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15 dog Halloween costume ideas (and how to try them without the costume)

The most popular dog Halloween costumes are simple and easy to recognize: a pumpkin, a hot dog, a bumblebee, a lion's mane, a ghost and a skeleton suit. Pick a costume that fits your dog's size and temperament, keep anything near the face light, and if your dog hates dressing up, make a dancing costume video from one photo on Pet Dance Video instead.

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  1. 1

    Shortlist two or three ideas

    Choose from the list below based on your dog's size and how well it tolerates clothes. Body suits and capes are easier than hats and masks.

  2. 2

    Try the look as a video first

    Upload a full-body photo of your dog on Pet Dance Video and pick a costume template such as Pumpkin Party or Little Witch to see your dog dancing in it.

  3. 3

    Post it, or buy the real thing

    Share the video as your Halloween post, or use it to decide which real costume is worth buying.

Classic Halloween costumes

  1. Pumpkin. The most recognizable pet costume. A round orange suit with a jack-o’-lantern face and a stem hat suits every size, from chihuahuas to labs.
  2. Skeleton. A black suit with a white bone print. It looks great on dark-coated dogs and is funny on short legs.
  3. Ghost. A white sheet with two eye holes, or a lightweight ghost cape. Keep the fabric well away from the eyes and paws.
  4. Witch or wizard. A pointed hat and a cape. If your dog will not keep a hat on, the cape alone still reads as a witch.
  5. Vampire. A black cape with a red lining and a bow tie, with no plastic fangs needed.

Food costumes

  1. Hot dog. The internet’s favorite costume for dachshunds, but it works on any long dog.
  2. Taco. A soft shell with felt lettuce and tomato around the middle.
  3. Sushi roll. A white and black wrap with a piece of felt salmon on the back.
  4. Banana. A bright yellow body suit, easy to spot in photos.

Animal and bug costumes

  1. Lion. A fluffy mane around the head. Golden retrievers and fluffy breeds look especially convincing.
  2. Bumblebee. Yellow and black stripes with small wings.
  3. Shark. A fin on the back or a shark hood. Big dogs make the most dramatic sharks.
  4. Dinosaur. A row of soft spikes down the back and tail.

Funny and clever ideas

  1. Superhero. A generic cape with your dog’s initial on it. No licensed costume needed.
  2. Spider. Four extra soft legs on each side. Black dogs make the spookiest spiders.

Size and comfort tips

Small dogs do best with capes and light hoods; heavy suits tire them quickly. Big dogs suit body costumes like sharks, lions and dinosaurs. Whatever you choose, let your dog sniff the costume first, keep the face, eyes and ears free, and never leave a dog alone in a costume.

See the costume before you buy it

If your dog will not tolerate clothes, or you want to compare a few ideas first, upload one full-body photo on Pet Dance Video. Choose Pumpkin Party, Little Witch, Bone Boogie, Count Pawcula, Little Boo or Candy Strut and you get a short vertical video of your dog dancing in that costume, ready to post. The costume photo is free; the video costs one credit per second.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest dog costume?

A cape or a bandana. Both go on in seconds, do not cover the face and work for any size of dog.

Are costumes safe for dogs?

Most are fine for short periods. Avoid anything tight around the neck, chewable small parts and masks that cover the eyes, nose or ears, and take the costume off if your dog seems stressed.

My dog hates costumes. What can I do?

Make a costume video instead. Upload an ordinary photo on Pet Dance Video and the costume and the dance are added in the video, so your dog never has to wear anything.

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