omidog

You may be a bit sick of seeing all of the cutesy (and expensive!) costumes lining the shelves at your local pet supply megastore, so here are some ideas for cute costumes you can make yourself with very little time or money. So when it comes time to trick or treat, know that your dog will be turning heads of all of the other pre-packaged firemen and hotdog dachshunds on the block. (image from i-pets.com)

• A LadybugThis costume couldn’t be much easier. Use a red tee shirt to suit the size of your pet, and draw on big black dots with a permanent marker, or cut them out of felt and glue them on. Slip some red and black socks onto your dog’s feet and slip on a black headband with a couple of pipe cleaners and yellow styrofoam balls or pom poms on the top, and voila!

• SuperdogThis costume idea comes from an article by Jennifer Claerr and I’ve simplified it a little. Use a blue tee shirt. Create a Superman emblem out of red and yellow felt and hot glue the emblem to the shirt. Place red socks the puppy’s feet and cut a square of red fabric to tie a ‘cape’ around your pet’s neck. Then use the remainder of your yellow felt to create the belt. Up, up and away!

• Yarrr a mangy swashbuckler!Pirates are still the rage for Halloween costumes, so why should your ’sea dog’ be any different? Use a black tee shirt and cut the bottom of it so it looks torn and jagged. Cut out a white felt skull and cross bones to glue onto the back. If the shirt is loose, tie some pantyhose around for a makeshift belt and stick a plastic sword in to keep the mutinies at bay. Tie a bandana around your dog’s head and use a cheap plastic eye patch and you’re ready to sail the high seas! Ahoy!

• Indiana BonesHelp your dog raid the lost ark of Halloween treats with this super easy costume. Use a tan tee shirt and cut a ‘V’ out of the neckline so it flips open. Use pantyhose or a brown strip of felt to make a sash looping around from one shoulder down around the belly and up the other side. You can probably find a small Indiana Jones style hat at a costume store or you could make one if you felt really ambitious! Use another strip of pantyhose or felt to make a coil at the sash so it looks like a whip, and tie around the waist for a belt. Watch out for those rolling rocks!

• Construction workerI loved the bulldog construction worker too much to not feature his costume! It looks like the owners just used a tank top, a small tool belt and a real hard hat fastened under the dog’s chin to create a perfect replica of a rough and tumble construction worker. Look out, ladies! He might be cat calling you on your way to the punch bowl.

Tags: diy pet costumes, dog construction worker costume, dog halloween costumes, dog ladybug costume, dog pirate costume, pet halloween costumes