As the festive season approaches, a debate is ruffling feathers among Britain's dog owners: is it ethical to dress your canine companion in a Christmas jumper? The animal rights charity Peta has issued a stark warning, stating that the only animals that should wear wool are sheep. This stance has put them at odds with pet parents like Charlotte Cripps, who believes that as long as the dog doesn't mind, it's all part of the festive spirit.
The Festive Transformation of Muggles
Charlotte Cripps, owner of an 11-year-old golden retriever named Muggles, recently experienced a change of heart. For years, she resisted dressing Muggles in silly outfits. However, a visit to the luxury London pet store Love My Human on King's Road – a regular haunt for James Middleton – changed her mind. Surrounded by soft alpaca knits and Santa bandanas, she decided to indulge.
While waiting in the store's dog café, Cripps purchased a snowman-design alpaca knit jumper for £52.50, a crocheted Christmas tree hat from £35, and a traditional large red velvet bow for £18.50. Her goal was a tasteful, refined look, not a gimmick. The reaction was immediate. Once dressed, Muggles drew admiring comments and attention everywhere they went, from strangers in the street to the pupils at her children's school. Cripps ensured his comfort by removing the jumper at home and loosening the neck.
Peta's Firm Stance Against Canine Fashion
This festive frivolity, however, is precisely what Peta condemns. The charity recently criticised Channel 4's Game Of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter, presented by Tom Daley, for a 'Dog Apparel Challenge' where contestants created outfits for Italian greyhounds. Peta's vice president, Elisa Allen, told The Mail on Sunday: "Dogs aren't dolls... Putting clothes on them for our entertainment reduces them to laughable, lesser humans."
Allen clarified that garments are only acceptable to keep a dog warm or dry, warning that otherwise they can cause "discomfort, stress and confusion". The charity also advocates a switch from real wool to plant-based alternatives, citing animal suffering in the production of animal-derived materials.
A Booming Industry Driven by 'Fur-Baby' Culture
Despite this criticism, the pet fashion industry shows no signs of slowing. Driven by owners who increasingly view pets as family members, the global pet clothing market was valued at around £4.12 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed £5.52 billion by 2030. This trend is evident in the UK, with high-profile examples including a King Charles-endorsed range of tweed dog jackets crafted at Sandringham.
High-street retailers are capitalising on the demand. Marks & Spencer's collaboration with Bella Freud features a 'Best Friend' lambswool blend jumper, while Next sells matching Fair Isle knitted Christmas jumpers for owners and dogs. For Cripps, the impulse is personal. She describes Muggles as a surrogate child during her IVF journey and acknowledges the common 'dog guilt' many owners feel. She concludes that while Muggles enjoys the attention, he has no idea why he's wearing a reindeer hoodie bought on Amazon for £13. Once Christmas is over, he'll return to being plain old Muggles – loved just the same.
