Great-great-granddoggie wasn’t taken trick-or-treating. But the ‘70s are gone, people! Now we THOUSAND doggies, demand equal access! Mom, Dad, it’s time we enjoy The Prowl, seeing, smelling all the fun around this Halloween that other kiddos get to enjoy!
Be honest, though. Some really cute, frilly and crazy-looking costumes aren’t always best for us. Looking cute needs to meet some other requirements for a night of real fun and no concern.
Here’s 7 tips for you to help us fur babies look our best, while killing it this Halloween like all those other human mutts you call your other children always do:
1) If I’m Itchy I Turn Bitchy
There’s nothing we hate most than having a tight, heavy piece of God-knows what rubbing against our skin. Don’t want us irritated? Take wise counsel. Please make sure you get the right size for us, your pup. Nothing too tight or too loose. Get something elastic or with a cord you can tie. Better yet! Heard of Velcro? Just make sure you can adjust to my size. Leave room for my tail to wag, my ears to perk up, my eyes and nose to see clearly and breath. There might be enough to be spooked at that night than also having to feel that I’m going blind or getting choked to death!
2) If They Don’t Choke Me, I Might Choke Myself!
Some of us pups get excited over, well, anything. You know how it is, Mom. We can’t keep from chewing whatever dangles. So, keep the hanging trinkets on my costume down to a minimum. In fact, if I easily distract and can’t play it chilled, then it’s better if you don’t tempt me. My temperament should determine my costume ornamentation.
3) Masks Mask Disasters Yet to Come
Honestly, please avoid masks. Those kind that keep sliding down my face and leave me in the dark will make Halloween more horrifying than Dracula being forced to drink tomato juice. Maybe I might look cute with a painted face. No denying. Just make sure the dye is doggy-friendly. If we lick it and end up at the vet’s office, your Halloween will be longer than mine.
4) The Candle Is for The Jack-o-Lantern Only
With lots of fires inside those Jack-o-Lanterns, it pays off if you get me a non-flammable costume. Keep from getting me anything too heavily glittered, capes, trains, and lots of things that dangle off the costume like a wick waiting to get licked. And preferably get me nylon or polyester, since they have a higher resistance to burning at much higher temperatures than natural fibers. Let’s keep the pumpkins, not the pups, lit up!
5) Dark Nights Are for Batman
What if I get lost? Don’t let me get kicked around or run over! I need to be seen. Reflective harnesses, leashes and collars and flashing LED attachments are – oh – so helpful to make sure serious monsters don’t get me out there!
6) Let Me Wear It Before My Debut
On Halloween night, I need to like what I got on me. So, to get used to it, I need to wear it before then. And what if I don’t like it? You need to return it and get another. Give yourself enough time for our tryout. If you cut it too close to the deadline, shipping costs go up.
Besides, the best way to get us ready for a new layer of fur on me is first to let me smell it. Praise me and then give us a treat when I don’t scratch it off. Keep at it. But introduce it slowly. For example, put my leg through one arm hole in the costume first, and then praise me. Give me a treat. Take the costume off and praise me again (but don’t give me a treat then). Next, put it back on me, praise me and give me another treat.
Remember, the lesson here is that the costume equals praise and treats.
Gradually introduce other parts of the costume to me. And don’t forget to tell me how wonderful I look! Not all of us understand every word you say but, hey, that’s cuz you don’t talk dog. I’m smart enough to understand your tone of voice, though. And it makes us feel so happy to be with you, especially if you think I look great inside my new costume.
7) What’s Halloween Without Doggy Treats (and Some Poopy Bags)?
Everyone else will be getting to eat their treats, and we don’t like to be left out. Bring Halloween dog-friendly treats, so we also can eat with the rest of the kids. We can’t have all that candy and chocolate they eat, or else it’s vet time for us. So, doggy treats will do. But since we’ll be eating, you know what else we’ll be doing. Bring those poopy bags to keep on good terms with our neighbors!
Now that you know what to look for to dress us up right for Halloween and that you’ve lined up a dog-friendly Halloween party where to go show me off, why haven’t you gotten me my costume yet? You have no excuse! Halloween is right on us.
Final Step and Then Halloween!
Come take a look at all the cute, crazy and cool doggy costume options available at this Halloween Costumes site just for pets! Pick the one that will make us both proud!
Happy Howl-o-ween!!