This hoodie sweater is so well made that I can picture my Grammy sitting in her rocking chair knitting it. But it does have what I think is a very BIG flaw. Let's talk about the good stuff first though. I did read the many reviews that said "This hoodie sweater is way too big for my dog". This is NOT my case. I read the size chart and ALSO the guideline in the description that talks about the weight of the dog that should wear a particular size and I went from there.
I have 4 dogs. Two of them are just a "tad" over the 20 pound limit for the large size to fit them. My Golden Retriever is 68 pounds and my Great Pyrenees is 150 pounds. ;-) - That was a joke btw - The medium fits my 9.5 pound Chihuahua (Matisse) perfectly but is a little too big and long for my 8 pound Chihuahua (Rocky). Now you may think you want it longer to cover more of your dog but consider this. If the sweater is too long your dog (especially a male) will get it wet when he lifts his leg and the back of the sweater will touch the ground when he's doing his other business. The small fits Rocky perfectly and Matisse could wear it also but I like the larger size on Matisse better.
It was a breeze to put the sweater on both of my dogs and the sweater stayed on without sliding to one side or the other. This is because you slip your dogs front paws through 2 sleeves and the sweater stays put. Also my dogs didn't even try once to get the sweater off, I think it's because it's so soft and comfortable for them to walk in.
The hood on the sweater is another thing. Without a chin strap the hood will not stay on. I was able to keep the hood on my dogs long enough to snap a picture but that's about it.( They look like candy canes with tails) I think a nice soft piece of red elastic felt would do the trick.
And now for the VERY BIG FLAW. Small dogs need halters NOT neck collars especially when hooked up to their doggie car seat. If you use a collar to hook your dog to his doggie car seat and have even the slightest fender bender you take the chance of breaking your dog's neck. So let me say it again. SMALL DOGS NEED HALTERS! This sweater does not have a a button hole to clip the leash to a halter AND it does not even have a button hole to clip the leash to a collar, which you need if you intend to use the hood. If you don't care about the hood then you will be able to use a leash on a neck collar.
I LOVE this sweater so much that I'm going to have a button hole made and also a chin strap.
I was going to give this hoodie sweater 4 stars because of the lack of a button hole but someone else gave it for 4 stars because "she didn't know it came with a hood". I guess the fact that it's called a "Red Stripe Dog Hoodie Sweater" wasn't a clue for her. Anyway ...here's 5 stars to make it the way it should be.
I hope this review has been helpful to you.
PS-You could put a halter over the hoodie sweater, that would work too-it might not be as pretty but your dog will be warm and SAFE...Speaking of "Safe"---An Airbag travels at 400 miles an hour when it's deployed-Imagine what your 6 pound dog will look like if he's in the passenger seat and it goes off. Just like a child...put your dog in a car seat...in the back seat...and remember the halter...ok I'm done-Have a Rainbow Kinda Day!
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