When choosing a style of dog costume, Chewy veterinarian Dr. Laurie Hess recommends starting with assessing your pup’s comfort with dressing up and walking in an outfit, “whether it’s a costume with full body and headpieces, a walking costume (a front-facing costume where it looks like they’re walking in it), a harness costume (where the costume is only on the harness) or simply a festive bandana.” Fit

You can always go in a matching costume with your dog or cat, because you’re always together like best friends anyway. You could go as an angel and your doggy as a devil, or you can be the ghost while your kitten’s the “Ghostbuster.” For a funny play on a classic, you could even dress your puppy in the Dorothy The Wizard of Oz costume from PetSmart, and then you can put on dog ears to dress as Todo. Comfort also depends on your pup’s personality and how they feel emotionally when wearing a costume. “Monitor your dog for signs of anxiety if you think they may not like wearing the costume, such as panting, restlessness or vocalization,” says integrative veterinarian Dr. Ray Spragley. In cases where your dog indicates discomfort, several of our experts recommend trying simpler outfits, such as a Halloween bandana, a cape or a harness with wings, which are more similar to the feeling of wearing their typical collar or harness. Safety

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Many of us at Forbes Vetted are also devoted dog parents, and we know the importance of our furry friends both looking adorable and feeling safe and comfortable for Halloween. Furthermore, pets and home contributor Camryn Rabideau, a professional product tester and the owner of two dogs herself, tested several of the costumes on this list (including the Frisco Pumpkin Dog Costume) and confirms that they’re well-made and comfortable for your dog to wear.

Think it’s all a bunch of hocus pocus? Here’s what the experts say about the witch revival—and how your pet can get in on this continued enchanting trend during Halloween and beyond. Why Witches? Face it. Your dog is more of a party animal than you'll ever be. If it were up to him, he'd be drinking punch straight from the bowl within the first five minutes of the party, followed by a run across the dance floor to chase that person dressed like a cat. That's why you shouldn't deny your pet the pleasure of dressing up for the holiday, just like his master! You'll find fun dog Halloween costumes here! Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, DVM, owner and chief veterinarian at Kleinburg Veterinary Hospital in Ontario, Canada and veterinary medical advisor for Rover

To find guidelines on how to choose the best dog costumes for our pups this spooky season, as well as how to keep our pets safe and out of trouble, we spoke to the following veterinarians and animal experts: Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM, owner and medical director of the Veterinary Center for Birds and Exotics in Bedford Hills, New York, and veterinarian at Chewy Our experts agree that it’s generally safe for dogs to wear Halloween costumes (these include decorated harnesses, leashes or collars) as long as it’s for a temporary period of time during which they’re closely supervised, according to Dr. Jo Myers, veterinarian at Vetster. That’s because, she explains, “Halloween costumes and accessories, whether intended for an animal or human, can have small parts that are easily removable and tempting for a curious pup to chew off and swallow.” Just like humans, dogs have unique personalities: Some of them actually enjoy dressing up, some tolerate it, and some are uncomfortable wearing clothing of any kind. “You know your pet best—any signs of anxiety or uncomfortableness should be a signal that the costume isn’t for your pet. Don’t force or push your pet to accepting a costume. If there are signs of stress, you are better off to skip the costume,” says Bruns. In particular, if you observe that your dog gets fussy when anything touches their head, Hess recommends choosing a one-piece costume that fits loosely around their bodies instead. Furthermore, Myers recommends steering clear of costumes that have sound effects, bells or other noisy components, as they can be scary for a canine. Dr. Ray Spragley, DVM CVA CCRT, founder and integrative veterinarian at Zen Doc Veterinary Care PLLC

Like all dogs, yours cast their charms on every person they encountered. It wasn’t until you brought them to a dog park that you realized there might be some actual magic at work. Pet parents with equally, if not more adorable furbabies walked away from games of fetch to pat and coo over your puppy. Even children captivated by their first pooch giving kisses and offering rides would dismount and make their way over to you and your bewitching pup. Product Details Now that it’s almost time for the leaves to change to gold and crimson, you’re probably starting to think of your plans for Halloween night with your best furry friend. Whether or not you’ve already prepped your amazing costume options for the whole month, your furry friend will need a show-stopping look for the haunted holiday too, plus festive toys to play with all October long. PetSmart’s Halloween 2022 collection is here to get you and your boo excited for spooky season. Although the supernatural practice traces its origins to the very roots of human history, it’s cast a strong spell over Millennials and Gen Zers. So, what do we want to do with these powers? Add a little magic to our pet’s life, of course. And it’s never been easier thanks to pet supplies that invoke the fun, fantasy and fashion of the occult.

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To keep your dogs safe while they’re in costume, you should always supervise them, all our experts say, especially to keep an eye on choking hazards and any issues with mobility and vision. And in general, it’s best to avoid costumes with small pieces that can be ripped off: “Many elaborate costumes can have small bits and baubles and trim that a curious pet could try to rip off and ingest,” says Greenstein. She adds that for certain breeds, you might consider forgoing any eyewear altogether. “If glasses or novelty goggles slip, they can cause serious ocular injuries,” explains Greenstein, pointing to breeds like Pugs, Frenchies, Persian cats and others with flat faces and prominent eyes as particularly susceptible to these injuries.