8 Best Halloween Costumes for Dogs (Small & Large) – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Halloween is one of the most fun holidays of the year, as it gives you an excuse to have a party, eat a ton of candy, and most importantly, dress your dog up in an adorable costume.

However, finding a suitable dog Halloween costume (for either small or large dogs) can be a bit of a nightmare. Many of your options are low-quality, while others are far more trouble than they’re worth.

In the reviews below, we’ll reveal some of our favorite picks. The costumes below are easy to use, well-made, and incredibly adorable. Your dog will be the talk of your party — and you may not feel like taking it off the day after. Here are the best Halloween costumes for large dogs and smaller dogs.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 8 Best Dog Halloween Costumes (Small & Large Dogs)

1. Frisco Front Walking Werewolf Costume – Best Overall

The Frisco walking werewolf dog costume is our best overall choice for its quality, affordability, and its six size options. Your dog will stand out on Halloween with this front walking costume that resembles a fluffy werewolf wearing a checkered shirt and ripped blue jeans.

It is the perfect costume to show your dog unleashing their inner werewolf on Halloween while looking adorable at the same time. It is crafted from a range of fabrics like cotton, polyester, and synthetic fabrics. This costume can secure on your dog by a hook and loop, so it’s not too tight nor can it come off easily. Even the fussiest dogs may tolerate this Halloween costume.

This costume’s size range fits almost every dog breed, from a tiny Chihuahua to the larger Belgian Malinois.

One of the main downsides to this costume is that it does not allow for a leash or harness to be attached. This costume does not function as a harness, so you will need to take into consideration that the size may need to be increased to fit over your dog’s actual harness.

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2. Frisco Bumble Bee Costume – Best Value

For a good value-for-money option, the Frisco Bumble Bee costume is a great choice. It is not only affordable but looks adorable too. This costume is the perfect fit for an active dog that will enjoy buzzing around on Halloween. It features an adorable yellow and black bee bodysuit with small wings and a separate yellow cap to match. The cap has two antennas that aren’t too flimsy and won’t fall around in your dog’s face. Since the cap is optional, you don’t have to put this on your dog if they do not like things on their head.

A bonus to this costume is that the cap has holes where your dogs’ ears can loop through. The wings of this costume are shiny and small, and they are durable enough to withstand your dog rolling around. Once the body suit is secured to your dog, it will not be easy for them to take off.

It is available in several size options, making it suitable for puppies, small dog breeds, and large breeds up to 85 pounds. Unfortunately, this costume does not fit over a harness since the main body suit will cover it.

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3. Rubies Costume Company Jack Skellington – Premium Choice

If you want a simple yet Halloween-themed costume for your pup, the Rubies Costume Company Jack Skellington suit is a premium choice. This costume will make your dog the pumpkin king of HalloweenTown, just like the protagonist film it was created after.

It consists of a pinstripe bodysuit and a detachable headpiece with Jack Skellington’s face. The headpiece fits on like a cap, so it can easily be taken off by your dog if they rub their head against something. However, the body suit alone will make your dog look dashing on Halloween. The costume includes a bat bow tie, which can easily be attached to the front of the pinstripe bodysuit.

It fits as a pullover and the main body suit is pretty secure once it is fitted on your dog. Any extra small dog breeds will nail this Halloween look, and possibly even some very small puppies.

This costume is only available in two size options—small and medium. However, it does not fit medium dog breeds very well.

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4. California Costumes Pupasaurus Rex – Best for Puppies

Your puppy can look extra scary on Halloween in the California Costumes Pupasaurus Rex costume. This costume features a dinosaur headpiece and a detachable body suit of a dinosaur’s tail and tiny arms. The material is soft, warm, and overall comfortable for most puppies and other small dog breeds. It is made from 100% polyester and made to last.

The dinosaur body suit can be fastened around your puppy’s waist and legs securely. However, the headpiece (which is a bit bulky) can be tricky to secure around your puppy’s neck. Most puppies can easily get their head out from the headpiece, but it can still be kept on for long enough to snap a few photos!

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5. Rypet Dog Lion Costume

Your dog can channel their inner beast in this Rypet dog lion costume. The costume is soft, slightly stretchy, and very adorable. It resembles a lion with a fluffy mane, rounded ears, and a droopy tail. The costume is available in different sizes ranging from extra small to extra-large, making it ideal for various dog breeds. However, the sizing does seem to be on the smaller side.

This lion costume is quite secure, so most dogs won’t be able to squeeze out of it if they tried. The costume fits securely around their bodies and legs, but it can be slightly difficult to put on your dog. The lion’s hood stays up quite well, and it isn’t detachable like most dog Halloween costumes.

The material is warm yet breathable and made from a blend of polyester and cotton. It is durable and made to last, although parts of the lion manes can fall.

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6. California Costumes Pet Ups Pal Dog Costume

The California Costumes UPS is one outfit that always delivers! Your dog can finally transform into their most hated adversary: the mailman.

It comes complete with a hat, a package, and fake arms to hold that package. The visor has a chin strap to keep it in place, so it will stay on as long as your dog will tolerate it.

It only goes around the dog’s chest and front legs, and it should be suitable for dogs of any size. Even heavier pups will be able to wear this option.

The box is some assembly required, so you’d better have crafting skills. The Velcro holding it is weak, and your dog will have something to rip up if it comes loose.

The material is flimsy and tears easily. Don’t expect this to survive more than a single Halloween.

The California Costumes UPS is good for a few laughs, but it has other flaws that make it less useful than some of the options above.

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7. Camlinbo Spider Halloween Costume

The Camlinbo Spider is simply black fabric with eight fuzzy legs attached, all of which connect around your dog’s chest using Velcro.

The legs are made of tasteless material, so it’s unlikely that your pooch will try to munch on them. Even if they do, though, the fabric is non-toxic, so you have little to worry about.

The costume is fairly expensive for what it is, as you could probably whip up something comparable in less than an hour if you felt like it. The legs are flimsy, and they’ll get bent out of shape if your pooch puts any pressure on them.

The Velcro isn’t that strong either, so you’ll have to constantly reattach it.

Overall, it’s just not that impressive of a costume. If you’re going to spend a decent chunk of change on a costume, you’ll probably want it to be more noteworthy than this.

The Camlinbo Spider is a no-frills alternative to other bug costumes, but we feel that the other options are better choices.

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8. iChoue Animal Pet Costumes

The iChoue Animal is basically a themed hoodie, but it can work as a costume in a pinch.

It has a zipper right up the middle, so it’s easy to put on. All you have to do is stuff your pup’s front legs in and close it up. You’ll have to be careful not to catch your dog’s fur or skin inside, though, and even if you keep your dog safe, the zipper will probably break sooner rather than later.

There are several different styles to choose from, including a duck, panda, dinosaur, and more. However, there’s not much to them, as far as costumes go; these are just jackets with a little bit of decoration.

That means your pup can wear it on more than just Halloween, and it’s thick enough to keep your dog warm on walks. You don’t want it to get wet, though, as it will cling to your pup and make them even colder.

Ultimately, the iChoue Animal kind of occupies a no-man’s-land, as it’s not durable enough to be used as an everyday piece of clothing, but it’s not elaborate enough to qualify as a costume. You can definitely get some value out of it, but you’re better off buying something that’s completely dedicated to one goal or the other.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Halloween Costume

Most people have no idea what to look for in a dog Halloween costume, but if you want everyone at the party to rave about how cute your pup is, it’s a good idea to do a little research beforehand.

In this brief guide, we’ll walk you through what to look for in a puppy costume, so your Halloween will be as fun and stress-free as possible.

What Should I Look for in a Dog Halloween Costume?

The only thing that most owners consider when shopping for a costume is how adorable their pup will look. We’re not trying to tell you that you shouldn’t consider that factor, but there are other things that are equally important to think about.

The most important of these is safety. Your dog needs to be able to move freely and see where they’re going, as you don’t want them stumbling over anything or walking into dangerous situations. Skip any costume that’s incredibly tight, interferes with the motion of your dog’s legs, or covers their eyes.

Also, don’t buy anything that will obstruct your dog’s ability to breathe or drink. Some masks have straps that keep the mouth closed or fabric that can slide down their noses to cover their nostrils. We’d recommend not putting anything on their face at all, but we understand that will disqualify some truly adorable options.

Think about what will happen if your dog takes it off. Many costumes have dangling fabric or other accessories that can pose a choking hazard if your dog chews them up. Avoid buttons, plastic, or wads of cloth.

Visibility is also important, especially if you plan to take your dog out in the neighborhood. You want passing cars to be able to see your pooch. So, you can still buy an all-black costume, but you may want to attach reflective piping to it if you do.

How Do I Know If My Dog’s Costume Fits Properly?

Proper fit is one of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing a costume for your dog. You want something that will be loose enough that it won’t obstruct your dog’s movement but tight enough that there isn’t any dragging fabric that can get snagged on something.

Most costumes involve fabric that attaches with Velcro or some similar mechanism. You want to be able to Velcro it without having to strain, and you want the Velcro to stay taut once it’s closed.

You should be able to fit two fingers between the costume and your dog’s body without much issue. If you can work in more than that, you need to tighten it up, but if you can’t get those two digits in there, it’s too tight and may restrict circulation.

Be sure to watch how your dog moves in it as well. Watch them walk, sit, and lay down, and check to make sure it’s not bunching up or pooling anywhere.

While fit is essential to keep in mind, it’s also fairly simple to sort out. Use your judgment and common sense, and don’t take any risks if you’re not sure whether an option fits properly or not.

Can Any Dog Wear a Costume?

Any dog can wear a costume, but that doesn’t mean that every dog should.

Some dogs don’t like wearing clothes, and if having a costume on is going to cause your dog anxiety, you should skip it. Any adorable photos you get aren’t worth putting your dog through a stressful situation.

Also, some pooches get angry or scared when they have something on them or their movement is restricted. You don’t want your dog losing their temper and lashing out because you stuffed them into a spider costume.

Keep in mind that a costume will encourage people to come up and pet your dog as well. If your pup doesn’t like strangers, you’re inviting a bad situation by putting them in an irresistible costume.

Don’t force your dog to attend a party if they’re not people-puppies either. It may feel like you’re wasting a cute costume, but you don’t want to make Halloween as stressful for your dog as the 4^th of July.

How Do I Convince My Dog to Wear Their Costume?

If wearing a costume won’t cause behavioral issues for your dog, but you’re still having trouble convincing them to keep it on, there are a few things that you can do to boost your chances of having them wear what you bought them.

You should start acclimating them to the costume well before Halloween. Bring the costume out and let them sniff and investigate it, but don’t try to put it on them yet. Instead, let them explore while you reward them with treats or praise.

Once they’re happy to see the costume come out, you can start trying to put it on them. Put your dog in a sit-stay and put the costume on, then reward them lavishly once it’s on. Don’t leave it on for longer than a minute or two, and take it off the second that they start showing discomfort.

From there, gradually increase the amount of time that you leave it on, and don’t skimp on the positive reinforcement.

Eventually, your dog will forget that they have it on, and they’ll happily wear it for as long as you want them to.

Conclusion

The Frisco Front Walking Werewolf Costume is our favorite canine costume, as it’s incredibly cute while being equally low-maintenance. It also seems to be comfortable, and most dogs are willing to keep it on.

If you want something that’s equally noteworthy but less expensive, consider the Frisco Bumble Bee Costume for something that will get people talking.

Dressing your dog up in a Halloween costume is a ton of fun, but finding the perfect option can be difficult. We hope that these reviews have made it easier for you to pick out something that your dog will actually wear long enough for you to snap a few pictures — and hopefully, these costumes will also encourage your neighbors to be less stingy with their candy.

See also:

• 8 Best Halloween Dog Collars
• 4 Adorable and Spooky DIY Halloween Dog Toy Plans

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Featured image credit: KikoStock, Shutterstock