What are dog britches?

 

What are dog diapers, aka dog britches?

If you have a female dog that is intact or an incontinent dog, you know what dog diapers are. They are an article of clothing that your dog wears to keep the mess contained. There are several different ways to attempt to accomplish this, but they are not all equal in terms of comfort, cost and effectiveness.

Why would my dog need a diaper?

The main reasons for needing a diaper are 

1) If a female dog is intact, she's going to have heat cycles, which involves at least some blood and can get pretty smelly.

2) A dog is elderly, has been injured or for some other reason, can't control their bladder or bowel movements. Both males and females can be incontinent, although anatomy leads to some differences in how to contain it.

What are my choices?

You can buy disposable diapers for your dog at most pet stores.  This makes it easy to find but can get pricey and adds up to a lot of trash.

You can buy dog diapers that are made to be reused, out of cloth usually.  These are a little harder to find and a little more expensive at first, but they’re washable and can be reused.  The benefit is that your investment will pay for itself pretty quickly, and you won’t be adding to the trash heap. Plus, you can find people that make them specifically for your dog, so the fit is more correct.

You can rig something up with human baby diapers or men’s undershorts.  This can work in a pinch, but they aren’t designed for dogs, so they may not fit very well and may not contain the mess you’re hoping to contain.

What should I look for in a dog diaper?

1) A diaper needs to be easy to use. Whether it's for a coupe of weeks or ongoing you're going to have to deal with it several times a day, so you want a product that doesn't cause extra work  It needs to be easy to put on and take off as well.  And clean up should be simple.

2) You (and your dog) want a product that doesn't cause irritation or sore spots.  If it doesn't fit right, a diaper will rub at the groin, between the legs or otherwise cause discomfort.  If your dog isn't comfortable, they are likely to try to remove the diaper in any way they can. 

3) The diaper needs to stay in place in order to serve it's purpose.  If the fit isn't right, the chances of it coming off increase greatly, leading to a mess.

FYI, diapers or britches are NOT designed to prevent pregnancy.  

What’s the best choice?

The best choice is the one that works for you and your dog.  When you have a situation that calls for a diaper, it helps to know the options to make the best decision available.  Keeping a diaper on your dog when it’s needed will help your fur kid be more a part of the family instead of being banned to the crate, outside, etc. You’ll feel better, and so will they.

Made by De, my online business, makes custom dog diapers.  Take a look for more information.