Puppy joy from the first ice and the alluring taste of the first snow are overshadowed by glassy paws, frozen ears. And already running, whining and shaking from the cold, your yorik or go, taxi or pug home to a warm rug by the central heating battery.
Reference! Short and short-haired dogs are especially sensitive to cold, which is more noticeable in close proximity to the ground.
Modern fashion has reached animals. Dressed gentlemen and young ladies on four legs no longer surprise anyone on the street.
To make your pet look no worse than others, lead an active lifestyle and not get sick, it is not necessary to rush to the store. The hat for the dog can be sewn or knitted independently. After all, clothes for animals can cost as much as for people.
If you can scribble on a sewing machine and hold knitting needles or a hook in your hands, making the simplest model will be quite on the shoulder. And for the money saved, it’s better to buy your pet his favorite treat and something tasty for yourself.
Varieties of hats for dogs
Caps are classified by functionality. If very briefly, then hats are:
- keeping warm;
- protecting from dirt, water and scorching sunshine;
- preserving nothing, protecting nothing from anything - decorative, that is, for beauty.
And our four-legged pets are happy to wear those, and others, and still others.
Important! Like humans, dogs have weakened immunity. There are breeds that have a genetic tendency to otitis. They are medically expected to wear a hat from autumn to spring.
Purpose, functional features of caps
There are breeds and categories of dogs for which a hat is a way out in a certain situation.
First of all, these are animals with ears hanging almost to the ground - cocker spaniels, dachshunds, basset hounds and others. While walking, their ears often touch the ground, grass, and more. As a result, such a dog comes home, at best, simply with cluttered ears, at worst, also wearing spikes.
So you can drag a tick on your ears, which often happens. To wash not only the paws, but also the ears after each walk, to clean and comb them is an activity that does not give pleasure to either the dog or the owner.
Therefore, a special hat was developed for them, similar to a children's bonnet, only with hollow ears. These are such ear pockets that resemble mittens in shape.
Dark-colored dogs in the summer, especially in the southern latitudes, run the risk of overheating, that is, literally getting a sunstroke. For them, the owners acquire light caps made of light natural fabric with a sun visor.
There are even special plastic caps for bathing dogs so that water does not get into your ears. They are very similar to the usual shower caps for us.
Models of hats for dogs
There are as many models of hats for dogs as their owners have imagination. And as each dog is unique, its fashionable image is individual.
If you try very hard, you can still classify the diversity of individuals into some general forms. Here are the most popular dog cap models:
• Hood or helmet. It goes to literally everyone - both large individuals and small pets. It is fastened with ties or a button with a buttonhole. In use in the fall, winter and spring.
• A tight fitting hat. It is made of warm fabric, has several layers. Suitable for dogs with small or cropped ears.
• Snood hat or scarf. Suitable for lop-eared breeds in the cold season. An elastic band is sewn into the upper and lower edges for better fixation.
• Decorative hat . Large model range, wide range. It does not carry practical functions. It is worn for beauty or for fun. Emphasizes the uniqueness and character of the pet and its owner.
How to sew a hat for a dog with your own hands
Attention! The more often we try on a product on an animal and adjust it during sewing or knitting, the better it will sit on its owner. It is difficult to indicate the exact dimensions in the instructions without taking into account the breed and age of the animal, since each dog is individual.
Pattern and tailoring
The picture below schematically shows a pattern of a hat-cap for a dog. The product is sewn very quickly and easily.
The top can be sewn from waterproof fabric, for example, Bologna, and on the lining to use fleece in tone or contrasting colors.
Sewing stages:
- Bend the edges indicated by dashed lines.
- To process the remaining edges of the product.
- Embed a visor duplicated with special materials (non-woven, doubler).
- Insert a lace or ribbon into the hem, which will connect the product and fasten it to the head.
How to tie a hat for a dog
The simplest hat for a dog does not require much time and knitting experience.
Step-by-step instruction:
- We measure the circumference of the dog’s head. Divide the resulting number in half. This will be the width of the product.
- We choose yarn and a knitting or crochet pattern.
- We knit a sample and do the calculation of the loops, as usual.
- We collect the required number of loops and knit a rectangle. Its height is equal to the distance from the dog’s eyebrows to the start of ear growth. We got the frontal part of the cap.
- Divide the number of loops by 3 and close 1/3 of the loops along the edge on both sides, thereby forming slots for the ears. We knit the middle third with a straight cloth until the ears grow. This will be the parietal part.
- For the occipital part, we evenly collect from both sides the number of loops slightly less than the original. We knit a straight cloth to the height of the frontal part. The back of the head will turn out a little narrower, but this is done specifically to better fit the dog's head.
- Now it remains to sew the sides of the wide parts.
- We make a fastener or make ties, sew a pompom, decorate with taste and imagination.
A hat for a four-legged friend will surely appeal to your pet. Because most of all dogs appreciate the care and attention of the owner. And for this we’re ready for anything.
