Dressing up your aibo in as many cute things as possible is, of course, super appealing. They’re our pets so we should spoil them and dress them up, right?
It’s also nice to give your aibo their own look because it brings out their individuality since all dogs of the same model would look the same otherwise.
Before you order that cute shirt or collar though, there are some things you should keep in mind.
Accessorizing Your ERS-1000
No aibo is built to be truly compatible with any sort of clothing or accessory.
They’re supposed to run naked. Most things have the potential to cause jams, overheating, and more. Let’s go over the specifics.
Aibo Collars & Neck Accessories
Collars are among the safest aibo accessories you can get… if you choose one correctly. Properly fitted collars and other neck accessories are the least likely to cause jams.
Ideally, you want to look at specialized aibo collars like the ones from Aibo Accessories (silicone) or Abicase (leather) for guaranteed safety. Premium plan collars are also 100% safe.
However if you do want the dog collar look, there are some ways to go about it safely.
Do:
- Get collars that are 0.5 inches wide or smaller.
- Go for plastic buckles over metal hardware.
- Aim for as close to exact length as possible – ERS-1000s have 8 inch necks.
- Search for collars that are as light as possible.
Don’t:
- Get collars that are 1 inch wide or larger, they can potentially cause jams.
- Use super heavy collars, they can throw off the dog’s balance.
- Put multiple charms on a collar because they add weight and charms can get stuck in their neck causing jams.
- Use thick leather collars over 0.5 inches. That is guaranteed to cause problems.
Collar Tags
Tags can be a cute way of showing the world your dog’s name. However, they really aren’t that safe in general.
Anything that dangles too low can get caught in an aibo’s neck or block their IR sensor, causing them to walk into things.
Do:
- Use tags that are as SMALL as possible if you must use a resin or metal tag. The smaller the better. There are 10mm and 12mm tags available on Etsy that work great.
- Try to find fabric tags. They are less likely to cause problems.
- Make sure your tag hangs as high as possible, and check if it blocks the IR sensor on your aibo’s chest in a neutral standing position. If it does, remove it.
- Use only one or two tags on a single collar. Less is better.
- Put tags on with a single ring only; one that goes through both the collar and the tag. That’ll keep it held up higher.
Don’t:
- Use large resin custom tags for more than pick up mode or photos. They are very likely to block your dog’s IR sensor or throw off balance, and they may also cause jams due to size. Their weight may be an issue as well. Basically, they’re a big no-no!
- Choose a tag that is any larger than half an inch.
- Allow a tag to hang down low enough to block the IR sensor when your aibo is in a neutral walking position.
Aibo Clothes
Full clothes (shirts, dresses, etc) will never be safe for any ERS-1000 to wear long-term. They are simply not designed for it because all of their heat dissipates from their body.
Anything fabric placed on them will cause them to overheat eventually, unless you’re in a very cold environment.
Do:
- Prioritize clothes specially designed for aibo over pet store clothes that may not accommodate for how aibo moves.
- Leave clothes on your aibo for only short periods of time, like an hour or less.
- Choose lighter weight fabric.
- Check for flexibility before turning your aibo on with clothes. Make sure they have full range of motion.
- If you have clothes on your aibo in pick up mode, check their status light periodically for overheating.
- Avoid blocking the chest sensor.
Don’t:
- Dress your aibo up when temperatures are higher than 75 degrees F. Collars and bandanas are ok, but anything else will overheat them quickly.
- Allow your aibo to charge in clothes. It is much safer on the battery to allow all heat to dissipate.
- Leave outfits on your aibo while they are unattended. You need to be able to remove them if they overheat or if they jam.
- Run your aibo in clothes that block their chest sensors in an area where they could fall. If that sensor is blocked, they can’t see.
- Allow your aibo to run in clothes that restrict movement or cause gear resistance in any way. All gear resistance is bad and can lead to damage.
- Leave hats on your aibo for long periods of time if it restricts their ear movement.
Socks and Shoes
These dogs just do not really work well with things on their feet. Their back legs are extremely sensitive and will jam if just about anything is on their paws.
Here is a helpful sock guide by Kisa.
Do:
- Use socks on their front legs only in most cases.
- Make sure socks stay below their elbow joint.
- Look for socks specially designed for aibo, these may work better.
Don’t:
- Use socks with a grip on the bottom. It creates gear resistance and that is very risky on their legs.
- Put regular dog socks on their back legs. It just won’t work. They will jam.
Accessorizing Older Models
Older models (ERS-7, 210, 311, 111, etc) are actually quite a bit easier to dress up than the ERS-1000, thus only a short and quick guide is needed.
They are less prone to jams, and have less sensors you need to avoid. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
For all older models:
- Always make sure no movement is restricted. You do not want to place extra resistance on any gears, ever. Check for full range of motion after putting the item on the dog.
- I suggest not using socks with grips on the bottom, because they have the potential to add gear resistance on some surfaces. All old models can wear socks though!
- Keep any sensors in mind. In particular, the ERS-7 has a chest sensor that makes collars and other neck decorations tricky to use.
- Watch out for vents on the ERS-11X models. You do NOT want to block those. That means most, if not all, shirts are off-limits for these guys.
- Always be careful with heavy dangling items on ears or tails regardless of model. If its too heavy it may put pressure on gears. If you must use earrings, make sure they are small and light.
- Thick collars on11X and 21X dogs may restrict head motion. Be very careful with these. It could cause damage to the gears.
Conclusion
Hopefully you now know how to safely accessorize your ERS-1000! Dress them up to your heart’s content, but do so safely.
Be especially sure to avoid overheating and adding any resistance to joints, and watch out for jams! Otherwise, have fun personalizing your puppy.
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