After major retailers added outfits for pets to their festive family PJ sets, animal welfare charities have urged people not buy matching pajamas for their animals this holiday season.
Celebrities including the Beckhams and Stacey Solomon posed in 2020 wearing Christmas matching pyjamas, and now British retailers, including Next, Primark and Pets at Home have taken the trend to another level, introducing sets that four-legged friends can wear too.
While some might swoon at the idea of their beloved Schnauzer trotting around the house in a tartan jersey that matches their own, animal welfare campaigners have warned that the trend is cruel.
RSPCA advises pet owners to avoid putting anything on their pet. This could lead to anxiety and hinder communication.
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The trend for whole family PJs has become hugely popular with celebrities including Mariah Carey, the Beckhams and Stacey Solomon and husband Joe Swash (pictured) dressing up in matching loungewear
British retailers now offer PJs for your pet in addition to the popular family pjs set. Pictured: Primark family sets that include Pup PJs for £7
The Beckhams were also seen in blue silk PJs last year while they celebrated at their Cotswold farmhouse.
Celebrities shared family photos of their families last year on social media, featuring them in matching pajamas.
Stacey Solomon proudly posed in front the tree last year with Joe Swash and her children. They were all dressed in the same black matching outfits. David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, and their brood were photographed in matching blue silky PPJs.
Mariah Carey from the United States was ahead when she dressed her children in loungewear and her pet dog in their Christmas sweater.
The retailers hope to take advantage of the trend for matching PJs by adding ranges to cater to pet-lovers this year.
Adverts for Primark’s line of ‘Fam Jams’ depict a happy family surrounded by presents, with the parents, teens, tweens and toddlers all wearing the same PJs, and the family dog posing in their own cosy onesie, costing £7.
Amazon has a number of sellers that sell family PJ sets with tartan clothing for dogs.
Mariah Carey dressed her dog last Christmas in their own Christmas jumper. The singer also wore matching PJs to her children Monroe and Moroccan.
Retailers like Gap, left, and Pets At Home, right, also got in on the trend with their dog PJs, which cost £15 and £20 a piece respectively
Amazon sellers also offer family sets including garments for dogs.
Elsewhere, Gap and Next sell £15 tartan PJs for dogs which can be bought separately, with Pets At Home offering similar outfits for £20.
Although the trend seems harmless, it is not a good idea for animal welfare advocates.
The RSPCA have issued a stern warning on its website listing all the ways in which clothes can harm pets, saying owners who wish to dress their pups up should keep a close eye on them for signs they are uncomfortable.
The animal charity’s website reads: ‘This may appear as difficulty moving normally (including ‘freezing’), struggling to remove the costume or signs of anxiety such as panting.
A bandana, or even a collar/harness are two alternatives to costume that may work for your dog.
Next sells pet pyjamas; this romper can be used for smaller dogs.
If your pet is in distress or becomes entangled, remove the costume.
According to the RSPCA, costumes may also affect how dogs regulate body temperature. Dogs might become too hot.
This article also states that dog anxiety can be caused by costumes restricting dogs’ movements and preventing them from communicating with their owners.
‘If you can’t read their behaviour due to a costume, this could make them feel anxious and cause you to miss important signals (such as their need to toilet) as well as potentially lead to aggression between dogs,’ it says.
RSPCA Animal Welfare charity has warned you that using pjs to pet your pets could cause them overheat
It was stated that pets should not be dressed up in costumes if they aren’t sure.
The Sunday Times has been told by eco activists that, in addition to animal welfare concerns, the practice of matching sets can also be detrimental for the environment.
Sarah Divall from charity Hubbub said that Christmas can be expensive for many families and the amount waste generated is increasing.
It’s possible to save money and stress by reducing the amount of festive rituals you enjoy.