Sunglasses Provide Dogs Eye Protection

Today is National Sunglasses Day, a day dedicated to honoring the stylish shades we use to protect our eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays. Sunglases, though, aren't just for humans; they are useful for dogs as well!

Dogs in sunglasses are guaranteed to get laughs, but glasses aren’t just for comedic effect. Every time a customer rolls their eyes about the glasses we stock thinking that they’re another weird way to pamper Fido, I want to run over and give them the facts.

Glasses made for dogs protect the eyes from harmful UV rays (some breeds are especially sensitive to sunlight). More importantly, they keep debris and water out of the eyes.

Dogs that ride in cars with their head out or near the window are particularly susceptible to eye injuries. I can vouch for the importance of eye care after Sumner’s two bouts with cornea issues, which resulted in him needing temporary protective contact lenses. Not cheap, my friends.

Dog glasses are contoured to fit comfortably and not fall off, but that doesn’t mean that every dog will take to them. Magic, pictured above, wasn’t keen on them at first.

The secret to fuss-free goggle wearing is allowing your dog ample time to acclimate to them before actually using them in a real life scenario. Allow your dog to sniff and investigate the goggles before you even try them on. Then put them on briefly, feed your dog some savory treats so that he associates wearing the glasses with good things, then take them off after a few seconds. Repeat the process, increasing the length of time your dog keeps the glasses on. Don’t overdo it or leave them on long enough so that your dog struggles to get them off. As with most dog training, less is more.

Sure, dog glasses might look funny, but don’t say that to the many Search and Rescue dogs that wear them while they perform their miracles!