Do you dress your pet up for Halloween? Do you even go so far as having a matching Costume for yourself? If so, you are not alone. Many folks have fun and come up with some pretty creative ideas for Halloween. When my Chuey was younger, before he learned to bark at everyone who came to the door, I used to dress him up. One year he had a little black and white striped prisoner’s outfit and every kid that came to the door oohed and ahhhed over him. He loved the attention, but I don’t think he loved the costume. In fact he wouldn’t keep the little hat on, even though I thought it looked adorable, he kept rubbing it off.

For the most part, I don’t believe animals really enjoy dressing up, although Chuey does love his sweater when it’s cold outside. But remember, they are animals, not little people and clothes are not natural for them. They probably feel about as uncomfortable in a bulky costume as we would if we were running outside in our underwear. Nevertheless, I don’t believe dressing them up for Halloween is going to do them much harm, as long as you keep their safety in mind. And if you throw in a few treats and reward good behavior, they will probably enjoy the attention too for a little while.

Cute Costumes are Everywhere

The options are nearly limitless when it comes to Cute Halloween Costumes for pets, whether you are shopping at a pet store, Wal-Mart, or even online.  If you search long and hard enough you can find thousands of ideas.  And of course if you are crafty you can even whip something up on your own.  Below are some of my favorites, of course the weiner dog one is a classic.  Enjoy!

Wonder Woman!

Puppy on Patrol

Pirate Kitty

Butterfly Princess

Pets and Their Owners

In case you want to have a costume that matches up with your pets, I found this YouTube video that is full of fun ideas.  Not only are there dogs and cats in this video, but also birds, a horse and even a guinea pig.  Some of these are hilarious and very imaginative.

Safety Tips

Your pet’s safety and well-being should always come first and foremost when it comes to their costumes.  Here are just a few things to keep in mind:

• If your pet starts itching a lot or develops a rash, he could be allergic to the costume.  My Schnauzer, Cash has lots of allergies and so I don’t believe I would even try to dress him up for that very reason.  He could be allergic to the type of fabric or even chemicals that could be present in the costume.  If you pet develops any type of allergic reaction you should seek veterinary care.
• Make sure the costume fits your pet properly.  If it is too tight and she isn’t comfortable, it could her to panic or even cause serious injuries such as rubbing, blisters, or restricted breathing.
• Be careful that there are no dangling objects such as fringe, bells, etc. because your pet could try to bite or chew at them.  If they pull them off and accidentally ingest them it could cause serious intestinal problems that could require surgery or even be life-threatening.
• Never leave your pet alone while wearing a costume.  A bored, unsupervised pet is much more likely to bite or chew off parts of the costume which as stated before, can cause severe intestinal problems. The costume could also become twisted or caught on something which could cause a choking or strangling hazard.
• Whether your pet wears a costume or not, be especially careful not to leave them alone outside on Halloween.  With all of the trick or treaters out there are many more dangers about.  Be sure your pet doesn’t have access to Halloween candy, which can be toxic for pets.  And if your pet is wearing a costume and flees outside, she is more likely to encounter other hazards such as getting caught on a fence, trees or bushes, etc. or being struck by a car.  Also a costume makes your pet more likely to panic and want to bolt.  So keep your pet by your side and keep him safe.

In Conclusion

Fall is my favorite time of year and I love Halloween, as long as it’s all in good fun.  So by all means, dress up your pet and yourself too if you want. But most of all have fun!  You can shop Amazon’s full array of pet costumes in my Pamper Your Pet Shop, or simply get started below.