My nephew has been obsessed with Dog Man lately. Every day he eats breakfast with Dog Man and then listens to Dog Man read bedtime stories to him.
And when he asked me to make him a costume I panicked a little. Craft stores felt overwhelming and pinterest just kept showing me things that I knew needed a sewing degree.
You can have an awesome time making this dog man costume and even get your friends and family involved in the process.
I pulled together 10 ideas that actually work for real people (with real lives and real schedules), some of which use stuff you probably have lying around your house already. And if you’ve ever dressed your golden retriever up for Halloween, you know the chaos and joy that comes with it… So if you need more inspiration for your dog Halloween costume, definitely check out these fun DIY dog Halloween costumes!
Let’s get into it.
#1: The Tiny Witch With Dreads — A Chihuahua Halloween Costume That’ll Stop Everyone Mid-Scroll
I think my golden retriever has the fluffiest face on the block but this little Chihuahua in a witch costume just takes the cake for cutest little witch.
We started with a mini black satin witch hat with a purple ribbon band and silver buckle detail. You can pick one up at any craft store for under $3. We attached a brown braided yarn wig to the hat. I made thick dreadlock style sections that drape down both sides of the dogs face. I added the final touch with a black satin ribbon tied around the neck.
So to make this for your golden you will need some: Bulky brown yarn a foam witch hat base (Check the dollar section of target a week or two before halloween) Hot glue Black satin ribbon A chin strap piece Cut the yarn into 8-10 inch sections. Fold the yarn in half and loop it through a strip of felt glued inside the brim of the hat. Keep looping until you have filled the whole brim.
For a golden, a hat should be at least a 10-12 inch diameter to look proportional. Any smaller, it just looks sad.
The hot glue holds the yarn down but will probably loosen over time. A few stitches will go through the felt base and hold the wig in place all night. My dog still shakes her head about 40 times every time the door opens.
For even more wild ideas like this one, check out 7 Adorable DIY Dog Costumes for Kids for some super cute ideas.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @doggrambrazil
#2: DIY Bat Dragon Dog Costume — Pink Wings, Rainbow Hair Extensions, and All the Halloween Drama
Your golden is already a showstopper. But put her in the costume in the picture and she’ll be the whole Halloween parade.
This look gives me major fantasy vibes with it’s hot pink dragon wings, orange and purple hair streaks, and tiny black spider crown on top of her head. It’s literally a Pinterest board come to life!
First, the wings! Grab a pack of hot pink craft foam sheets (or, the thick kind, the 2mm EVA foam). Cut out two crescent shaped bat wings, each about 10 inches wide. Glue them to the back of a small elastic harness strap. The wings should maintain their shape thanks to the foam, but they won’t weigh down a smaller dog.
All she needs is two clip in strips (one bright orange and one purple), and a small elastic topknot. You can find these at any party supply store or order them in multipacks on line. She paired them with a black glitter spider clip to add a crown moment on top.
I’ve had this tiny little orange plastic trick-or-treat bucket forever. I thought it would be fun to tie a piece of ribbon to the handle and loop it around the dogs neck for some photos.
Real talk: skip the pins and metal clips near the ears, use only soft elastics on the dog, making for a more comfortable shoot for the dog.
The foam wings give structure without being stiff. This means your dog can sit, pose, shake, and play around without the costume falling apart on them mid-photo.
Hang up a yellow Halloween-print fabric backdrop (just a yard of fabric from the craft store, or dollar store) and you have yourself a studio-worthy space!
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @cristalfurttado
#3: The “Cheep” and the “Moo” — A Farm Animal Duo DIY Dog Costume That Steals the Show
I know your golden is sitting there giving you that look that says, “please don’t put that on me.” You do it anyway because Halloween is your holiday too, okay?
These two are giving off some serious farm energy! One dog is wearing a yellow fleece chick hoodie with a red felt comb and orange foam beak, and the other is wearing a black-and-white cow-print cape with a pink plush ear headband.
For the chick costume, you will need 1/2 yard of yellow fleece. Cut out a hoodie shape that covers the chest and back. Hot glue a red craft foam comb and an orange felt triangle beak onto the hood. Sew or clip the hood to make it snug, but not restricting.
The cow look is made with black and white print fleece cut into a cape style panel. No sewing is required if you use fabric glue. The headband is just a pink foam ear set that I got from the craft store attached to an existing dog headband or hat.
One thing to remember: Fleece is your best friend here as it doesn’t fray so raw edges are totally fine.
Lay the hood loose so that your dog can still pant and move around. It’s a much happier dog (and a better photo!) if the costume fits well.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @flexandxena
#4: Kangaroo Rider Dog Costume (No-Sew DIY That Looks Store-Bought)
Sit your goldendoodle down and she starts wagging her tail, wondering what you’re up to. And then, quite casually, you slip this over her back. Best reaction yet, at the Halloween block party.
Next up, a blue vest with a stuffed kangaroo boxer on the back! Seriously, I thought this one had just been sitting on a shelf. The kangaroo has red boxing gloves and ears that are standing up. He is perched in just the right position to look like he’s riding your dog into battle.
If you want to make one yourself, you will need a royal blue fleece vest for your dog. You can just cut the vest to fit the dog’s torso. You’ll probably need 12-16 inches depending on the size of your dog. For the kangaroo, you will need to buy a brown plush stuffed kangaroo toy, and it should be about 8-10 inches tall, at any craft or dollar store. Attach it to the vest with either velcro strips or fabric-safe hot glue at the kangaroo’s feet and tail.
The best part: The fleece stretches are super comfy and soft and don’t restrict my girl from moving around. I always get a great shot when she’s feeling comfy.
Make sure you have the kangaroo pinned slightly forward toward the shoulders (but not directly over the middle of the back — it looks better, and the kangaroo will stay upright longer). If you love to go all out on dog costumes, 18 Hilarious Dog Costumes Your Pup Will Love! has some great inspo for next year, too.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @little.good.things
#5: Long-Haired Dachshund Tuxedo Bandana — The Easiest “Fancy Dog” Look You’ll Ever DIY
Your golden boy just rolled in something suspicious and you’re trying to get him Pinterest ready for a party. I feel that tension and it comes for me every single time.
I always say, “I feel like a pimp.” and today, this look is giving full pimp energy with zero stress. A black felt tuxedo bandana, and a white cotton shirt panel, which I stitched two small decorative white buttons down the center of. It feels like something I’d pay $40 for at a boutique pet shop.
Start with ¼ yard of black felt and ¼ yard of white quilting cotton. Cut the white piece into a 4″ x 6″ chest panel. Shape the black felt into a V-neck lapel frame. Wrap the black felt around the neck. Hand stitch or hot glue the white panel to the black felt. Sew two ½ inch white buttons on the collar. Add a small black bow tie cut from the leftover felt. Fold and pinch the center of the bow tie then wrap with a thin strip.
It is attached with a simple Velcro strip at the back of the neck, and can be put on and taken off in about 4 seconds. The Velcro fasteners means you can adjust the fit as you like and not have to struggle or stress the dog out.
Black felt doesn’t fray, so hemming isn’t necessary. And if your dog has long ears like my guy, it’s better to have an open neck so nothing gets tangled or pulled.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @kuoser_officials
#6: The Dapper Gentleman — Corgi in a Navy Vest, Bow Tie & Fedora
Does your golden lay around on the patio furniture as if he owns the place? Well, this little corgi has a similar look, but he showed up in a full suit.
This look gives off a bit of a old money gentleman vibe. It’s also one of the easiest DIY dog costumes out there! This look consists of the following: a navy blue button front vest, a white collared shirt that will act as the base, and a black felt fedora hat that is sized to fit your dog’s head.
Start with a white cotton dog shirt. Sometimes you can find it for $8 – $12 in pet stores. This will give you a neat collar peeking out. The vest you can either buy a navy suede-look dog vest, or you can cut one from a stiff felt or tweed fabric panel. Then you can either hand-stitch or hot glue small black buttons down the front.
My favorite part of my dress is the bow tie! A champagne/rose gold satin ribbon folded into a bow and sewn onto a small elastic collar band takes maybe ten minutes to do. It really just pulls the look together and people tend to lose their mind over it in pictures!
A better way: measuring for dog’s neck before cutting any material, allowing for a snug fit to ensure costume doesn’t slip during your photo shoot.
Accessorise the hat with a thin elastic chin strap so it actually stays on. Stitch through the brim at two points and attach a clear elastic loop underneath. For more wearable DIY inspiration, 12 Heartfelt Designs for DIY Dog Accessories has some seriously good finishing techniques.
If you are worried about seams scratching your dog, then glue is your best friend. A hot glue gun will bond the fabric together fast enough to get through a photo shoot in an hour. Best of all, your dog will be able to have their paws out and won’t get scratched by the seams.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @leocorgii
#7: Rafiki & Simba Lion King Dog Costume DIY — The Most Extra Thing You’ll Ever Make (And Worth Every Second)
I feel like there’s nothing better than a golden retriever doing something so ridiculous you have to get out your phone, and that’s the kind of energy this costume gives off. A pug dressed as Rafiki holding baby Simba above his head is the kind of chaos and joy that brings the whole Halloween block to a halt.
The costume is a gray and beige fleece bodysuit inspired by Rafiki’s mandrill body, with white faux-fur framing the face to mimic his signature mane. The headpiece features a small Simba plush toy that is positioned above the dog’s head and mimics the presentation scene on Pride Rock. The costume also features tiny black velvet paw-shaped cuffs, orange painted felt feet, and a tan belly panel sewn to the front of the costume.
For my Simba headpiece, I hot glued a Simba finger puppet or a small plush (these can be found at any Disney store or online for under $8) to a clear plastic headband that lays flush against the dogs head. The clear plastic headband disappears against the dogs fur and you are left with a sweet headpiece with a floating Simba head! The clear headband has a velcro strap that holds it on the dog and doesn’t stress the dogs head.
It is made from a 12″x12″ white craft fur square and glued to the hood opening of the costume with fabric adhesive. The faux fur is soft so there is no scratching, and your dog won’t be able to scratch himself. You will also get some amazing photos of your dog!
And if you’re already into costume mode, check out 13 Adorable Dog Halloween Costumes You Need to See for some more wild inspo.
Always test the headpiece for the first short indoor session as some dogs shake their heads and send Simba flying across the yard and believe me it’s hilarious, but a choking hazard.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @rumithewhirlingpuggle
#8: Shrek Dachshund Costume — The Swamp Lord Fit Your Dog Didn’t Know They Needed
Well, that one is going to you! It’s a black and tan dachshund standing in a misty swamp wearing a very important piece of yellow-green terrycloth Shrek hoodie with ears that are shaped like horns on the top of his head. Need I say more?
This outfit makes me feel like Shrek. Perhaps it’s the multi-panel robe-style hoodie. With the bright chartreuse hood, two stuffed round ear horns, cream and peach striped terrycloth body, yellow ribbed cuffs. I always knew I felt like the swamp, now I know why. It’s Chef’s kiss. Perfectly chaotic.
To make your own: Grab a plain terrycloth dog hoodie (puppy bathrobe works great for our dachshunds), dye or replace the hood section with yellow-green fabric, and hand-sew two small stuffed fabric tubes, pinched at the base, to create Shrek’s signature ear horns. Then, stitch them on top of the hood. The body of the doggie can stay cream or peach, or you can dye terrycloth to get a two-tone look.
Keep this in mind: Dachshunds run low and cool to the ground, so terrycloth is adorable as well as practical, since the thick loop-pile fabric keeps their belly warm on damp walks.
If you love dressing up your dog, here are 7 Adorable DIY Dog Clothes Ideas to Try, sure to inspire you.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @oatie_thesausage
#9: Princess Leia Dog Costume DIY – The Cutest Galaxy Far, Far Away Look
Her golden is already a queen, so might as well dress her like one.
Speaking of princesses, this Princess Leia look is giving us full Rebel Alliance energy: the white robe-style tunic, the side bun wig and the little stuffed arms. It’s so good it hurts. Well, maybe not, but it’s easier to pull off at home than you’d think.
My dog is never naked. We had a white canvas fabric cut out into a very simple A-line tunic. I wanted something that was firm enough to hold the shape of the tunic but was soft on her belly. The belt is just made out of some grey felt cut into a shield and hexagon shapes, with some silver snap buttons hot-glued on. Super easy!
The key focus of the costume is the wig, this one is brown and it has two bun circles that I have stitched on either side. I used a brown faux fur headband and shaped two bun circles out of it – the buns are about a 3 inch diameter roll. The whole headpiece slips over my dog’s ears.
What’s with the stuffed arms? Cut some skin-tone fleece into two small tube shapes. Stuff with polyfill. Attach them to the side of the tunic, and they will flop around as she walks. You will die of the cuteness.
I hot glued most of this together so if you aren’t about that sewing machine life, no worries.
Make sure the neck opening is wide enough so that it does not pull at the collar. You don’t want to have a costume that is snug enough to pull at the neck but also one that is too loose to cause stress. You want to make sure that you take the time to measure, measure again, and then cut once so that you can have a costume that is just right!
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @splendid_cutiepie
#10: Dracula Dog Costume DIY — The Halloween Look That Stops Everyone in Their Tracks
Your golden is already dramatic enough. But with this costume, your dog will take the neighborhood Halloween walk to a whole new level.
This is a red merle Australian Shepherd named Phoenix and he’s dressed as Dracula. I would like to dress my dog like this for Halloween. Like, every dog that has ever existed. This costume is just the perfect mix of scary and ridiculous.
His base is a purple satin vest trimmed in gold piping. Worn over a white ruffled shirt with puffy sleeves. The sleeves are stuffed and stiff, they stick out to the sides to make it look as if he is dog walking upright. He is wearing black pants. Around his neck is a black vampire collar that frames his face.
It’s easy to make this yourself. Buy a pre-sewn dog vest pattern in a purple fabric, sew on some gold ribbon trim, and attach stuffed white fabric tubes at the shoulders to look like arms. The black collar piece can be made from craft foam, cut into a crescent and painted matte black.
Your best friend when it comes to the arms will be hot glue. Stuff the arms with polyester fiberfill so the arms can hold the shape.
Putting your picture in front of fake spider webs and a mossy log like Phoenix’s family did is super fun and will make your costume pop way more.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @wanderingwithphoenix
The One Trick That Makes Your Dog Man Costume Actually Stay On Your Dog
And finally, I ruined my first attempt at a Dog Man costume for my cousin’s pup because I forgot this step.
hot glue and felt dont stand up to a dog who shakes every 30 seconds.
Another trick is to use iron-on hem tape instead of glue. This will bond the costume to the base, but will not add bulk that might make it difficult for your dog to wear. A friend, Leila, used this method on her golden, Biscuit, and not only did the costume stay on, it survived her entire Halloween parade!
Make sure you make the cape long enough so that when it is put on your dog it does not drag past his haunches. If it does then it becomes a tripping hazard and your dog will most certainly step on it and rip the whole thing to shreds before you can even get one good photo.
Cut it to mid-back length. Non-negotiable.
I used a pet safe fabric marker to make the Dog Man face on the hoodie. I used regular Sharpie markers and my dogs don’t like the smell when it’s near their head.
The Velcro closures on the sides of the cuff are so easy to adjust.
Your Dog-Proof Living Room Is One Purchase Away
Here’s what I want you to do – I want you to pick one piece. Just one. Maybe it’s that slipcover that makes your sofa feel safe again. Or that rug that stops you from panicking every time your golden trots in from the backyard.
You don’t have to do everything at once. Small wins add up quickly.
With your room looking great, you might even want to go the extra mile and create a dog washing station so mud doesn’t get tracked through your house.
So, which room in your house needs the most work? Tell me! 😀 Put it in the comments! 😀
Amr Mohsen is a software engineer who traded his keyboard for a leash — at least on weekends. His love for dogs inspired him to share what he learns as a dog owner and enthusiast, bringing a detail-oriented, research-driven perspective to every article he writes. If it’s about dogs, he’s probably already looked it up twice.
