Dog Halloween Costumes: How to Pick a Size, or Skip It

Halloween is the one weekend a year every dog owner turns costume designer, and it usually ends with a very unimpressed dog standing still under duress. We make freeze-dried treats out of a garage in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and our tester dog Ella has strong opinions about wearing things on her body, so we know the drill. The Halloween Shop carries pet costumes and Halloween dog toys alongside our treats, and this guide covers how to size a dog Halloween costume, what the one-size listings fit, and what to try when the dog flatly says no.

Measuring neck and chest

Most of these costumes are sized by two numbers: neck to tail length and chest, both taken with a soft tape measure while your dog stands still. The Rubies Costume Wizard of Oz Cowardly Lion Pet Costume runs 11 inches neck to tail and 14 inches chest in Small, up to 28 inches neck to tail and 24 inches chest in X-Large. The Police Officer Dog Pet Costume Small uses that same 11 inch neck to tail, 14 inch chest measurement. Santa's Little Helper Pet Costume in Medium is 15 inches neck to tail and 17 inches chest, and the Rubie's Aladdin: Genie Pet Costume in Medium usually fits that same dog. The Flintstone Dino Pet Costume Small is built for an 11 inch neck to tail, 14 inch chest dog too. If your dog's numbers land between two sizes, measure again after a meal. Dogs are not consistent about this.

One-size listings and what they fit

Some of these are labeled one size and fit by weight or breed example instead of a tape measure. The Pet Dog Pirate Costume is one size for small dogs such as Bichon Frise, Brussels Griffon, Maltese, Mini Pincher, and Papillon, with a 12 to 13 inch neck and 17 to 18 inch chest. The Animal Planet Wooly Mammoth Pet Dog Costume in XS fits an 8 inch chest, 12 to 16 inch waist, and 10 to 12 inch hips, sized for those same small breeds. The Blue Shark Pet Fish Dog Costume fits 11 to 25 pounds in Small and 26 to 40 pounds in Medium. The Hot Dog Pet Dog Costume in Small fits 6 to 10 pounds. The Rubie's Toy Story: Buzz Lightyear Pet Costume fits 6 to 20 pounds in Small/Medium and 11 to 29 pounds in Medium/Large, and the Winnie the Pooh: Tigger Pet Costume Headpiece Tiger uses that same 6 to 20 pound range. The Were-Woof! Werewolf Pet Dog Costume and the Reindeer Christmas Pet Hoodie both fit 29 to 44 pounds in Large. The I Peed Penitentiary Got Busted Convict Pet Costume is one standard size fitting most medium and large dogs.

Headpieces and capes for the dog who tolerates less

Some dogs will wear a full bodysuit. Ours will not. If yours is in that camp, look at pieces that only touch the neck and shoulders. The Winnie the Pooh: Pet Costume Headpiece Pooh Bear and the Winnie the Pooh: Tigger Pet Costume Headpiece Tiger are both pull-on headpieces that adjust at the neck and nothing else. The DC Comics Classic Batman Pet Costume is a bib with a cape, belt, and headpiece, and the DC Comics Superheros Superman Pet Costume is a chest piece with the S logo plus a cape and belt, so the dog stays mostly a dog in a small vest. Supervise a dog in costume and take it off if the dog fights it.

The bandana and bow route for the dog who refuses

When the answer is a hard no on costumes, you still get to take part. Pink Papyrus Co makes tie-on bandanas and bows sized small to large in the bandana and bow collection, and a bandana takes seconds compared to wrestling a bodysuit over four legs. If your dog would rather chew something than wear something, the spooky dog toys collection has a Zombie eMat, a Vampire Bat eChew, and a Sugar Skull dog chew toy for the dog who wants no part of dress-up.

The photo and the bribe

Every costume photo we have taken of Ella involved a treat held just off camera and at least one retake. Get the costume or bandana on, clip the leash, and walk the dog toward good light, ideally somewhere as orange as our own delivery car, while someone holds a treat at nose height and someone else takes the picture. Do this before the dog decides costumes are a personal insult. Ten seconds of a dog standing still in a hot dog costume beats an hour of chasing one around the yard in it.

In the Halloween Shop

Browse the full lineup in pet costumes or see everything together at the Halloween Shop; the costumes, bandanas, and toys ship from their own sellers through Shopify Collective, while our treats ship from our kitchen in Malvern.

Whether the costume attempt went smoothly or the dog only tolerated it for one photo, that good sport earns a reward. That is what the freeze-dried treats are for. A costume is optional. A treat is not.

Questions

How do I measure my dog for a costume?

Use a soft tape measure for neck to tail length, from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, and around the widest part of the chest behind the front legs. Compare both numbers to the size listed on each costume rather than guessing from breed alone.

What if the size I ordered doesn't fit right?

Sizing runs differently between costumes, so a Medium in one style can fit differently than a Medium in another. If the fit is off, take it off. A costume that slides or bunches at the legs isn't worth forcing for one photo.

What if my dog scratches at the costume or the skin underneath looks different?

Take the costume off right away. If something looks wrong, stop and call your veterinarian.