Knitting Dog Sweater

Dogs and Sweaters

Do dogs naturally adapt to sweaters? For many dogs, the answer is a resounding “no!” Dogs are much like a lot of babies. They really don’t like the constricting feeling of clothes. You’ve seen babies squeal with delight as soon as they shed their clothes, right? Well, dogs might not squeal, but they might actually look a bit humiliated when you put that bright blue or pink sweater on them! Are they embarrassed? Maybe not, but they don’t like the unfamiliar feeling of material on their bodies.

Introducing the Sweater to Your Dog

Just as you have to housebreak your dog and teach him all sorts of other expected behaviors, you’ll also have to train your dog to accept wearing a knitted sweater. First, choose materials that will be comfortable for your dog. Just as you don’t like scratchy materials on your skin, neither does your dog. Keep the following tips in mind before you begin knitting a dog sweater:

• Choose yarns that are soft, yet durable. Find materials that will protect your dog from the chilly weather, as well.
• Make sure the sweater fits snuggly, but not too tight. A too loose sweater could snag on objects, possibly injuring your dog.
• Make sure the sweater doesn’t limit your dog’s movement.
• Before you put the sweater on the dog, let him sniff it. You can even rub or massage him with it so that it begins to take on his own smell before you place it on him.
• Give your dog time to get use to the sweater. Put it on him for a few minutes at a time, working up to longer periods of time after he’s grown accustomed to the feeling of the sweater.
• Once your dog is wearing the sweater, keep him busy by playing with him and petting him so he isn’t consumed by the new feeling of the sweater.
• Don’t leave him alone when he wears the sweater, at least until he gets accustomed to it.
• Make this new experience as pleasant as possible!

Knitting a Dog Sweater

While golden retrievers and Siberian huskies might not need you to try knitting a dog sweater for them, other dogs, like dachshunds and poodles will definitely appreciate the warmth of a cozy sweater for those cold, winter days. Spend an afternoon creating a dog sweater for your best friend. He’ll be glad you did! You can alter most of these patterns for a custom fit.

Measuring Fido

In order to get a perfect fit for your dog, you’ll need to measure him by following these instructions:

• Measure from the neck to base of tail.
• Measure the circumference of the dog’s neck just above the shoulders.
• To determine the length of the gusset, measure the underside of the dog from the neck circumference to the bottom of the rib cage, or wherever you want the coverage to stop.
• For larger or smaller dogs, you can adjust the patterns of the stitches accordingly. For example, for a large dog, a pattern that calls for squares may mean that you need to increase the size of each square.

Patterns and Sites

The following patterns and sites will get you started:

• Doggone Knit: This pattern was created to fit a greyhound, but will work for other large dogs as well.
• Free Patterns: You can find some great free patterns, such as the “colorful dog sweater”, “Esther Bozak’s custom knit sweater”, and “Wylie’s free Chihuahua sweater”.
• Dog Sweater: This pattern will actually work for your kitty, too!
• Lion Brand: This mega site has knitting patterns for everyone, including patterns for knitting dog sweaters!
• Knitting Pattern Central: You’ll find a multitude of dog sweater patterns at this site.
• Karp Styles: This site has many different styles and patterns for sale.

Additional Information

Don’t forget to check out all of our dog articles at LoveToKnowDogs. You’ll find everything you need to know about your four-legged friend!