It’s almost Howl-o-ween! In the weeks leading up to this spooky holiday, it’s the perfect time to give your pup’s costume a test drive to ensure that they’re comfortable in it prior to any actual Halloween events. If you’re still looking for a dog costume, we have several trendy ideas for you, including Stranger Things looks! We also have some important safety considerations that you’ll want to keep in mind when dressing your pup up.
Adorable as dog costumes are, some of them can create health risks to your furbaby. Here are some of the top tips to keep in mind in order to prevent any health concerns to your pup this Halloween.
Your dog should be able to move with ease in their costume. This means that they should be able to run around and howl and see things as they normally do. The costume should fit them properly, as a costume that is too small will restrict their movement and their breathing, while one that is too big can end up tripping your dog as they try to move around.
If your heart is set on a picture with your dog with a little Batman mask or something else that would impair their sight or movement, it’s best to keep these restricted to a quick little photoshoot, then take them off. Cute as masks and the like may be, they restrict your dog’s senses, which can cause them to get frightened and stressed and could lead to potential injury.
Most dog costumes are designed with dog safety in mind, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. You want to remove any dangling or loosely attached bits that your dog could choke on if they tried to pull it off.
Sometimes dogs can have allergic reactions to certain fabrics and detergents. This can result in issues like rashes, itching, and respiratory problems. Keep a careful eye on your dog, and if something seems amiss, remove the costume right away and give your pup a bath in a gentle soap. Should symptoms persist or should you not know what to do, contact your vet as soon as possible.
Did you know that Halloween is right up there with the 4th of July for holidays when pets are most likely to go missing? That’s a horror you never want to experience. Should your pup get away from you in the night, ensure that their costume keeps their ID tags visible, so that whoever finds them can help them find their way back to you.
Chances are, unless you dress your pup up on the reg, they’ll be a bit uncertain when you first put their costume on. Dogs don’t usually wear clothes, after all! You can typically coax your furbaby to move around and become accustomed to their costume with treats and encouragement. This is also why it’s good to have your pup try their costume on prior to Halloween so that they have time to get used to wearing it.
However, it’s important to recognize that dog costumes aren’t good for all dogs. Just like not every human enjoys getting dressed up, neither does every dog. If your pup tucks its tail, hunches its spine, folds its ears down, or keeps looking sideways or its eyes roll back, please take the hint your pup is trying to give you and remove the costume.
You can still be festive with a cute little Beanie Baby tag on their collar or a bandana with a Halloween-esque print. Halloween is supposed to be fun after all, and if your pup just doesn’t like being dressed up, listen to them.
You also want to give your own costume a test run around your pup. Costumes change the way that people look and smell, so for the most enjoyable Halloween, you’ll want to get your dog used to you wearing a costume too. Check out our previous blog, Top Halloween Tips For Dogs, to learn more about keeping your pup safe this Halloween.
Whether you want to dress your pup up as a fearsome dragon or you want to do something more on-trend, the above tips for how to select a safe Halloween dog costume are sure to help you out. If you need some help coming up with ideas for what to dress your pup up as, we here at Little Teton Doodles have some very trendy dog costume ideas for you so that your pup can be the belle of the ball!
We have partnered with nimbypimby on Instagram to come out with dog costumes each week leading up to Halloween! Be sure to follow us (@littletetondoodles) and them (@nimbypimby) to see our weekly reveals!
This week, we’re all about the Netflix hit series Stranger Things. Whether you want to throw on a Hellfire shirt and jean jacket for an easy Eddie or opt for Max’s iconic blue hoodie, these Stranger Things costumes will help you and your pup be a matching set.
The ringleader of the fearsome foursome, this Mike costume reflects his Season 4 adventures into the Hellfire Club.
Sweet Lucas may feel torn between balancing newfound popularity and his nerdier friends, but your pup can just enjoy a snazzy basketball uniform with none of the conflicts!
Dustin is the heart of the foursome, and this costume will certainly make its way into your heart too, with Dustin’s signature hat and all.
Caring Will put so much effort into his friendships and Dungeons And Dragons adventures, as reflected in this costume he put together. Your pup can also be a wizard on a quest with friends!
Oh, Steve. Somehow, he always ends up dragged into UpsideDown business and charged with looking after the above four troublemakers. Your pup can enjoy the nautical look of his Season 3 Scoops Ahoy! uniform with none of the responsibilities Steve is often charged with.
If Stranger Things isn’t your thing, check our Instagram for more costume reveals over the upcoming weeks. We can’t wait to share them all with you!
Little Teton Doodles is excited to help you and your pup have a spooktacular holiday. Contact us to learn more about our partnership with nimbypimby and our dog-safe costume ideas for you!
