Dog unitards are here, just in time for fall and not without controversy
Fall, a.k.a. turtleneck season, is finally here in terms of brisk temperatures. So why shouldn't Fido join in on the fun?
Thanks to Shed Defender, your pup can. The company specializes in dog unitards. Yes, dog unitards.
In addition to its new line being stylish, the company claims the unitards have a lot of practical benefits for your pet.
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The dog unitards cover the pooch's neck, body and all four legs. They have a hole for the tail and come in a variety of colors and sizes.
As implied by its name, the Shed Defender's primary function is keeping your dog from leaving a trail of fur everywhere.
Some of its other uses include locking in allergens and dander, reducing your dog's anxiety and barking frequency, keeping it clean while playing outside and providing protection from insects and ticks.
The accessory will also help your dog stand out at his next musical theatre audition.
"The idea came to me about six years ago," Tyson Walters, inventor of the Shed Defender, wrote in an email to Mashable. "I had this huge St. Bernard. Harley, and I just couldn't control her shedding. No matter how much I brushed and groomed her, she still left tumbleweeds of hair in my house and even worse, in my car,"
"I looked around on the internet and dog stores and I couldn't find a solution to my problem. So, I decided to make one."
There has been a bit of backlash regarding the product and dog overheating, but Walters stands by it.
"It is made out of a lightweight, breathable, stretchy fabric (athletic mesh) that DOES NOT make the dog hot and allows full mobility as well," he told Mashable.
"The main critics are pet groomers who comment on Facebook, and have NEVER used the product. They think it doesn't allow the dog to shed, like it has some magical power, and that would be a huge problem for dogs," Walters said.
"That's not the case. It just contains the hair, very simple. They also think it will matte the hair and cause skin problems since the dog can't shed naturally. Once again, the dog still sheds, the hair won't get matted. We encourage customers who have long haired dogs to not use [the product] for prolonged amounts of time, i.e. days at a time, and then properly brush your dog afterwards."
Mashable spoke with Dr. Lawrence Putter, a veterinarian at Lenox Hill Veterinarians in Manhattan.
Dr. Putter didn't feel comfortable evaluating the Shed Defender without checking out the physical product. He did say that he sees how it could have benefits in certain circumstances, such as travel. However, he doesn't think a dog should wear the garment for a long time, as he's fearful that it could make a dog overheat.
Walters, however, continued his defense.
"People also think it will overheat the dog and kill it. Lol. The material is just like Under Armour, and athletes don't overheat and die in their clothes," Walters told Mashable.
"And dogs release heat differently than humans do, they pant to release heat, as humans release heat through their body. With the breathable fabric it doesn't contain heat, allowing airflow."
The Shed Defender comes in white, black, royal blue, columbia blue, red, forest green and hot pink, in sizes ranging from mini to XXL, priced from $44.99 - $59.99. Walters plans to give a portion of all sales to a local animal shelter.
[H/T: The Dodo]
Topics Animals
Sophie was a Viral Content Intern for the Watercooler channel. More writing and other stuff by Sophie can be found at www.sophiehirsh.com.
