Caitlyn Mellor
Spooky season is here! Oh, how much fun it can be to include your pets in the festivities with a costume to boot. And fang-tastic Halloween costumes for dogs don’t have to be elaborate. They can be simple, easy, and affordable.
Whether you’re going trick or treating, partying, or dressing up for kicks at home and snapping photos, make sure to always supervise your dogs and observe Halloween safety tips.
- Avoid dog costumes that are too restrictive.
- Use materials that are not toxic to pets.
- Be mindful of choking hazards.
Now, let’s get this Halloween pawty started! Here are 10 ideas for DIY costumes for your dog.
Easy DIY Pet Costumes
You’ll only need at least one costume accessory to turn your dog into an extra scary (or extra cute) canine for Halloween.
“Yo Quiero Sangre” by fiat luxe is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.
Batdog
Give your pets some bat wings, and they’ll look "bat" to the bone. Get out your scissors, start cutting out bat wing shapes, and then strap them onto your pet’s harness. You can use various materials for your dog’s temporary appendages: cardboard, felt paper, or craft foam, to name a few.
“French Bulldog Ballerina” by Barbara L. Hanson is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Barking Ballerina
This Halloween, a pet tutu is all it takes for your dog to earn a round of appawse. Just attach an elastic to a net-like fabric, and your pet can start strutting its stuff in a skirt in no time. Throw in glitter or appliques for a fancier version of the dog tulle costume.
Supervillain or Superhero DIY Costumes
Choose your own pet’s caped persona for Halloween. Is he a good dog or a bad dog? You decide.
Superdog
You know your dog has superpowers, but now you need to convince everyone else. A cape should do the trick! Hot glue their superhero letter made from scraps of felt to the back of a piece of fabric. Then tie it comfortably and loosely around the neck.
Adorable Devil
You can also turn your dog into a thieving supervillain who steals food when you’re not looking (instead of a dependable superhero who protects you from monster mail carriers). To complete the naughty look, create two cone-shaped horns and glue them to an old headband.
DIY Culinary Costumes For Pets
Eat, drink, and be scary creative. Bust out your dog’s old cone of shame and transform it into a cone of gustatory delights.
“Dog martini costume for Halloween” by Petful.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Martini Dog
This is a charming DIY pet costume that’s super easy to make. Simply use the cone as the top of the martini glass and create some olives on a toothpick using foam balls and a craft dowel. In this Halloween costume, your dog is frightning for the right to paaarty.
Fluffy Fruit Loops
Carve out some time for Halloween fun with this DIY dog costume. Got some extra pool noodles lying around? Grab multicolored ones and slice them into small rings. And shape aluminum foil into a spoon. Finally, ensure your pet doesn’t go goblin up this bowl of cereal.
DIY Halloween Costumes For Busy Buddies
This one’s for the hard-barking dogs. Let your pet work hard, play hard with these costumes that show who’s the boss.
Chef de Canine
Maybe he ate all the treats. Maybe he didn’t. One thing’s for sure, the dog in this DIY Halloween costume has an impeccable palate. Recreate this chef’s hat using crepe paper. Give your pet a spatula for good measure. And say bone appétit as you take a picture.
Chief Barketing Officer
Some pet costumes can be stressful for dogs. Fright not! Your dog can still have a howling good time during the Halloween season with just a comfy tie around his neck. When it comes to business-themed pet costumes, it’s all about the big dog attitude.
Too Cute To Spook DIY Costumes
With the following dog costumes that can be whipped up in under a minute or two, even the lazybones can get into the Halloween spirit with their pets.
Ghost-ess With the Mostest
Replace barks with boos with this simple DIY dog costume for your best ghoul-friend. Drape your pets with a white cloth and get them their own Halloween buckets. Don’t forget to cut out eye and snout holes for a more comfortable time trick-or-treating for kibbles.
Mummy of the Year
Create an eerie-sistable dog costume by wrapping your pet in toilet paper. To up the fear factor, mimic the look of blood stains using a non-toxic red watercolor and add a creepy eye, so long as it doesn’t impede your dog’s vision when walking.
Orange you excited for Halloween? Treat yourself to our top 10 favorite DIY Halloween costumes that are safe for pets. With these dog-friendly do-it-yourself tricks, we’re pawsitive you’ll have a spook-tacular holiday with your dogs.