Of course you’ll remember a Halloween costume for you and your kids, but what about the family dog? I know I bring my six-year-old pit mix to as many events as I can get away with. For Christmas, I like to slap an ugly sweater on him and parade him around. If you have a beloved family mutt, it only seems right to bring them along trick-or-treating, or at the very least dress them up for your party.
If you don’t see anything on the list you dig, you can always browse the small, medium, and large dog costume ideas for something that suits your pooch.
Here are ten of the best Halloween costumes for dogs to make sure the family pet gets in on the action:
1. Rubie’s Costume Company Dracula
(Rubie’s)
Let’s start with a classic movie monster theme: Doggie Dracula. This costume is perhaps a bit better for a stouter, shorter dog so the cape can cover most of the back. Or, as pictured, an adorable puppy. This set comes with a headpiece, attached medallion, and detachable cape. This tends to run small, so again, let’s call this one a good choice on the smaller breeds.
Price: $11.73 (35 percent off MSRP)
Buy the Rubie’s Dracula costume here.
2. Casual Canine Lobster Paws
(Causal Canine)
A costume after my own heart as a hearty New Englander, I highly recommend dressing your dog up as a lobster. It’s goofy, it’s hilarious, and as an added bonus, if you plan to bring your dog on your trick-or-treating adventure, this costume will provide added visibility. Available in four sizes, measured from the base of the neck to the base of the tail. If you have two dogs and want to go with a complete sea theme, there is also an octopus costume.
Price: $19.59 (2 percent off MSRP)
Buy the Casual Canine Lobster Paws costume here.
3. Rasta Imposta Crayola Crayon
(Rasta Imposta)
Dressing your dog up as a crayon is another hilarious idea. Available in Screamin’ Green, Tickle Me Pink, and Blue, the design of this costume should be a little more forgiving to accommodate a range of sizes. Even better, you can get a matching costume and take your dog to the Halloween party as a set.
Price: $9.99 – $22.55
Buy the Rasta Imposta Crayola Crayon costume here.
4. Rubie’s Costume Company Squirrel
(Rubie’s)
Admittedly, putting your dog in a costume of a critter it is likely to chase might be a touch ironic, but that’s the beauty of this one. Complete with a stuffed tail and acorn, this adorable costume will charm everyone. A reviewer notes that the XL option fit a 90-pound American Bulldog, so judge the sizing accordingly.
Price: $18.49
Buy the Rubie’s Costume Company Squirrel costume here.
5. Animal Planet Peacock
(Animal Planet)
Number two on our suite of critter-based dog costumes, this peacock costume is fairly incredible. Especially on tiny dogs, there’s something perfect about sticking an enormous tail on an animal and sending it through the crowd at a party. This costume runs a bit big, but works best when it fits tightly, so consider this for dogs a bit bigger for their respective size.
Price: $20.58 (41 percent off MSRP)
Buy the Animal Planet Peacock costume here.
6. Animal Planet Butterfly
(Animal Planet)
This butterfly costume is simple and straight-forward. It comes with a headpiece with antennae and foam wings that fasten under the legs. Reviewers comment on the high quality of the pieces, so this is certainly worth the bargain price. Besides, how could you not want to see a pudgy pup waddling around with wings swinging?
Price: $3.85 – $10.86 (up to 80 percent off MSRP)
Buy the Animal Planet Butterfly costume here.
7. Rubie’s Costume Company Ghostbusters
(Rubie’s)
With not one, but two Ghostbusters remakes shooting, you’ll want to celebrate the forthcoming movies as much as you’ll want to have this on hand when the movies come out. The Proton Pack is a light inflatable to complement the shirt. Some reviewers complained about the fit, so take a close look at the fitting chart and measure your dog before you buy.
Price: $15.99
Buy the Rubie’s Costume Ghostbusters costume here.
8. Animal Planet Stegosaurus
(Animal Planet)
Especially good for short-legged dogs, this stegosaurus costume is perfect for households with dinosaur-loving children. The printed headpiece is separate from the rest of the padded costume. Comes in four sizes. If the stegosaurus isn’t your speed, there is also a raptor and somewhat less involved triceratops.
Price: $22.92 (54 percent off MSRP)
Buy the Animal Planet Stegosaurus costume here.
9. Rubie’s Costume Company Batman
(Rubie’s)
If you plan to bring your dog trick-or-treating in the dark shadows of your neighborhood, you’ll want a costume suitable for the night. What better than Batdog? This is the classic DC Comics design, but Rubie’s also has the cartoon and Dark Knight versions. I recommend buying either an adult or children’s Robin costume so someone can go as the dog’s sidekick.
Price: $10.54 (19 percent off MSRP)
Buy the Rubie’s Costume Company Batman costume here.
10. Rubie’s Costume Company R2-D2
(Rubie’s)
Does your dog like to make odd beeping noises? Is he or she an eminently capable co-pilot? Even if neither of these are true, it’s hard to resist dressing your pup up as everyone’s favorite droid. As with the Batman costume, you’ll of course want the C-3PO costume to match. Has your dog gone over to the dark side? Don’t worry, there is, of course, a Darth Vader one, as well.
Price: $17.98
Buy the Rubie’s Costume Company R2-D2 costume here.