Cool costumes for your dog

By Liz Mallia Accessories, Facts and Fun, Grooming Comments Off

We recently discussed the great dog costume debate and concluded that for the vast majority of our canine companions, restrictive costumes, heavy masks, or elaborate headdresses are a recipe for stress. Most dogs are infinitely comfier—and safer—without them.

However, that doesn’t mean your dog has to miss out on the festive fun! There is absolutely no harm in dressing up your dog using customized collars, lightweight bandanas, or creative dog coats that they are already used to wearing.

If you want your furry friend to join in on the holiday spirit without compromising their comfort, we’ve put together a list of 10 awesome, easy, and stress-free DIY costumes for your dog.

Pop Culture Icons

1. Scooby-Doo (Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?)

This is a perfect costume for any brown dog, and no, they don’t have to be a Great Dane! All you need is a plain light blue dog collar. To complete the look, print out a picture of Scooby’s iconic “SD” dog tag, glue it to some sturdy cardboard, and tie it securely to your dog’s collar. It’s instantly recognizable and requires zero extra clothing.

2. Courage (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

Remember this timid, perpetually terrified cartoon dog? To achieve this look, please do not dye your dog’s fur! Instead, simply dress your dog in a lightweight purple dog coat or sweater. Cut a few small black circles out of felt and stick or sew them onto the back of the coat. Voila—you’ve transformed your pet into a nostalgic 90s cartoon character.

3. Jake the Dog (Adventure Time)

Jake the Dog is the magical, stretchy yellow dog and best friend to Finn the Human. This makes for a fantastic owner-and-dog duo cosplay. Put your dog in a simple yellow coat to play Jake, while you wear Finn’s signature blue shirt, green backpack, and white bear hat.

4. Brian Griffin (Family Guy)

This is perhaps the easiest costume on the list, especially if your dog has a solid white coat. All you need is a bright red collar equipped with a plain gold circular tag. It’s the ultimate minimalist costume for a dog who refuses to wear clothes.

5. Snoopy (Peanuts)

Another incredibly simple costume that is perfect for a black and white dog. (Fun fact: Snoopy is actually supposed to be a Beagle, but he was drawn in black and white because he originated in a newspaper comic strip!) To bring the costume to life, attach a small plush yellow bird toy to their harness, or print out a picture of his feathered friend, Woodstock, to clip to your dog’s collar.

Classic & Clever

6. The Classic Hot Dog

This is the ultimate, undisputed classic for Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, or Corgis. While you can easily buy a plush hot dog coat online, making one is a fun DIY project. Take a normal, comfortable dog coat and use large pieces of red and light brown felt. Cut them into shapes resembling a bun and a sausage, and sew or glue them to the sides of the coat. Add a wavy line of yellow fabric paint for mustard, and you have a masterpiece.

7. The Canine Superhero

Whether your household prefers Batman, Spiderman, or Superman, all you need is a dog coat featuring your hero’s logo. In a pinch, you can buy a plain, cheap dog t-shirt or coat and decorate it yourself using fabric paint or by gluing on a felt logo.

8. The “Identity Crisis” (Another Animal)

Your dog could literally be a wolf in sheep’s clothing! This is an incredibly easy, low-effort costume. You just need a simple dog coat made from animal print (like leopard, zebra, or cow print). You can buy animal print fabric and sew it over an existing coat, or use pet-safe fabric markers to draw a pattern on a plain white dog tee.

9. Royal Highness

If your pet possesses a certain regal, snobby air that they love to flaunt, dress them as royalty. Find a collar heavily decorated with faux diamante rhinestones so your dog has a diamond necklace fit for a queen. Note: If you want to use a crown or a cape, only put them on for the 30 seconds it takes to snap a cute photo, and then remove them so your dog can play comfortably.

10. The Spooky Minimalist

Since Halloween is right around the corner, why not think up a fun, spooky surprise?

The Pumpkin: Take a plain orange dog coat and glue black felt cutouts in the shape of a Jack-o’-lantern’s eyes and mouth onto the back.
The Bandana: Find a bandana patterned with ghosts, skeletons, or candy corn and tie it loosely to your dog’s collar for a simple, festive look that won’t bother them in the slightest.

A Final Safety Reminder

No matter how simple or unobtrusive a costume seems, always supervise your dog while they are wearing it. Watch their body language closely. If they are panting heavily, tucking their tail, showing the whites of their eyes (whale eye), or freezing in place, the costume is causing them stress and should be removed immediately. Keep it comfortable, keep it fun, and have a fantastic time celebrating with your best friend!