Autumn in America has arrived! With it comes the promise of colorful leaves, pumpkin-spiced everything, and, of course, Halloween. For some, October 31st is a minor holiday with costumes and candies. For others, it is a seasonal festival of fright that transforms the entire month of October into one long party. Even pets get in on the celebration with an ever-growing array of Halloween pet items like orange and black chewy bones or hilarious costumes. Our list of the top five best dog Halloween costumes might just help you and your favorite fur baby get in a festive mood for the holiday.
Fall is here, and Americans are trading in their beach towels for pumpkin spice-flavored everything. While seasonal treats may be a popular perk of autumn, a survey finds they’re not the biggest reason America loves this time of year. A poll of 2,000 people in the U.S. finds more than half can’t wait for the changing of the leaves. As for when that chill is just right, Americans think the perfect fall temperature is 53 degrees Fahrenheit. Respondents think the best time to enjoy “peak fall” is the first two weeks of October. This is when the leaves are turning but haven’t all fallen yet, and the weather is chilly, but doesn’t call for a heavy jacket. This chilly sweet spot seems like perfect weather for a costume!
If you want the most candy this trick-or-treat season, make sure your costume is creative. That’s according to a new poll of 2,000 parents which reveals that scary (15%) and pop culture-themed (13%) costume wearers also tend to fill up candy bags faster. That doesn’t mean kids aren’t getting creative. When asked about the weirdest costume their child has asked for, parents and guardians said, “chicken nuggets,” “a blue tarantula,” and “a green bean.” Some of this can also be seen in the wide range of dog costumes that are available for the 2023 Halloween season. A good dog costume will elicit a chuckle, while the best ones can inspire contagious laughter for hours on end.
Why do people enjoy dressing their pets in full costume? For some, the answer is simple: pet costumes are hilarious. From the classic hot dog on a bun costume to the latest crime-fighters, our sources did the heavy lifting so that we could rank the top five best Halloween costumes for dogs. Let us know your favorite spooky looks for dogs in the comments below!
The List: Best Dog Halloween Costumes, According to Experts
1. S’mores DIY Dog Costume
The heavily favored costume amongst our sources is this amazingly cute do-it-yourself costume, with crafting instructions. Several of our sources called out the clever creatives at the Studio DIY blog for coming up with this year’s internet hit. Good Housekeeping raves, “Put your crafting skills to good use this Halloween by creating this adorable s’mores look. Grab a dog shirt and some cardboard, and you’re halfway there. Get the full tutorial at Studio DIY.”
“Your pup will look extra sweet in this delicious s’mores costume. All you need is some cardboard, brown felt, and a white doggy sweater,” praises Woman’s Day. This adorable costume is perfect for Halloween or any costume party. It’s a fun and creative way to dress up your furry friend and make them the center of attention.
The Pioneer Woman exclaims, “You’ll want s’more pictures of your pup after you dress them up as the delicious campfire treat!” The brown felt and white doggy sweater perfectly mimic the look of a toasted marshmallow sandwiched between graham crackers. Your pup will be the star of the show in this adorable and unique costume.
2. UPS Delivery Person Dog Costume
Leading the doggie pack for affordable costumes is the UPS delivery costume. Your dog will trot around with a tiny delivery box held out in front of them, and it will be difficult to stifle the laughs. The Pioneer Woman says, “Amp up the joy factor a new package gives you by having your pup be the one to drop it off!”
People describes, “This costume turns the tables on your dog chasing the mailman and transforms them into the mailman (or in this case UPS person). Made with polyester and polyurethane foam arms, this costume fits around your dog’s legs and fastens with velcro behind their neck. It even comes with a cute hat. It’s not machine washable, though you can remove the package and hand wash it.”
Vet Street elaborates, “Our overall favorite Halloween costume for dogs is this adorable UPS outfit. What’s cuter than dressing your dog up as the very person who he spends time barking at all year round? … It’s comfortable for your pet to walk in, easy to take on/off, and has excellent customer reviews. It’s made of durable polyester and comes in five different sizes to fit just about any dog.”
3. Deadly Doll Dog Costume
This costume is inspired by Chucky, the foul-mouthed killer doll from the 1988 horror movie “Child’s Play.” Even folks who don’t get the reference will be able to have a giggle when they gander at this ridiculously funny outfit. iHeartDogs comments, “If you want your pup’s costume to be scary, this one will fulfill that purpose. Your lovely dog will become unrecognizable in this deadly doll costume. They’ll even steal your thunder while wearing it. This costume is made with soft and comfortable fabric. The details will make you conflicted about whether it’s cute or scary.”
Although there are many manufactures of similar Chucky-themed costumes, our sources prefer the one offered by California Costumes. Woman’s Day adds more information about the costume, “If you’re looking for a canine costume that will bring the scares, then this Chucky-inspired costume was made for you.”
Another plus of this cute costume is that it is available at many major retailers across the United States. The Pioneer Woman details “If you like being creeped out by Chucky, you’ll love dressing your furry little friend just like him. But of course, your version will be too cute to be scary!”
4. Rubie’s DC Comics Superman Cape Dog Costume
Superman is one of the world’s most popular superheroes, so it’s hardly a surprise that this easy-to-use costume is so popular this year. Rubie also produces several other cute DC character costumes for families that have a pack of doggies to dress. The Dog People explain, “It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No—it’s your doggo dressed up as Superman! There are many Superman dog costumes on the market, but this one’s our favorite due to its quality. It has a 4.4-star rating out of over 540 reviews on Amazon, with purchasers enjoying how it fits well on both small and large dogs.”
Pet Love Best says, “The Rubie’s DC Comics Superman dog costume has a Red cape, a Superman logo for chest and a Yellow belt. It is easy to put on the dog and is available in different sizes. Looks very cute and funny as well. A very good choice to dress your dog this Halloween.”
“The set comes with a detachable cape, a chest plate made from fabric emblazoned with the Superman logo, and an adjustable string tie that can be fastened and adjusted to suit your dog’s unique chest size. There’s a detachable belt, too. As always, be sure to measure and compare to the sizing chart, of course. This costume is available in sizes S-XL,” states The Spruce Pets.
5. DIY Ty Beanie Baby
The simple Ty Beanie costume consists of a simple oversized tag in the style of the famous bean bag stuffed animals. This costume is super comfortable for just about any dog that wears a collar. “Growing up, I had a large collection of beanie babies. I remember visiting store after store with my parents, in search of the next best one. After all, we had to keep expanding the stockpile. So, needless to say, I can completely understand why millennial dog moms have made the Ty Beanie Baby costume a popular one for their dogs,” claims Proud Dog Mom.
Good Housekeeping relates about this simple nostalgia-evoking project, “This easy, last-minute costume takes only a few minutes. Just cut a heart out of construction paper and attach it to your pet’s collar or you could even use a real Ty Beanie Baby tag!”
Woman’s Day reviews this clever crafty costume, “You may not be able to choose just one of these adorable Halloween costumes for your pet… Turn your dog into one of your favorite childhood toys. All you need is some cardstock and markers to make this super simple costume.”
You might also be interested in:
- Best Halloween Candy
- Best Halloween Costumes
- Best Places to See Fall Foliage
- Best Fall Camping Destinations
Sources:
- Good Housekeeping
- Woman’s Day
- The Pioneer Woman
- People
- Vet Street
- iHeartDogs
- The Dog People
- Pet Love Best
- The Spruce Pets
- Proud Dog Mom
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.