When you see a Dachshund dressed up a like a hot dog or a feline Captain America, it’s hard not to imagine your own pet dressed up in an adorable or funny costume. And it’s natural that you want your furry best friend to join in your fun, especially when holidays like Halloween come around. Costumes are a great way to express your pet’s personality and give them some quality bonding time. 

However, costumes aren’t always the best way to celebrate the season. They have plenty of benefits but also come with drawbacks. To decide if dressing up your dog in an outfit is the best decision, you’ll need to consider the pros and cons of pet costumes.

Pros of Pet Costumes

Pet costumes are popular for many reasons, and not all of them have to do solely with aesthetics. There are also practical aspects to using pet costumes, in addition to the fashionable and fun reasons.

• Enrichment Opportunities. Some dogs love trying new experiences and enjoy the exciting opportunities and adventures that come with them. If your pet likes new toys, social outings, and similar events, then dressing up in a costume may prove similarly thrilling. The costume or outfit itself provide an enrichment opportunity that can last several days as your pet becomes accustomed to it. And besides wearing a costume, your stylish pet is sure to attract admirers, providing further fun!
• Health Benefits. If your dog has anxiety, wearing a costume that puts pressure on them can be soothing. Similarly, if your dog is unsure about themselves or their surroundings, introducing a costume is a low risk-high reward solution that can build confidence. Costumes are also great gateway outfits to more serious pet wear, such as weighted vests or mountaineering gear. Wearing a costume can be purely for fun, but it can also have health benefits that stay with your pet long after the costume comes off.
• Protective Layers. Costumes can present a stylish and practical solution to protecting your dog from the elements. This definitely depends on what materials the costume is made of and how it’s constructed. Quality costumes can easily double as warm jackets against a bracing wind or a paw covering in rough terrain. For activities that don’t require specialized outfits (such as life jackets for swimming), costumes can be a chic and cost-affordable protective solution.
• Fun Bonding. Introducing your dog to a costume and then dressing them up in it can be a great bonding experience for you and your best friend. This trust exercise begins when you first introduce your pet to the new costume and continues even when they finally become comfortable with it and eagerly don their cape or crown. For extra fun, you and your pet can wear matching costumes! You’ll both be able to enjoy walking around the neighborhood and meeting new people.

All of the reasons above and more are benefits of dressing your dog up. Costumes can not only make your pet cuter, they can also help make them healthier.

Cons of Pet Costumes

There are plenty of reasons to dress your dog up in a pet costume. But there are also some drawbacks, which should be considered before you buy that princess outfit or movie character costume.

• Restricted Movement. Many costumes are more complex and can be restricting to your pet. Costumes can cover your dog’s legs, back, and even head. Any one of these areas can cause stress. Besides this, ill-fitting costumes can exacerbate the underlying anxiety your  pet may already be experiencing. If your pet feels like they can’t move freely and comfortably in a costume, it may be best to pass on outfits. This is especially true if your dog can’t lay down or easily bend to drink water.
• Safety Concerns. Costumes are cute, but also pose safety concerns. Those that wrap around your dog’s neck post a choking hazard, and small accessories that come with many costumes can easily be swallowed. If your dog is very active or prone to mischief, you’ll need to keep a close eye on them while they’re wearing the costume. Depending on their personality and history with outfits, it may be better to pack up the costume altogether.
• Weather Conditions. This relates in part to safety concerns. When dressing your dog up, you’ll also need to consider the weather conditions. For example, rain can cause general discomfort, while hot weather poses a serious risk of causing your dog to overheat depending on their costume. Cold weather and snow call for something more substantial than many costume materials. Depending on the conditions outside and your dog’s costume, it may be better for your pet’s health to retire the outfit for now.

These cons should be carefully weighed before you buy a costume to put on your dog. Always remember that your pet’s health and wellbeing are the most important priorities. It’s up to you to decide if wearing a costume would be fun for your best friend or if they’d prefer to do something else.

Tips for Dressing Up Your Pet

You know your best friend better than anyone else. So after carefully considering the pros and cons above, it’s up to you to decide whether or not wearing a costume is right for your pet. But if you’re still unsure, consider these tips about dressing up your pet:

• Comfort is Key. Before buying a costume, think about whether your dog would even be comfortable wearing it. A good indicator is how they react to other, less complex coverings. For example, how do they act when you put a doggy rain coat on them? Their response is a good test run for future costumes.
• Practice Before Purchasing. If at all possible, practice putting outfits on your dog before purchasing a costume. Use clothes from around the house to see how your pet reacts to wearing them, such as t-shirts, socks, and headbands. How your dog reacts will give you a good indicator of what they can handle wearing and to what extent. 
• Consider Their Personality. Some dogs love the spotlight, while others prefer to receive more subtle attention. Consider which your dog is, and how that would translate to a costume. Would your dog like a more complex costume or would they prefer a simple cape? If your dog is especially shy, even a cape may be too overstimulating.
• Think About Their Needs. If your dog has any special needs, make sure to take those into consideration when buying the costume. This can include physical or emotional needs, such as a missing leg or high anxiety levels. Will a costume impede your ability to meet their needs or your dog’s ability to function in a normal and healthy manner?
• Give Them Time. Buy a costume or use a test outfit (such as the rain coat mentioned earlier) and give them time to explore it at their own pace. Place the costume or outfit in an easily accessible area and let them sniff it and otherwise become acclimated to it. Try dressing your pup up in increments instead of shoving it on them all at once.

It’s normal to want to join in the Halloween fun and dress up your pets. However, it’s important to make sure your dog or cat will enjoy it just as more as you. If dressing up just isn’t right for your pet, consider a festive collar or other themed neckwear instead.

Practical Costume Considerations

If you’ve decided your pet would love to dress up, that’s great! Now you can move on to the fun part of this process: picking a costume. There are tons of options to fit your pup’s personality and your budget, including funny costumes, superhero costumes, spooky costumes, and costumes specifically for big dogs. But before you check out, make sure to take the practical considerations below into mind.

• Is It Comfortable? It’s worth saying twice: the most important feature of a costume should be its comfort. Make sure your pet will be easily able to move, lay down, and eat or drink. Most dog costumes are specifically made with ease of movement designed, but it’s always good to double check.
• Is ID Visible? Your dog should always have their collar or some other sort of identification on them. So make sure your dog is still able to do so when wearing a costume. Preferably, the identification should be visible. However, barring that, simply being able to wear it underneath or along with the costume is acceptable.
• Does It Fit? Part of making sure the costume will be comfortable is taking your dog’s measurements to ensure a snug but flexible fit. Measure around your dog’s chest, the girth of their neck, and the length between tail and the base of their neck. Compare their measurements against the sizing charts.
• Is It Safe? Consider the environment(s) your dog will be wearing the costume in. For example, when trick-or-treating you’ll need to make sure you and your dog are visible in the dark. Or at the dog park, you’ll need to make sure another dog can’t grab ahold of the costume and use it to hurt your dog.
• Is It Adjustable? Try out different types of costume elements on your dog beforehand to figure out what they find acceptable vs. annoying. For example, your dog may like that rain coat we keep mentioning, but hate a pair of test socks. So if a costume comes with an element on it that your dog doesn’t like, make sure you’ll be able to adjust it.

Once you’ve taken these sorts of practical considerations into mind, then you’re all set to check out and buy the costume of your pet’s dreams! If you follow these tips and advice, your pet will be comfortable, confident, and stylish.