How is everyone doing today?

I've seen all sorts of adorable dogs here in San Diego!

At the beach, there are even dogs surfing on boards like people, and at local cafes, you can find dogs sitting next to their owners like little royalty, enjoying the weekend.

But a few days ago, while scrolling through Instagram, I came across something that made me laugh so hard!

A golden retriever was wearing tight-fitting Alo leggings, can you believe it?

At first, I thought it might be a clever edit with today's technology!

I was laughing to myself in the living room when I suddenly had this thought.

Whether it's from Korea or Indonesia, opinions on Instagram vary widely, so I can't pinpoint the source, but in Korea, it's common to dress dogs in clothes.

In both Korea and here in the U.S., we think of our dogs as family, treating them like our own children, right?

But if you look closely, the ways we express that love are quite different.

Just in San Diego, it's really rare to see dogs dressed up for walks.

Unless you're in a place like New York or Chicago where the winter winds are biting, here everyone just takes their dogs out with a leash and keeps it cool.

People in this area generally prioritize practicality.

If a dog is cold, they might put on a coat, and if it rains, they'll wear boots and a raincoat, but there's no culture of changing outfits every day!

Especially for large breeds like retrievers or shepherds, their fur is like a mink coat, so why would they need clothes?

Moreover, Americans have a deep respect for animals' 'natural state.'

A dog should roll in the grass and splash in muddy water, but if you put clothes on them, it makes it uncomfortable for them to play.

So if a retriever wearing those leggings showed up in an American park, I think everyone would be rolling on the ground laughing.

On the other hand, what about Korea?

We have a very cute and sophisticated urban culture~

Many people raise dogs in apartments, and with so many small and precious toy breeds, they really feel like the youngest children in the family.

If you visit trendy cafe alleys in places like Gangnam, Seongsu-dong, or Pangyo in Seoul, you'll find that dog clothing stores are as luxurious as human clothing stores!

They have seasonal new arrivals, traditional hanbok for holidays, school uniforms, trendy hoodies, long padded coats, and even clothes with luxury logos... it's quite a sight!

Plus, our Korean sense of social media plays a big role.

Our Korean moms are the best at taking beautiful photos and videos.

Just like people want to capture their best moments in pretty cafes, we also want to dress up our adorable pups and show them off on Instagram, which is a natural mom's desire.

So if that leggings photo were posted on Korean Instagram, it would be flooded with comments like "Oh my gosh, I'm dying! It's so cute!"

Still, these days, with TikTok and other platforms, the pet fashion market is growing rapidly in the U.S., especially among younger people.

During Halloween, you see all sorts of outrageous costumes, and influencer dogs often have wardrobes more extravagant than people!

However, in general households, the trend remains "only dress them when necessary," while in Korea, it seems to be more about "if possible, make it pretty and cute!"

The conclusion is that in the U.S., 'comfort and practicality' come first, while in Korea, 'individuality and expressions of love as family' take precedence!

Even if the expressions differ, the love for our pets is the same, right?

By the way, if that pup showed up in a San Diego park today? I bet it would easily rack up thousands of hearts on Instagram! Haha!