Product Review: Petego Hot Pants

PetEgo's Hot Pants are a super fancy way to deal with a dog in heat. These are step-in style bitch pants that velcro over the tail. Petego sells their own Hot Pads to go in them, but regular pantyliners work just fine. These are by Italian designed Emanuele Bianchi, the guy behind PetEgo. They were originally available in at least six sizes but may currently be out of production.

Photo by Erin Koski

Ok, first can we talk about the rhinestone bling heart on these panties? Sisci was not the most cooperative model, so I just have to tell you that there is a heart on these pants right under her tail. It's so cute I can't even stand it. There's also a hot pink bow on top of her tail, and lace around the leg holes. It's like frilly little girl panties, or possibly lingerie for dogs, I can't decide which and I'm ok with that.

Functionally, these were not Sisci's favorite pants. The step-in style is difficult to get on without a lot of cooperation on the part of the dog. Also, it means the leg openings are not adjustable and that doesn't make for a great fit. Based on the various dog pants we've tried, I'm forced to conclude that Sisci has enormously beefy thighs for her size.

The fit on these isn't great, Sisci's pre-spay waist was 14" around (she may have filled out a tiny bit since then, I haven't come at her with a tape measure recently) These are a size XL for 16-inch waists, and they were a bit tight all around. The largest size, XXL for 18" waists, may have fit a little better but may also have been huge in the waist.

Pros: Easily the cutest dog panties ever. There's a sparkly heart. On the butt. Very light, flexible, and washable.

Cons: For small dogs only, will fit a very limited range of body types. Not for super-athletic meaty thighs. Step-in design can be difficult to get on.

Bottom Line: We liked the Thongs for Dogs a lot better, but these are definitely the cutest. Hearts! Bows! Rhinestones! Lace!

Product Review: Thongs for Dogs

Pants for Dogs makes dog thongs, and they are amazing. I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous. It looks pretty ridiculous too, but these are easily the best dog pants on the market. They're Just. So. Awesome. They come in two styles, thong for most dogs and bikini for those with shorter croups (the bit of rump between tail and waist). Thongs for Dogs are available in seven sparkly spandex colors, and six sizes for dogs with waists 12.5-25+" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

So what's so spectacular about thongs for dogs? It's all about the cut. As I've mentioned previously, Sisci Godzilla has the beefiest thighs. This went entirely unnoticed until she went into heat and I bought her a couple of sets of hotpants. Without fail, the ones we've tried have been tight around her thighs while just barely fitting small enough around her waist.

Pants for Dogs specifically mentions wide-thighed athletic dogs in the product description for their thongs. Clearly, they were made just for Sisci. The leg holes are enormous, and the cut is nice and high to give her total freedom of motion.

Actually though, my favorite thing about these bitch pants is the fact that they velcro on without her having to step through the leg holes. There's a velcro closure on either side and they go on just like a diaper. I'm sure there's other dog pants with closures like this, but these also have those fabulous high-cut thighs. It's like wearing nothing at all.

Pros: Works as intended, keeps my sofa and rugs clean and stays on and in place extremely well. Very easy to put on. Thong style allows for full range of motion and accommodates super chunky thighs with minimal material. Sparkly spandex is just awesome.

Cons: Natural bobtails aren't very good at staying in tail holes. Pants for Dogs also offers a specific style for dogs with no tail at all, but alas Sis is in that twilight area between tailed and tail-less.

Bottom Line: I feel like putting these on Sisci even when she's not in heat so that when we go out and people ask about them, I can proselytize about thongs for dogs.

Product Review: Hurtta Breezy Pants

Hurtta's Breezy Pants are basically hotpants for dogs. They're specifically intended for females in season, but can also be used for incontinence. They are made from stretchy synthetic material designed to move with the dog. The pants feature a waistband that adjusts with a plastic clip, and a generous gap for the tail. They are intended to be used with a disposable panty liner. They come in seven sizes to fit dogs with waists 11-32" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

Sisci Godzilla is in heat again, and it's about as awesome as living in a mental ward. Ru is absolutely beside himself with desire to make cattlehuahuas, despite being neutered at six months of age and also being about a foot too short to actually accomplish anything. She's currently in the "standing heat" phase where she's happily propositioning anything that moves. Ranger and Annie were here for the weekend, and Sisci spent the entire time mooning over poor uninterested Ranger while he tried unsuccessfully to nap.

In addition to being super-flirty, Sisci was also super drippy. We got away with no pants for her first heat, but this time around we definitely needed something to protect the couch, dog beds, people bed, and other upholstered surfaces. I was prepared though, I ordered her a set of Hurtta Breezy Pants during her last heat.

These seemed like a good idea at the time. They are sized by waist and Sisci's measurements fell into the overlap between the small and medium sizes. She seems really petite to me, so I ordered a small. I know that Brisbane and Ru have very long backs relative to their chest measurements, but I don't normally go around putting pants on dogs so I didn't realize that Sisci has enormous, beefy thighs. The small Breezy pants wouldn't even fit all the way up her legs. Meanwhile, the medium just barely gets small enough for her waist but is still tight around her thighs.

This brings me to another issue: these are step-in pants. I firmly believe that whoever invented step-in products never tried to get a dog or a toddler to step into something on purpose. Between Sisci's beefy thighs and tendency to splay out flat on her back whenever she saw them, the Breezy pants were pretty difficult to get on and off.

Pros: Machine washable. Come in lots of sizes. Form-fitting and comfortable. Unobtrusive, doesn't scream "DIAPER!!!" Black doesn't show...anything.

Cons: Leg openings are not adjustable. Step-in design is difficult to put on a dog that does anything but stand placidly, dogs don't understand the concept of pants.

Bottom Line: I was going to complain about the fitting issue, but after trying a couple more pairs of hotpants I'm pretty sure Sisci just has a super tiny waist and massive dog thighs. Seriously, they are So Big.