Are you planning to enjoy some Halloween fun with your dog? If you will be dressing up your dog, be sure this holiday is a treat for him by choosing a safe Halloween costume for dogs. Whether that fun means an afternoon of costumed photos, a pet parade, or an evening of trick or treating, it’s important to make sure your dog is safe and comfortable in his or her Halloween costume.
![Halloween costume safety-hat-tiki](https://www.dogtipper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/halloween-hat-tiki.jpg.webp)
Not all dogs appreciate or accept costumes. Our dogs will tolerate costumes for a few minutes but, in general, they don’t like to wear clothing (other than coats when it’s really cold) so we never keep them costumed longer than a few minutes for photos.
![](https://www.dogtipper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/tiki-cat-costume7.jpg.webp)
Choosing a Dog Halloween Costume
If your dog is wearing a costume longer than it takes to snap a few photos, be sure to keep these tips in mind:
- Pass on costumes that are too tight or in any way restrictive.
- Select a costume that’s appropriate for your weather. It’s still very warm here in October so we’d never select a heavy costume.
- Even if it’s not hot where you live, watch your dog for signs of heat exhaustion.
- Avoid costumes that are too long and put your dog at risk for tripping.
- Avoid costumes that have attachments that he could pull off and choke on or chew.
- Skip costumes with head gear that interferes with his vision.
Helping Your Dog Feel Comfortable in a Halloween Costume
Once you’ve selected the costume, it’s time to put it to use!
- Use extra high value treats which can easily be broken into bite-sized bits to encourage your dog as you’re costuming him. (We also use them along with the “watch me” command to capture a photo looking at the camera!)
- Once the costume is on, immediately get your dog moving to distract him.
- If you plan to trick or treat with your dog or attend a dog-friendly Halloween event, have a trial run with the pet costume first to allow your dog to get accustomed to it.
- Select costumes that have a reflective strip if you’ll be out at night or consider adding a lighted collar and/or a lighted dog leash.
My Dog Won’t Wear a Halloween Costume!
![Halloween costume safety-tiki-trees](https://www.dogtipper.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tiki-trees.jpg.webp)
Not all dogs will accept wearing clothing of any type (and some just might be allergic to wearing clothes).
Can’t get your dog to wear a costume but still want to have some Halloween dress-up fun? The answer might lie in accessories:
- Buy a Halloween-themed dog collar and/or leash.
- Tie a Halloween-themed bandana around your dog’s neck.
![](https://www.dogtipper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Irie-4WEB.jpg.webp)
- Decorate your dog’s harness. Attachments like these wings on our Irie’s harness usually don’t distract your dog.
- Buy your dog a Halloween-themed toy to carry.
Make sure Halloween is a TREAT for both you and your dog by ensuring that your dog is comfortable in whatever costume he might be wearing!
Pin it to remember how to choose a safe Halloween costume for your dog!
![choosing halloween costume for dogs](https://www.dogtipper.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/My-Post1.jpg.webp)
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