Dog Clothes for the Stylish Pooch

Halloween shouldn't be the only time to dress up your dog. Dog clothes can be worn year-round for fun, and especially in the winter to keep your pet warm and dry.

Not just for little girls who dress their dogs up for tea parties, these dog clothes are meant more for wearing outside of the house or at parties -- think of these dog clothes as your pooch's "going out clothing."

For example, the Zack & Zoey Camo Companion Jacket probably won't comoflage your dog, but for dog clothes it's handy to keep your pet dry with a water-resistant camo shell that has double Velcro fasteners to keep the jacket in place. It also has reflective safety strips to make these dog clothes, and your dog, more visible at night.

If your dog is a sports fan, or you are, then something like a St. Louis Cardinals jersey or a New York Yankees jersey might be the type of dog clothes you want. The logos are on the back and sleeve, so your dog's team allegiance will be visible to all. There are also dog clothes for many other teams and for other sports, such as hockey and the San Jose Sharks, so you've got dog clothes for all sports seasons.

Some baseball parks allow dogs in certain areas of the park once a year, and a baseball jersey would be the perfect type of dog clothes to bring to a game.

If your dog is small, then chances are it probably gets cold in the winter. Dog clothes can help keep it warm, since you can only cuddle up to your best friend so many hours of the day. Pajamas are good dog clothes to have for nighttime wear, especially for smaller dogs. These camo "fatigued" pajamas make good dog clothes for a military family dog, or anyone who wants that look. This one is a pullover that looks cozy enough for any small dog to wear. It also comes with a polybag and hanger to store it.

There are also dog clothes that lie somewhere between practical, such as raincoats, and the outrageous dog clothes that Paris Hilton and others subject their poor dogs to. This plaid pajama Christmas costume looks a little wacky, but has just enough practicality to keep it in your dog clothes collection, at least for December. The pajama cap is a little too much, and good luck getting your dog to keep this on its head. The overall look is just a bit over the top, but the best part are the four booties to keep the dog's paws dry and warm while walking in the snow.

For some dogs, dog clothes may be a little embarrassing to them and their owner, but a Christmas outfit gets the holiday message out while keeping your pet warm.

When shopping for dog clothes, keep in mind that sometimes less is best. I go with the minimalist approach at holiday parties for my dog -- he looks sharp in a bow tie from a tuxedo rental store.