Dog coats for style and fashion are all the rage these days. Any owner worth his or her salt will own a coat or two for their beloved pooch. In many cases, they serve a utilitarian purpose, but some are just made for whimsy and a desire for a little fun and games with the dog. It’s a fact that dog’s are a real part of the family nowadays, so it’s logical that we’d start looking at their wants in a manner that pays homage to their place in our world.

You see a preoccupation with doggie fashion in many couples or people whose children have grown up and left home. Their dogs are their new children, so it’s no surprise when they begin outfitting their pooch in a style and manner that befits their place in the family unit.

Dog coats come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, styles and fashions. There are specially-built kinds, for when a dog might need actual protection from the elements, like in a hairless breed. Also, there are cases where a dog might have a skin problem and needs the additional protection a coat like this can give. For the most part, though, many of these coats are typically just for amusement and as a fashion statement for the dog and the owner.

Just about all dog coats fall into a few general categories. Most are of the sweater variety, with full or half models being the most popular for more than a few decades. They generally come in natural fabrics such as cotton, or a wool-cotton blend. Most of the time, there’s no problem getting them on the dog. It’s the owner who tends to fuss about, in reality.

If the coat comes with any snaps or zippers make sure to avoid pinching any of the dog’s skin, especially down in the abdomen or underbelly region. That’s an especially sensitive part of a dog’s body, and he or she might not take kindly to a human pinching anything or causing some sort of pain.

These days, doggie raincoats seem to be all the rage. With more people living in apartments than ever before, it’s no wonder they’d like to keep their pet dry when they have to go for a walk on a rainy day. After all, who want’s to clean up after a wet, smelly or dank dog? Keeping it dry while out walking is a good solution to the problem. Who knows; the dog may even let you put on galoshes and a rain cap if you speak nicely enough to it.

There are dog coats for special occasions. Some are made to resemble tuxedos, for that special high-class event or dinner. Others might look like versions of a human’s suit or even a dinner dress, in the case of a female pooch. And accessories for the dog coat are plentiful and creative. There are little hats, booties and even capes or walking sticks. Where the sticks are carried is a question for some other time.

Our dogs are ever-increasingly like extremely close members of our family, especially in cases where the children have grown and moved away. As a fashion industry, dog coats bring in big bucks in a lot of pet supply stores these days. With dogs appreciated the world over, for the most, for their loyalty and dedication to their owners, it’s no wonder we’ve gone the fashion route on them.