If you have a large dog, it is even more important to get clothes that will stand up to the pressure. Large dogs will strain the stitching much more than the smaller breeds. This is an important consideration when you look at price vs. quality.
Good dog clothes will cost more and as you buy for a larger dog, the price goes up even more.

Some things to look for specifically when you are looking to buy dog clothing.

1. Stitching should be tight and the ends should be backstitched at least 1/2 inch. This is what holds the stitching tight and will keep the fabric from ripping under stress.
2. The fabric should be hemmed properly and the edges should be either bound or fused, depending on the materials used.
3. The attachment points should be heavy buttons or Velcro. Velcro is used many times and it is easy to get your pet into and out of, but velcro can get really muddy and matted with hair. Large buttons, if sewn correctly, will give you at least as good a garment as the velcro, if you can hold Fido long enough to get the buttons fastened.

Since you are going to pay your hard earned money for these dog clothes, get quality and you will have them for a long time.

Find some nice clothes below for your beloved Basset Hound or other large dog.

Kyjen Pet Saver Life Jacket X-Large List Price: $47.87 Sale Price: $22.47 You save: $25.40 (53%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Average Rating:

Premier Fido Float Dog Life Vest, Large, Blue/Yellow List Price: $89.98 Sale Price: $21.50 You save: $68.48 (76%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Average Rating:

Body Glove Oahu P.F.D Dog Life Jacket (X-Large) List Price: $36.99 Sale Price: $29.59 You save: $7.40 (20%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Classic Accessories Insulated Dog Kennel Jacket, Realtree Max-4 Camo, Large List Price: $78.99 Sale Price: $63.93 You save: $15.06 (19%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Average Rating:

Classic Accessories Dog Kennel Jacket, Realtree Max-4 Camo, Large Sale Price: $53.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:

Kyjen Outward Hound Designer Dog Life Jacket Large Lime Green List Price: $34.79 Sale Price: $22.99 You save: $11.80 (34%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Average Rating:

Guardian Gear Aquatic Pet Preserver - Life Jacket for Dogs - Orange - XX-Large (XXL) List Price: $58.99 Sale Price: $25.99 You save: $33.00 (56%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Guardian Gear Aquatic Pet Preserver - Life Jacket for Dogs - Yellow - XX-Large (XXL) List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $24.49 You save: $25.50 (51%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Average Rating:

Doggy Life Jacket List Price: $47.99 Sale Price: $31.00 You save: $16.99 (35%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Average Rating:

Guardian Gear Aquatic Pet Preserver - Life Jacket for Dogs - Yellow - Large Sale Price: $24.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Puppia Soft Dog Harness (Mesh) Black Large List Price: $26.00 Sale Price: $15.53 You save: $10.47 (40%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Average Rating:

Fashion Pet Puddles Rain Large Dog Poncho List Price: $15.99 Sale Price: $13.64 You save: $2.35 (15%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:

LARGE - Dogzilla Dog Costume List Price: $23.99 Sale Price: $11.95 You save: $12.04 (50%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:

Kyjen Pet Saver Large Life Vest Jacket for Dogs List Price: $40.92 Sale Price: $19.99 You save: $20.93 (51%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:

Puppia Dog Harness Dotty Black Large List Price: $30.00 Sale Price: $16.80 You save: $13.20 (44%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:

Puppia Dog Harness Dotty Pink Large List Price: $30.00 Sale Price: $18.25 You save: $11.75 (39%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:

Dog Jacket - Camo Companion All Weather Pet Coat - Pink - Large Sale Price: $10.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Puppia Soft Dog Harness Spring Blue Large List Price: $35.00 Sale Price: $16.25 You save: $18.75 (54%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:

Fashion Pet Classic Xtra-Large Cable Dog Sweater, Cobalt Blue List Price: $17.99 Sale Price: $13.50 You save: $4.49 (25%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Puppia Soft Dog Harness Spring Pink Large List Price: $35.00 Sale Price: $17.30 You save: $17.70 (51%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:

My dog is a Basset Hound and he really does sleep a lot.  Sometimes  I think all he does is sleep and eat.  When I consider all the money we have spent on him, I am glad it was mainly for things that make his life more comfortable.  Before you go out and buy a bunch of dog clothes for that new dog of yours, be sure to take care of his or her basic comfort.   A good bed will help you have a happy dog.

One of the first things to look for in a good dog bed is whether it can be washed.  Many dogs including hounds have a very smelly oily skin that gets into the bed real quick.  Make sure the bed you buy can be washed in the wash machine every few weeks.  We usually try to wash the bed at least every month.

The next thing I would look for in a good dog bed is materials it is made of.  Some dogs have skin allergies and the last thing you want to do is make that worse by getting a bed stuffed with something that your dog is allergic to.  There is no real good way to discover whether your dogs' bed is causing him to scratch, except to remove it and see if the itching gets better.  Many times dogs become allergic to certain materials over time.  Just be alert to this when providing bedding for your dog.

Where the bed is placed is a very important component to the overall dog bed discussion.  Dogs like to feel protected when they are in their bed.  Most dogs prefer to have their bed located against a wall, or even in a corner.  To them, this provides some security.  When you are gone and they are all alone in the house , they appreciate the comfort and security of their bed.  My dog was trained to use a kennel ( that is, a big wire cage), when he was young and he still considers it one of his favorite beds.  He knows when he goes in there, he is safe.

Dog beds are more important than dog clothes, so make certain that before you go out spending money on dog coats and dog sweaters, that you get your beloved dog a good bed or two to snuggle in.

Dog collars don't have to be the old type of plain functional collar.  Today's collars come in large variety of colors, materials, and functions.  The dog harness falls into this collar area as well. ( Some dogs work better with a harness, like the little dogs with little heads !)

Let's look a t few types of collars on the market today and the first we will look at is the "choke chain".. I always hated this type of collar as far as the function of it, but I loved it when I saw a big Rottweiler coming my way on the sidewalk sporting one.   Let's face it, the choke chain collar is a very good way to control  a big dog.  It is also not inhumane at all, when used properly.  I have used one on a very independent basset hound, and he soon started obeying.  You may not have thought of these as fashion, but these chains actually look pretty good on the right dog, and they come in many materials and colors.

Another type of collar is the electronic collars.  These are sometimes called shock collars, although the name sort of implies more than is actually there.  They do shock the dog, but when used properly, it is not as painful as it is surprising to the dog.  These collars also come in many sizes and functions.  Some are remote controlled, so the owner can correct the dog at a good distance away.  These are used for training a dog as will as correcting bad behavior.  Other electronic collars are used in conjunction with the invisible fence.  These collars will administer a correction when the dog crosses a wire that is buried in the owners yard.

Of course , the plain old buckle up collars are the favorite and this is where the fashion starts.  My dog has nylon snap together type collar on right now, and I bought it to support my college, so it is orange and maroon, the Hokies colors.  You can  find a collars that supports any sports team you can imagine.

These are just a few ways that dog collars have become a fashion accessory.  Even though dog collars are very functional, they are still a part of the dog clothing wardrobe.

As I was looking further, I found a clown costume.  Now the little dog modeling it did look like a clown and the whole effect made me laugh.  I hope that dog could walk on his hind feet to really make the costume work.

Next I found a this silly little dog on the left.  As you can see, you have to have a very compliant dog that would let you put an entire outfit on it.  I know our Basset hound would never allow such a thing.  Many of the costumes for dogs come in a few pieces,  It helps to get the whole thing on them.

Another costume I came across that I really liked was a hot dog.  Of course the dog modeling it was a dachshund, which was very appropriate for the dog clothing.  I think these types of dogs tolerate the whole dog clothing better than others.

Next I found a costume on a boxer and this dog was clearly not happy about wearing it.  I guess the photographer has to be quick to get the photo before the dog just shakes the parts of the costume off.  This dog has a Christmas costume on, and the photograph clearly shows a dog that does not seem like he is enjoying it.

Some costumes are nothing more than a fancy collar and some sort of head piece.  These types of costumes are better suited for the bigger, meaner dogs.  The quality of these dog costumes runs the gamut from very good, to made of flannel. Most will not survive more than a few wearings.  Dogs are very hard on clothes, since they don't really care what happens to them, and most of the time they are trying to get the clothes off.

Dogs wear clothes just like people these days. I am not sure if everyone has been observing this new fashion trend, but dogs wear clothes!  The question is, what if you take a dog for a walk on a cold winter day, will the dog feel cold?  I think all this starts with the way we have considered our dogs to be members of the family.  I mean what mother would let her children go out and play in the snow without a coat on?  So now that our dogs are a part of the family, we have to buy dog clothes for them. It may surprise you to find that there is a big market in dog clothing.  So much so, that there are dog models, and dog clothes designers, and dog clothes seamstresses, but I digress.

It seems to me that we don't have enough information to know whether a dog gets cold and should wear a coat on bad weather days.  Our Basset Hound has a thick fur coat on already.  I think  he would just be too hot with another coat on.  I think maybe it depends on the breed.  Take a little Chihuahua.  They have very little fur and very little fat.  I  think they would get cold much quicker.  A Basset hound has tons of fat to protect him from the cold.

Another factor to consider may be the weather.  If is just cold, that is no problem for a dog with a thick fur, but if it is raining and cold, it could be a big difference.  I have noticed our Basset hound doesn't like the rain very much.  I am curious as to whether he would go out more in the rain if he had a dog rain coat?

Dog clothes come in all sizes, but I have noticed that the number and variety of clothes tends toward the smaller dog.  I suppose the small dogs are easier to dress?  Maybe the owners of small dogs tend to buy clothes for them more often than the owners of  large dogs.  I am trying to find a nice raincoat for our Basset, who is named Rudy.   Now he weighs in at 70 pounds, so he needs a pretty big coat. If we are going to experiment with the dog clothing thing, we have to have some variety for  the larger dogs.    There are some really good sites for dog clothes or a dog collar, but I can't find any for the larger dogs.

It always surprises me what people will do for their dogs.  I am not what I would call a dog person, but my wife is and we have had a dog for most of our married life.  I had dogs when I was growing up on the farm, but they stayed outside and lived in "dog houses".  Today's family canine is more likely  to have his own room in the house.
Right now we have a 7 year old Basset and he runs this place.

So, back to the topic.  I have been surprised to learn that people like to buy dog clothes just as much as they like to buy clothes for themselves.  Just yesterday, my neighbor brought her little dog over and it had a Baltimore Ravens coat on.  Now the dog wasn't cold or anything, the neighbor just wanted her dog to support the local football team.  I began to think about whether our Basset hound would go for that.  I am sure my wife would like to buy some dog clothes for him.  I just can't imagine him allowing anyone to put dog clothes on him.  After all , he doesn't even get out of the car at the vet without a muzzle on.

Still the idea does seem to be a popular one. Is it because people have too much money in this great country?  That may be part of it.  I also considered it was just a female thing.  Is it mainly the women that buy these clothes for their dog?  I guess there is no way to know that, as there would be no way to track "who" buys the clothes for the dogs.

In my limited research I have determined that for whatever reason, it is very fashionable to buy clothes for your dog.  Now the question is, where does a person go to buy these dog clothes?  I think the Dog Clothes Depot would be a great place to start.