We all know exactly how special and unique our four-legged friends are. But there’s one day of the year when we really get to show off their personalities to the world: Halloween! Not only do you get to dress up–your pet can play along.
While there are off-the-shelf costume options for pets, they tend to be expensive in monetary terms and cheap when it comes to quality. Plus, there’s no better time than Halloween to get creative and customize the perfect get-up for your pup. Check out these ideas from Rover.com!
Impersonation
Best for: Pets who get antsy in a full-body costume
You’ll Need: Headband, felt, needle + thread
Ideas: Panda, Giraffe, Elephant, Koala, Pig
The simplest costume can also be incredibly fun! If you can’t imagine your dog allowing you to put a t-shirt on her, or you know your cat dislikes anything on her back, you can opt to make an animal-ear headband instead.
First, you’ll need to find an appropriately-sized headband that stays on your pet’s head. You can also use a strip of elastic cloth and sew it together to fit. Find a piece of felt the color of the animal’s ears you want to create. Fold it in half. Draw the shape of the animal ear, and cut it out keeping the fold on the bottom edge so that you have a doubled ear. Fold it over the headband. Next, add a smaller inset shape if appropriate, or smaller dots for the animal’s spots. Finally, use contrasting thread to stitch the ears onto place on the headband. And voilà! Your pet has been transformed.
Sidekick
Best for: A pet who goes everywhere with you
You’ll Need: Child’s t-shirt, iron-on decals
Ideas: Dorothy and Toto, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, Blue and Magenta
Got a famous couple in mind? Great–you’ve got a costume buddy! Pick up a child’s t-shirt that will fit your pet. Look for a color that represents the character well, or blends in with your pet’s fur if the character requires something less conspicuous. Next, iron on decals that let people know who the pet is. You could spell out the character’s name across the back of the shirt if you want to make things super-easy… or go for sparkly decorations, or something else that complements your costume. Let your costume do most of the talking: Choose a simple, central characteristic for the pet’s look. That way, when you’re seen together, it’s easy to guess who both of you are!
One-of-a-Kind
Best for: An adventurous pet
You’ll need: Fabric, cardboard, and an imagination
Ideas: Stegosaurus, Pirate, Ballerina, Unicorn, Pumpkin
Some costumes just need one accessory to do the trick, like a tutu sized for your pup: Gather a few layers of tulle over an elastic band, size it to your pet, sew the band together, and secure the tulle with pins. Others can easily be made from fabric-covered cardboard, like a pirate’s eye patch and sword (secured around your pet with elastic). Want to get really fancy? Make a fabric bag sized to your pet, and sew stegosaurus spikes across the back! Use cardboard to keep them standing straight up, and make sure you’ve got enough leg holes.
When it comes to DIY, staying flexible and open to possibilities make a huge difference. Maybe you have your heart set on an elaborate look, but your pup simply tears off whatever you put on. Don’t worry! Try something simpler and easier. Remember, your pup is excited to spend time with you–the costume doesn’t have to be perfect.
Looking for more ideas and support? Rover.com is an amazing dog-lovers community where you can post all your DIY Pawloween pics, and make friends in the process!
About the Author:
Written by Nat Smith, Rover.com community member. Rover is the nation’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.
Becky Kinard says
Cute ideas for pets at Halloween. We dress our Jack Russell Terrier for Halloween and you have given me some good ideas.