With Halloween just around the corner, there are few things more adorable than seeing a dog in a goofy costume. But if you haven’t sorted out a costume for you and your dog, there’s still time to transform your pooch into a spooky doggo, your trusted sidekick or something a little more unusual. If you’re a dab hand with crafts and on a budget this year, a DIY dog Halloween costume could be just the ticket. They can take only a couple of hours to make and cost far less than shop-bought costumes.
But before you break out the glue and scissors, spare a thought for your dog. Not all dogs tolerate being dressed up. If you know they’ll become stressed and miserable, forget about full body suits, wigs and masks. You may have to settle for a spooky bandana. But as long as they’re happy and comfortable, that’s really all that matters, right?
Check out these 4 DIY dog Halloween costumes that’ll surely make your pooch the star of the show at this year’s Halloween celebrations.
1. Batdog
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Forget Bruce Wayne, it’s Batdog to the rescue this Halloween! This adorable superhero outfit is relatively simple to make. All you need to complete the look is a black mask and a matching cape. And of course, a little creativity thrown in.
What you’ll need:
- Sturdy black felt (for the mask)
- Black fabric (for the cape)
- Scissors
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Measuring tape
- Black ribbon or black shoelace
Instructions:
For the mask
- Roughly measure the width of your pooch’s face from ear to ear. Then measure from the top of the muzzle to the top of the head.
- On a piece of paper, use the measurements to draw the shape of the mask. Add a couple of holes for the eyes.
- Cut your shape and pin the template to the felt. Then cut your mask shape and eye holes with a pair of scissors.
- Make two small holes either side of the mask. Poke a piece of ribbon through each side and tie a knot to secure at the end. Viola, mask ready!
For the cape
- For a full-length cape, measure your dog from the back of the neck to the base of the tail. You want the cape to be fan shaped so take two additional measurements. One from one side of your dog’s neck to the other, and from half way down one thigh to the other.
- On a large piece of paper, draw a line for the length of your cape. At the top, draw a horizontal line for the measurement of the neck, and at the bottom draw another line for the thigh-to-thigh measurements. Connect a diagonal line from top to bottom on both sides. This is now your cape template.
- Pin the template to your black fabric and cut.
- If you have one, use a sewing machine to hem the edges for a neater finish. You could also use a needle and thread.
- Cut out two pieces of fabric for the ties. Each about 30 cm long and an inch wide.
- Hem your strips and attach to the top two corners on the smallest end of the cape. Hey presto – Batdog is ready to take on the world!
2. Bumblebee doggy
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This bumble bee outfit will turn any grumpy-faced pooch into an irresistible cuddle bug. Guaranteed to brighten anyone’s day, your pooch will be the happiest trick-or-treater around. You’ll need just a few essentials from your local craft store, but with a straight-forward design, your dog will be buzzing about in no time.
What you’ll need:
- A yellow dog hoodie
- Black fabric (for the stripes)
- Black sturdy felt (for the wings)
- Extra chunky pipe cleaners
- Small pom poms
- Scissors
- Glue gun
- Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
- Fabric glue
Instructions:
- Lay the hoodie out and measure from side seam to side seam at points where you want the black stripes to go.
- Make templates on paper for the stripes about an inch or so thick. Pin and cut around the templates on the black fabric.
- You can either attach the stripes to the hoodie with fabric glue, or hem and sew directly onto the hoodie for a more long-lasting outfit. It really depends on how often you plan on using it!
- For the wings, make a single template making sure both wings are one whole piece rather than two separate wings. Cut the shape out of the black sturdy felt, fold down the middle and iron to create a crease. Sew the wings onto the back of the hoodie along the crease.
- For the antennae, make two small holes in the hood where you want the antennae to go. Cut your pipe cleaners to size and push each one about an inch of the way through the holes. Turn the hood inside out and use your glue gun to attach to the hood from the inside.
- Lastly, using the glue gun again, secure a pom pom to the tip of each pipe cleaner. Bee dog’s ready for take-off!
3. Dog pinata
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This colourful pinata costume is not only outrageously adorable, but it’s super simple to make and won’t break the bank. Your pooch definitely won’t go unnoticed at your Halloween party with this bold number. Just bear in mind you may need a little patience while you attach all the tassels.
What you’ll need:
A doggy jumper
- Different coloured crepe paper or thin felt
- Glue gun
- Scissors
Instructions:
- As your base material, you could use an old doggy jumper your pooch doesn’t use anymore. Maybe it has a couple of holes in it or an unsightly stain. Dig it out of the cupboard, it’ll be perfect for the job.
- Cut lengths using your crepe paper or felt about 5cm thick. Cut fingers along the width of each strip being careful not to cut all the way through. You’ll need to make a bunch of these using your different colours.
- With your glue gun, stick the strips to the jumper to create that ruffled effect. Keep going until you’ve covered the entire jumper. That’s it! Pooch is ready to party.
4. Spaghetti and meatballs
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Every dog owner thinks their pooch is cute enough to eat. And this outfit really puts that cherry on the cake. It’s ideal if you’re after something quirky to dress your pooch this Halloween. You can also whip together this spaghetti and meatball tribute in under an hour without having to splash the cash.
What you’ll need:
- Red hoodie
- Brown wool
- Extra thick yellow or white wool
- Glue gun
- Pom pom maker
Instructions:
- Using the glue gun and white wool, stick spiral shapes onto the hoodie leaving some excess to fall freely. Cover most of the hoodie to achieve a thick spaghetti base.
- Take your pom pom maker and create a few meatballs with the brown wool by wrapping the two arms.
- Finally, decide where you want your meatballs to go and use the glue gun to secure in place. There you have it, doggy spag bol!
We’d love to see your pooches in their DIY dog Halloween costumes. Share your snaps in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter at @DogBuddyCo.