
I'm going to draw up some pictures over the Christmas holiday and show them to my mother in law. She is great at sewing and would be a great help. Any other suggestions or things you would like to see would be great. Thanks for all you helpful suggestions and input so far!!
I think it is a wonderful idea!! I still haven't found a sweater that will stay on Mimi. They are always too big even if I get the smallest one!! I sure would get three from you!!
My :2cents: :
It's not just long backs, it's also long necks. From Guinness' shoulders up to the top of his head is a long way and none of his sweaters, coats, etc., really fit well. His one hoodie is so short in the neck he look like an Ellis Island refugee in a babushka!
Karen :heart:
Thanks Karen! Long necks are something I was looking at. I guess I didn't mention it. Porky has that same hoodie and it doesn't fit over his tiny head either. :2funny:
QuoteHis one hoodie is so short in the neck he look like an Ellis Island refugee in a babushka!
I think your description says it perfectly!! :funnyup:
ROTFL Karen...Guiness's look says MOM my eyes are going to pop out this thing is too tight! :2funny:
Great ideas. One problem I encounter is trying to cover Franky's sides toward his butt. I like to try and cover his thighs because he has slight arthritis and gets stiff in the cold. Most coats are too small to cover or way too big and end up getting covered in pee-pee. YUCK!
PS.
Karen, your pics are awesome........ :2funny:
Dawn
Thanks for the input. Porky likes to have his bootie covered too. And if I buy the bigger sweaters we have the same problem. The easiest solution I could come up with so it would fit all lengths of doxies was the elastic waist. So...when you didn't use the pull things(can't think of what they are called) it would be long enough. And when they need to go you can scrunch it up to where it needs to be. I'm afraid if I made it long on the back and shorter on the belly it wouldn't fit as many dogs. Since they are all such different sizes. I'll try my best to fix this problem though. I've got my thinking cap on trying to figure it out!! :thinik: