Halloween is the most fun when you can trick or treat with your furry best friend. From ridiculously cute to incredibly outrageous, there’s one thing that all canine Halloween costumes share: they’re always good for a laugh. Although your dog may not get the joke (or may be downright grumpy), we have to feed, clothe, groom our dogs and pay vet bills all year round, so wearing a costume one day a year is a fabulous way for your dog to pay you back.
For the procrastinators who still haven’t nailed down your dog’s outfit, here are some great DIY ideas for amazing, one-of-a-kind costumes. Your pooch will be the hit of your neighborhood Halloween Dog Parade.
Related: In a Pinch? Here are 9 Super Simple DIY Dog Costumes for Halloween.
Dim Sum Dog
Image Credit: Brit and Co /Brittany Griffin
With a little ingenuity, you can turn you pooch into the superhero, Dim Sum Dog. You’ll need glue, some foam core (available at Staples or any art store) cut to fit over your dog’s back, and felt to cover it. Pork buns are made from tan felt and some fiber fill; just scrunch the felt into a bun and hot glue it together. Sesame balls can be constructed from cream yarn and a pom-pom maker. Glue pork buns into a bamboo steamer and sesame balls on a colored paper plate and glue both onto the felt-covered foam core. Glue Velcro straps (available at Home Depot, Lowes, and other places) to the foam core, and attach the costume under your dog’s belly. He may never forgive you, but maybe you can reward him with a real pork bun afterwards.
Lion’s Mane
Image Credit: The Spruce / Deirdre Sullivan
For the knitters out there (including beginners), this Lion’s Mane will turn your pup into the King of the Jungle. Depending on your dog’s size, you’ll need one or two 300-yard skeins of soft, orange worsted weight yarn like Caron Simply Soft in Persimmon (or get it at Amazon for two-day delivery); 16-inch size 8 circular needles; and a crochet hook to make fringe (size H / 5mm). The pattern is super simple, and you can finish it in a few hours for a costume that looks professionally made. Your dogs will look ready to roar and strut like their (terrifying) inner beast!
Bat Dog
Image Credit: YouTube
You can transform your ordinary pup into a scary Bat Dog with a hot glue guns, some scissors, a ruler, 2 sheets of black craft foam, a pen, and your dog’s harness. With a little fancy folding, you can easily cut and craft two bat wings. Coating the wings with clear glue will make them shiny for a touch of realism, and then you just glue them down on a black foam base. You can get an inexpensive harness if you want to glue the base to the harness, or just place it underneath the harness straps. When everything is firmly attached, just put the harness on your dog and watch the magic as the wings move when your dog walks.
Related: The Amazing Costumes You Missed at the Tompkins Halloween Dog Parade
Chia Pet
Image Credit: Inhabit
Even if the Golden Age of Chia Pets was before your time, you can still find them around. Better yet, this costume turns your dog into a real, live Chia Pet. It’s as easy as a dog sweater, some orange felt, Muslin, a glue gun, and some plastic aquarium plants or a bunch of clover and weeds from your backyard. Use the glue gun to attach the plants all over your dog’s sweater. The orange felt and Muslin is used to make the terracotta pots that are attached to the sweater as legs. Your dog will be unforgettable.
Teddy Bear Costume
Image Credit: Facebook/ Munchkin the Teddy Bear
Inspired by the greatest of all, Munchkin the Teddy Bear, this teddy bear costume is one your dog may actually enjoy wearing. Measure your dog from her paws to the top of her head, then find a teddy bear that is the same height; choose one with stiff arms so they don’t flap around when your dog moves. Make a slit in the back of the bear and remove all the stuffing. Cut out the face of the teddy bear being careful to keep the ears attached. Put your dog’s front legs into the legs of the teddy bear, and then slide your dog’s face through opening of the teddy bear’s face. Absolutely adorable!
Pet Paint
Image Credit: Romp Rescue
If your dog hates wearing a costume and will seriously hold a grudge, you can get some veterinarian-approved pet paint and let your inner artist go wild. For some inspiration, check out these amazing painted animals. You can even buy kits for Halloween costumes that include stencils and all the paint colors you need. Take a look at their gallery for inspiration. Just order it asap to get it in time for the big day.
Related: New Yorkers, the Biggest Dog Parade Is Coming to Your Backyard
Here is a salon that really goes above and beyond when it comes to painting:
