Do Dogs Like Halloween Costumes? How to Dress Them Up So They Don’t Hate It

When Halloween comes around and we start planning our own costumes, it’s may be tempting to dress up our dogs, too. Sure, there are few things cuter than seeing a little spider, sports car, cowgirl, or Elvis trotting around — but before you snag an outfit for your pup, we have some bad news: Most dogs hate costumes.

Why don’t dogs like wearing costumes?

Most dogs easily become stressed or uncomfortable in clothing, especially if the outfit covers their head or wraps around their bodies.

“To a dog, a costume, fitting tight around the dog’s midriff and back, might well reproduce that ancestral feeling [of being scolded by a more powerful dog],” says dog cognition researcher and professor Dr. Alexandra Horowitz in The New Yorker. “The experience of wearing a costume would not be the experience of festivity.”

Signs that your dog isn’t feeling comfortable may include a stiff, tense, frozen-looking posture and a closed mouth. Plenty of dogs will also flat-out stop moving the second the costume goes on, as if they’ve decided that if they don’t budge, the whole nightmare might end. (Spoiler: it won’t.)

In contrast, a content dog will have a happy-looking face and a relaxed body and tail. Think soft eyes, a loose and wiggly body, and a mouth that’s open slightly or relaxed rather than clamped shut. Their tail will wave at a natural height instead of hanging limp or sticking out rigid.

If you spot any of the stress signs, take the costume off right away. Your dog won’t be crushed about missing Halloween, and you can skip the outfit entirely and give them a festive bandana or a Halloween treat instead. Your dog will thank you.

Picking dog-friendly Halloween costumes

If you do decide to dress your dog up for Halloween, costumes that don’t impair your dog’s movements are best. Because most dogs are already used to wearing collars, small costumes that consist of something around the neck are the most easily tolerated.

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The key word is “small” — your motto should be “less is more.” Instead of dressing a pup up in a full tuxedo, for example, having them sport just a bow tie may be better. Costumes that dogs barely notice are great options. Here are a few tips:

• Pick unobtrusive costumes.

• Go simple and soft.

• Don’t cover their face.

• Make sure they can move freely.

One easy costume idea for black dogs: Apply baby powder as a stripe down their back to create a skunk — or a few more stripes of baby powder, and you’ve got yourself a skeleton. It’s simple, adorable, and won’t bother most dogs.

Or, you could always ask trick-or-treaters what they think: “Do you like my cat’s costume? Doesn’t she look exactly like a dog?” This way, you can have your dog participate in the holiday spirit without making your pup feel uncomfortable. The older kids will laugh, and the smallest kids will love their kitty costume.