Men becoming wolves. Wolves becoming... spiders.
October 22, 2010 9:26 AM Subscribe
My dog hates costumes. I really want him to wear one for the doggie parade tomorrow.
I love, love, love my dog. He's generally the best, funniest dog in the entire world.
But when I say "my dog hates costumes," I mean that he will fight, nip, growl, and be generally abrasive. Once he's IN the costume, he's fine!
Can anyone think of a way to get my little jerkface in the damn spider costume? Or dissuade me, on the premise that it might be mean/traumatizing for him? (Because that's the last thing I want to do.)
(Please no "get thee to a trainer" for this question, I have an appointment. I'm only wondering if, in the meantime, there are any tricks, treats, hacks, magic words, etc. that might make my dream of "spider-dog" come true.)
I love, love, love my dog. He's generally the best, funniest dog in the entire world.
But when I say "my dog hates costumes," I mean that he will fight, nip, growl, and be generally abrasive. Once he's IN the costume, he's fine!
Can anyone think of a way to get my little jerkface in the damn spider costume? Or dissuade me, on the premise that it might be mean/traumatizing for him? (Because that's the last thing I want to do.)
(Please no "get thee to a trainer" for this question, I have an appointment. I'm only wondering if, in the meantime, there are any tricks, treats, hacks, magic words, etc. that might make my dream of "spider-dog" come true.)
Response by poster: Yeah, I'm just wondering if there's a "happy" way to get him in. Somehow get him to look forward to the costume?
posted by functionequalsform at 9:29 AM on October 22, 2010
posted by functionequalsform at 9:29 AM on October 22, 2010
Best answer: Training is a matter of successive approximation with positive rewards. Moving a dog from hating an experience to enjoying it takes time.
The only way you're going to get him into the costume for tomorrow is to spend the next 12 hours or so working with him with a pocket full of cut up hotdog.
If you can't do that, let it go and start training for next year.
posted by HuronBob at 9:35 AM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
The only way you're going to get him into the costume for tomorrow is to spend the next 12 hours or so working with him with a pocket full of cut up hotdog.
If you can't do that, let it go and start training for next year.
posted by HuronBob at 9:35 AM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
a dog wearing a costume has absolutely no purpose than the entertainment of others. if he doesn't like it, please leave him alone. I hope the trainer is for some other purpose than teaching him to like costumes.
posted by domino at 9:36 AM on October 22, 2010 [8 favorites]
posted by domino at 9:36 AM on October 22, 2010 [8 favorites]
Best answer: If it's truly true that your dog is fine once the costume is on, and he's reasonably food-motivated I'd try treatstreatstreats like you do when training a dog to wear a muzzle. Take small steps--like maybe start with the costume on the floor with a treat or two hidden in it, and the dog gets a treat for just investigating. Then treats for being touched with the costume. Then treats for it being over his back, etc. Be on the same level as him during this process--like on the bed or couch together, so he's not intimidated and doesn't feel pinned or trapped.
posted by drlith at 9:39 AM on October 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by drlith at 9:39 AM on October 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
Um, even the product picture makes the puppy look a little ... sad...
Not that I'm 100% against costumes for pets, but you need to be on your dog's side, I think.
posted by amtho at 9:40 AM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Not that I'm 100% against costumes for pets, but you need to be on your dog's side, I think.
posted by amtho at 9:40 AM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
In terms of super short-term behavior reshaping, Drlith's got it.
posted by ShadePlant at 9:43 AM on October 22, 2010
posted by ShadePlant at 9:43 AM on October 22, 2010
Best answer: It's probably possible to train your dog to get into the costume; even to get excited about being in the costume. Use positive reinforcement training. Can you do it by tomorrow? There are certainly some dogs who will adapt to positive reinforcement quickly. I can usually teach my dog a new trick in about 20 minutes (though he needs to keep practicing in subsequent days in order to get it down). But your dog is your dog, and your milage may vary. This seems like a reasonable approach.
posted by mr_roboto at 9:43 AM on October 22, 2010
posted by mr_roboto at 9:43 AM on October 22, 2010
Please don't do this. If your dog isn't happy with it, let him be...
If you are going to go through with it, ask your vet for some ace, or use some benadryl. He may be too knocked out to participate in the parade, but you shouldn't have any issues putting his costume on.
Once again, please don't put your dog through this.
posted by TheBones at 9:47 AM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
If you are going to go through with it, ask your vet for some ace, or use some benadryl. He may be too knocked out to participate in the parade, but you shouldn't have any issues putting his costume on.
Once again, please don't put your dog through this.
posted by TheBones at 9:47 AM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I used to be opposed to dogs dressing up, and then I got a smallish dog (beagle-jack russel mix) who shivers like crazy when it gets cold- so sweaters and jackets pretty much became necessary- but she hated getting into them at first. Things that helped us were switching her from wearing a collar on walks/going outside to a harness- she learned pretty quickly that if she didn't behave when we tried to put her harness on, she didn't go out. We also treated and praised CONSTANTLY while she was getting whatever it was put on her- one of us would hold her and fumble her into the outfit, the other would give constant treats of something super delicious (she didn't even have a chance to nip). Now she loves it to the point where she got excited when we started getting out her jacket as it started to cool down and practically jumped into it. For what it's worth, she'll be a bunch of grapes in the halloween parade tomorrow.
If your dog hated the costume while he was in it, I agree that it would be cruel, but to me it sounds like it's the actual struggle into it that's the problem. Is there someone else that can help while you put it on? Putting anything onto a small, squirmy dog by yourself can be a challenge, and the extra set of hands really helps. Don't get frustrated, keep a really calm voice, and go reeeeally slow. That exact costume looks pretty easy, it's just velcro, right? Put it on his back, hold him up to your chest, put your hand under his chin if you need to to stop nipping, have someone else fasten the velcro.
I promise I'm not a bad person, this was all my roommate's doing. I still think dressing dogs up is kind of ridiculous, but very amusing.
posted by kro at 9:48 AM on October 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
If your dog hated the costume while he was in it, I agree that it would be cruel, but to me it sounds like it's the actual struggle into it that's the problem. Is there someone else that can help while you put it on? Putting anything onto a small, squirmy dog by yourself can be a challenge, and the extra set of hands really helps. Don't get frustrated, keep a really calm voice, and go reeeeally slow. That exact costume looks pretty easy, it's just velcro, right? Put it on his back, hold him up to your chest, put your hand under his chin if you need to to stop nipping, have someone else fasten the velcro.
I promise I'm not a bad person, this was all my roommate's doing. I still think dressing dogs up is kind of ridiculous, but very amusing.
posted by kro at 9:48 AM on October 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
The only things that made my dog nip and growl at me are me forcing her to take medications or taking her temperature anally, and she's a spaz. Nipping and growling aren't normal behavior for a healthy, happy dog (I can count the number of times my dog has actually tried to nip me over an 11 year period). The only reason I go through the trauma for us both on those occasions is because it's medically necessary. This sounds like your dog is extremely upset, and it's not for a very good reason at all. It just sounds selfish. (And does he really not mind when he's wearing it, or does he just not mind *as much*?)
However, if you're insistent that your dog dress up, maybe you could see which part of the costume is bothering him so much. Is it having something on his head? Around his body? Having his body shoved through something? There's a lot of costumes that just tie around the middle - maybe he'd do better in those? I understand that won't help for the particular costume you want him to wear tomorrow, but given the situation you've described, I don't know if there's a way to get him to like it by tomorrow. I would guess not, but I am not a trainer.
posted by wending my way at 9:50 AM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
However, if you're insistent that your dog dress up, maybe you could see which part of the costume is bothering him so much. Is it having something on his head? Around his body? Having his body shoved through something? There's a lot of costumes that just tie around the middle - maybe he'd do better in those? I understand that won't help for the particular costume you want him to wear tomorrow, but given the situation you've described, I don't know if there's a way to get him to like it by tomorrow. I would guess not, but I am not a trainer.
posted by wending my way at 9:50 AM on October 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer:
Yeah, I'm just wondering if there's a "happy" way to get him in. Somehow get him to look forward to the costume?
Clearly you'll have to sew the costume from carefully cut pieces of sliced ham and sausage links.
posted by Stagger Lee at 9:51 AM on October 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
Yeah, I'm just wondering if there's a "happy" way to get him in. Somehow get him to look forward to the costume?
Clearly you'll have to sew the costume from carefully cut pieces of sliced ham and sausage links.
posted by Stagger Lee at 9:51 AM on October 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
Best answer: That particular costume, with the hood and all, would be understandably a pretty big deal for the dog to wear around. I'd suggest practicing with little vests that are just barely bigger/warmer/more complicated than a harness, then moving up to full-coverage sweaters, then trying something with a hood, and not freaking him out with all the extra legs hanging off the side till he's a bit more mellow about the whole experience.
Even if he's a totally sweet sociable dog, and even if he calms down once the thing is on him, he's likely to be more on-edge than normal. Weaseling him into a costume then taking him to a big doggie parade where there are other extra-skittish dogs wearing things with dangly bright-colored bells and whistles and expecting him to behave like a sweet good-natured loving and controllable pooch is a taller order than normal.
posted by aimedwander at 10:03 AM on October 22, 2010
Even if he's a totally sweet sociable dog, and even if he calms down once the thing is on him, he's likely to be more on-edge than normal. Weaseling him into a costume then taking him to a big doggie parade where there are other extra-skittish dogs wearing things with dangly bright-colored bells and whistles and expecting him to behave like a sweet good-natured loving and controllable pooch is a taller order than normal.
posted by aimedwander at 10:03 AM on October 22, 2010
I would say that there probably isn't any chance of getting him in the spider costume this year without traumatizing him. If you really want the dog to participate in Halloween revelries, can you get some sort of costume that would entail dressing yourself up and the dog just being a dog? Like Dorothy and Toto, or if you want to be creepy you could be Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs and the dog could be Precious.
posted by kataclysm at 10:09 AM on October 22, 2010
posted by kataclysm at 10:09 AM on October 22, 2010
You could color his white fur with Kool-aid, if he doesn't mind baths.
posted by Ideefixe at 10:12 AM on October 22, 2010
posted by Ideefixe at 10:12 AM on October 22, 2010
When my last dog started to get sick and lose her fur, we knew she would need sweaters. We started her in one of these harnesses and worked our way up to full-on dog coats. By the time she passed, she loooooved her coat and would get upset when we needed to take it off.
posted by dogmom at 10:18 AM on October 22, 2010
posted by dogmom at 10:18 AM on October 22, 2010
Best answer: I assure you that 10 minutes of wrangling your dog into a costume will not "traumatize him". If you say that he's ok once he's in the costume, then I would just get him into the thing as quickly as possible and give him lots of treats. Your dog will not need therapy, will not resent you for years to come, and will not be scarred for life. Your dog will hate you for about 10 minutes and then will go about being a dog, albeit one in a spider costume.
posted by tryniti at 10:20 AM on October 22, 2010
posted by tryniti at 10:20 AM on October 22, 2010
Best answer: I have the most success with things like this with my dog when I catch him when he's just gotten up from a nap. His ears are down, he's groggy, and before he knows it he's looking very handsome in his bandana. Take that jerkface!
posted by dyobmit at 10:26 AM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by dyobmit at 10:26 AM on October 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Take your dog as is, without anything on him, and when people ask what his 'costume' is, say that he's a dog! It'll be ironic! Win for all involved.
posted by spinifex23 at 10:40 AM on October 22, 2010
posted by spinifex23 at 10:40 AM on October 22, 2010
Best answer: Take your dog as is, without anything on him, and when people ask what his 'costume' is, say that he's a dog! It'll be ironic! Win for all involved.
As a bonus, bring a photo of a cat (or sheep, or person - whatever tickles your fancy) and show it to them, saying "This is what he normally looks like."
posted by platinum at 10:50 AM on October 22, 2010 [8 favorites]
As a bonus, bring a photo of a cat (or sheep, or person - whatever tickles your fancy) and show it to them, saying "This is what he normally looks like."
posted by platinum at 10:50 AM on October 22, 2010 [8 favorites]
Best answer: My dog hates clothes, too, but I find she's much more likely to stand something that doesn't have to be put on over her head- like her winter coat, which velcros around the neck and waist (lol, like a dog has a waist). Looks like the spider costume does the same, so I bet your pooch will be fine!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:19 AM on October 22, 2010
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:19 AM on October 22, 2010
I'm more concerned that the costume appears to have six legs.
posted by yeti at 12:41 PM on October 22, 2010
posted by yeti at 12:41 PM on October 22, 2010
Best answer: It's kind of mean to make your dog do something that you can easily tell makes them unhappy, and that serves no other purpose than your own entertainment.
Then again, that costume is fucking hysterical. I AM TORN. Maybe it will be really cold out tomorrow and you can pretend it is to keep him warm? Kind of like how we all resented it when our moms made us wear a winter coat over our awesome dinosaur astronaut ninja princess Halloween costumes.
Yeah, I'm still bitter.
posted by elizardbits at 1:13 PM on October 22, 2010
Then again, that costume is fucking hysterical. I AM TORN. Maybe it will be really cold out tomorrow and you can pretend it is to keep him warm? Kind of like how we all resented it when our moms made us wear a winter coat over our awesome dinosaur astronaut ninja princess Halloween costumes.
Yeah, I'm still bitter.
posted by elizardbits at 1:13 PM on October 22, 2010
As long as the dog is okay once wearing it, I say force him into it while rewarding with treats.
I guess this won't help now since the parade is tomorrow and you already have the costume, but I would agree with others that the hood part is probably the most difficult. A lady at a pet boutique told me to try costumes that come in multiple pieces (like a Superman costume that has a cape, breastplate, belt, etc) because dogs tolerate them better. Also you can start with one piece and build up.
Is the costume tight around the neck? Maybe stretch it out or give it a little snip so it's bigger?
posted by radioamy at 9:35 PM on October 22, 2010
I guess this won't help now since the parade is tomorrow and you already have the costume, but I would agree with others that the hood part is probably the most difficult. A lady at a pet boutique told me to try costumes that come in multiple pieces (like a Superman costume that has a cape, breastplate, belt, etc) because dogs tolerate them better. Also you can start with one piece and build up.
Is the costume tight around the neck? Maybe stretch it out or give it a little snip so it's bigger?
posted by radioamy at 9:35 PM on October 22, 2010
Aw, he is SOOOOOOOOO cute! I just about cried looking at his photo.
I don't even think he needs a costume!!!
But if you do put it on him, lots of awesome treats, and maybe something really fun he likes to do when he has it on, like going for a walk or car ride, etc, to help him forget he has it on.
If he's still annoyed after half an hour or so, probably a good idea to take it off.
posted by The ____ of Justice at 11:30 AM on October 23, 2010
I don't even think he needs a costume!!!
But if you do put it on him, lots of awesome treats, and maybe something really fun he likes to do when he has it on, like going for a walk or car ride, etc, to help him forget he has it on.
If he's still annoyed after half an hour or so, probably a good idea to take it off.
posted by The ____ of Justice at 11:30 AM on October 23, 2010
Liverwurst. Your dog will let you do anything to him if he's eating liverwurst.
posted by bluedaisy at 11:35 AM on October 24, 2010
posted by bluedaisy at 11:35 AM on October 24, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Or dissuade me, on the premise that it might be mean/traumatizing for him?
Look at these two sentences together. I think it's pretty clear that forcing your dog into a costume is mean.
posted by amro at 9:28 AM on October 22, 2010 [11 favorites]