Halloween Costumes and Contests for Dogs

Halloween can be a stressful time for pets. Although Halloween night is a time to keep your dogs at home, safe and sound, that doesn't mean they must be completely left out of Halloween fun.

If you have a friendly, sociable dog who likes children, gets along well with other dogs, and is comfortable wearing a costume, there are many pet parades and costume contests to enjoy this season. Many are part of Octoberfests or community Pumpkin Festivals celebrated annually in towns across America. You'll find links to information about some of these fall events near the end of this article.

Not all dogs will stay cool, calm and collected about being dressed up for Halloween. Many will only cooperate if a costume is not terribly annoying to them. For others, a costume might be fine, but anything that resembles a hat will have to go. There are also dogs who really do enjoy being dressed up. They love the attention that goes along with it and they seem to think it's a perfectly natural thing to do.

Here's a few pet costume tips....

When wearing a costume, can the dog see and breathe easily? A costume should not interfere with the dogs vision, hearing or breathing - NO masks.

Check the fit around the costume neckline to make sure it's not too tight.

Watch for chewing, pawing, or signs of discomfort while wearing a costume.

If you're making a pet costume, use a lightweight fabric that won't cause a dog to become over-heated.

Don't put any beads, loose dangling accessories and other small objects on a costume.... nothing that can be chewed and swallowed or be a choking hazard.

A costume should not drag on the floor so that your dog can't walk without stepping on it.

Never leave a dog wearing any kind of costume alone and unatteneded.

If your dog gets nervous and upset, and just doesn't like the idea of being dressed, forget the costume idea. A simple doggy size cotton t-shirt would be more comfortable. Or... just get a colorful Halloween print collar or bandana instead.

Halloween costumes made especially for dogs and cats are designed to stay in place, fit comfortably, and allow unrestricted movement.

The simplest pet costumes include a hat or a headpiece plus a cape, or some type of collar or ruffle. These two-piece sets make it easy to dress your dog as a witch, a devil, a clown.... even a king or queen.

Pant or jumpsuit type costumes fit over a dog's front legs. Many styles have little arms and legs attached to give the illusion that the dog is standing upright. They're available as super heroes, pirates, cheerleaders, biker dogs, rag dolls, firemen and and other cute characters. Many of these costumes include a head piece to complete the look.

Pet costumes that fit like a jacket or vest can transform a dog into a hot dog,
a pumpkin, or a Hawaiian party animal.

You can find a wonderful assortment of pet Halloween costumes in all these styles, plus lots of cute accessories online.

This dinosaur and spider are two of the
pet Halloween costumes now available online at
Drs. Foster and Smith

Cowboy with Horse Spooky Sidekick Halloween Costume

This Cowboy with Horse and Scarecrow are two of the many new costumes available this year in the Petco Halloween Shop.

Star Wars and Batman are two of the many dog costumes now available at BuyCostumes.com.

Here's two of the many pet Halloween costumes available at Spoiled Rotten Doggies.com.

Cute alternatives to costumes ....

Does Tricks for Treats
Dog Bandana

Black Witch Hat
with Orange Pig Tails

Halloween Spider
Scrunchy Collar

Halloween Collar

Halloween Activities to Enjoy With Your Dogs

Pet parades, pet costume contests, and fall festivals are happening around the country throughout the month of October. Check local animal shelters, breed and rescue clubs, pet supply stores, pet grooming salons, veterinary clinics, garden centers, and other retail establishments for Halloween events in your area. Here's a list of Halloween 2007 Events across the USA. Click on the name of an event for online information.

October 7, 2007 - Fredericksburg Dog Festival -Fredericksburg, Virginia

October 7, 2007 - Scarecrow Festival Dog Parade and Costume Contest - Trenton, Michigan

October 13, 2007 - Dogtoberfest - Dog Wood Park, Jacksonville, Florida

October 13, 2007 - Fall Fest 2007, Dog Walk & Costume Contest - North Branch Park, Bridewater , New Jersey

October 14, 2007 - Salem Common Boo-tiful Pets Costume Contest - Salem , Massachusetts

October 19, 2007 - Pet Parade, The Circleville Pumpkin Show - Circleville, Ohio

October 20, 2007 - Carolina Basset Hound Rescue Howl-O-Ween Party - Jordan Lake State Park, Apex, North Carolina

October 20, 2007 - Fourth annual Halloween Pet Costume Contest - Pensacola , Florida

October 20, 2007 - BowWowWow Howl-loween Doggie Costume Contest & Party - Klub K9 Play Center, Sunnyvale, California

October 23, 2007 - PetSmart Howl-O-Ween Costume Party - at a PetSmart Store Near You

October 24, 2007 - WKEY Pet Masquerade and Parade - Westin Key West Resort, Key West, Florida

October 27, 2007 - 6th Annual Howl-O-Ween Barkin' Bash - Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, Maryland

October 27, 2007 - Petco Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest - at a your local Petco store

October 27, 2007 - Howloween" Canine Costume Contest and Boneyard Hunt - Lake Accotink Park, Fairfax, Virginia

October 28, 2007 - Fourth Annual Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest - Just4Pooches, Cranford, New Jersey

October 28, 2007 - Daisy's Delights 2nd Annual Halloween Parade and Costume Contest - Eastlake Park, Ridley Park, Pennsylvania

October 28, 2007 - Best Costumed Pet Contest, Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddler's Festival - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

October 28, 2007 -Sixth Annual Bow Wow Wow Ween - Barrington Dog Park, Brentwood, California

October 28, 2007 - Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade - Livingston Park, Long Beach, California

October 28, 2007 - 3rd Annual Halloween Costume Contest Party & Potluck - Animal Haven Soho, New York, N.Y.

October 28, 2007 - Capital Area Humane Society's Annual Halloween Pet Parade - Columbus, Ohio

October 28, 2007 - Pet Pride Day 2007 - Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

October 31, 2007 - Canine Costume Contest and Trick or Treating - Canine Connection, New Orleans, Louisiana

Online Halloween Pet Photo Contests

J-B Wholesale Pet Supplies Halloween Photo Gallery

PETsMART's Halloween Pet Photo Contest

Petco's Howl-O-Ween Pet Photo Contest

Disney Family.com's Halloween Costume Contest

Small Dog Breed Photo Contest

Picture Perfect Halloween Contest

Second Annual DoggieDeliveries.com Dog Halloween Photo Contest

Halloween night can be stressful for pets. See "A Safe and Sound Halloween"