DIY Pet Costumes for Halloween

With Halloween right around the corner, it’s time already to think about costumes for those spooky parties and Trick or Treat adventures. Whether you coordinate a perfectly orchestrated theme or everyone goes as their own best creation, be sure to include your pets in the planning. There’s nothing like a dressed-up dog or clever cat costume to elevate the cuteness quotient in your ensemble.

Plenty of ready-made pet costumes are available in stores and online, and shopping around is a great way to get ideas. But if you want to customize the fit while making some extra-special memories, consider a DIY project to showcase your creativity.

Before you start putting costumes together, ask yourself a few questions to help guide your decision-making. First of all, what type of costume will your dog or cat tolerate wearing? It won’t matter how clever your creation is if your pet won’t wear it for longer than five seconds. Safety comes first, and even the cutest pet costumes can slide around or come apart and become a choking hazard. To avoid any mishaps, always supervise the costume-wearing and never leave your dressed-up pet unattended. Be ready to snap some quick photos in case it doesn’t stay on for long.

Next, decide how crafty you really are. If you have multiple sewing machines and a spare room that resembles the sequin section at Hobby Lobby, you probably already have multiple pet costume ideas and few reservations about jumping into a new project. If you’re more of the I-don’t-sew-and-can’t-find-my-glue-gun type, you’ll be happier with a simple plan. The combinations are endless — a tiara and a tutu for a pretty princess, a lion’s mane for an instant king of the jungle, a colorful handkerchief worn around the neck, bunny ears, bat wings, or an oversized tag that simply attaches to your pet’s collar, like Ty Beanie Babies.

For a more elaborate look, here’s a roundup of ideas for book and movie characters, adorable desserts, rocket ships and more. Some of the funniest outfits can be put together with items from around the house. If you have an old e-collar lying around, add some colored balls or rings and a fake spoon and you have a giant bowl of cereal with a doggie face in the middle. Or if your pet already has short dark hair, you can use non-toxic glow-in-the-dark paint directly on the fur to resemble a spooky skeleton.

From queens and kings to witches and goblins, we hope you’ll share your photos so we can see them all. For the month of October we’re hosting a costume contest on our Facebook page . Send us your best shots and you could win! We can’t wait to see your precious pets all dressed up and ready for tricks and treats!