She’s headstrong, independent, with remarkably little patience. and a short fuse. 

But Tavi also lives for attention, and gets cold easily. So I was shocked when she not only let me put a costume on her, but actually started bringing me costumes when she’s chilly (or just wants to feel a little extra fancy). She always commands a crowd, but add on a pink bunny or dinosaur outfit and she’s irresistible. 

My city goes big for Halloween. As in, it shuts down major streets and an estimated 200,000 people turn out for it. 

While that’s a little too much commotion for us, we do always make appearances at the smaller, less crowded events at Tavi’s favorite local haunts. She gets her adoring fans and I get to bond with other dog owners and enjoy their costumes. 

From my years of dog Halloween, I’ve figured out a basic field guide. There are basically six different types of dog parents in the art of the dog costume.

For budget-friendly Halloween costume ideas, check out our guide here.

1. The Go All Out Dog Costume

You go all the way, baby! You’ve got a sewing machine, a Bedazzler and a dream. You and your dog thrive off attention and you’ve never met a crowd you couldn’t handle with the grace of an A-lister.

Take inspiration from Liberace, Dolly Parton, Bob Mackie, Paris Hilton, the possibilities are shining bright like a faux diamond. Plain dog jackets, collars, leashes, dog strollers, are all ready for a glow-up.

2. The Groomer-On-Speed-Dial Costume

You and your little diva have never missed a spa day. Saying you have a trusted groomer doesn’t even cut it, your groomer is practically part of the family!

Your little one loves being fussed and fawned over, eating up the attention by the end of it. Joining forces, you and your grooming pro are poised to make everyday Halloween.

There are some groomers that specialize in dog-safe hair dye for truly wild results. If that’s not your particular groomer, don’t sweat it— they can still help you safely apply dog-safe hair chalk like perennial favorite, OPawz.

3. The Just For Photos Costume

You’ve got just the right balance of whimsy and practicality. You want some evidence of your creativity and a great photographic eye. Your loving dog is willing to humor you for about ten minutes max. Of course, a handful of treats really sweetens the deal. 

This one’s great for the whole range of costumes you can do. Wigs, hats, sunglasses are all fair game if your pup will tolerate it in exchange for a high value treat for at least 30 seconds. 

Sneakers, stethoscopes, feather boas, jewelry, they’re all perfect for the photo costume. Since they’ll be posing with a prop, simple costumes work even better. Black turtleneck next to an ancient iPod or Mac computer? Hello, Steve Jobs. Your dog inside a homemade Kissing Booth? A classic!

4. The Mommy & Me Costume 

You and your dog are a package deal. What’s even the point of a party if your dog’s not there? You might be going with vibes alone (spooky, retro, princess, whatever you’re feeling) or be something more specific.

And since your costume’s going to be going a lot of heavy lifting here, you can optimize your pup’s comfort while she’s still in on the fun. 

No offense to the human couples’ costumes out there, but the human-dog costumes are hands-down winners in my book. I’m sure we’ll see plenty of Rocky Horror Picture Show costumes this year. Disney characters are always adorable, and I’ve never seen a Dorothy and Toto (or Wicked Witch and her Flying Monkey) that didn’t absolutely crush it.

5. The October 29th Costume

Hey, it’s been a busy year. Sometimes you have the best plans in the world to put something amazing together in time for Halloween. But then there’s work and social obligations and hobbies and before you know it, Halloween is in just a few days.

There’s no shame in the pre-made costume! Everyone will be too distracted by the cuteness of her Halloween look to even judge. And maybe this is just me, but they’re somehow way higher quality than the off-the-rack human costumes?

Look, Spain has its Running Of The Bulls festival and I’m sure it’s quite the event, but every October, Cincinnati holds a Running Of The Weiners festival of dachshunds in hot dog costumes. I think we know who the winner is here. Wear that hot dog costume with pride! It’s cultured.

6. The No Costume, No Way, No How

Remember those people who came to Halloween house parties in their regular clothes with the excuse, “I came as myself?” If it worked for them, you’re gonna make it work for your dog. 

You’re embracing your dog’s slacker chic with a barely-a-costume costume. As a bonus, these are perfect for plans that involve a lot of walking or those freakish years where we get that last burst of summer heatwave that makes a full coverage costume way too hot for your pup. Because you’re a great listener and you want your dog to have fun on her own terms.

Tuxedo bandanas, Scout bandanas, or the classic Halloween spooky-cute bandanas, you can have it all: easy, affordable, and wonderfully simple. 

And here’s a little secret life hack: if your dog really, really hates any kind of dress-up or extra attention, you can open up Photoshop (or grab a designer friend) and just go to town digitally. These are always hilariously funny and make amazing cards. 

What are your Halloween plans this year? Are you dressing your canine to the nines? Or is staying at home with snacks and a scary movie more your speed?

Meet the Author

Hey! My name is Garrett, I’m 22-years-old from Dallas Texas, though I currently reside in Brooklyn. New York has been quite the shift from what I’m used to in the suburbs, but I am enjoying the city life thus far! In my day-to-day routine I am constantly thinking about dogs, mostly because of my work at a local doggy daycare, but also because of my general love for animals!