Halloween is just around the corner and I have been trying to think of the perfect costume for me and my dog. Every year my brother’s family and ours gather at one house or another and have a costumed Halloween party. Our kids dress up, we dress up and obviously we dress up Ivar! For him, we want something that is going to be fun and festive. I have been looking online at different costumes and made my choice based on that. This year, we were not as satisfied as usual. It happens. So in this article I will talk about things to look at before ordering. I thought it might help to get some advice from other dog owners as well so if you are reading this, please let me know what your favorite Halloween costume for your dog is!

Find amazing costumes for your pup here—-­> Halloween Costumes For Dogs

How to pick a Halloween Costume

It’s that time of year again! Time to start thinking about what Halloween costumes you and your furry friend are going to wear this year. If you’re anything like me, you want to make sure you pick the perfect costume that not only looks good but is also comfortable. Here are a few things to keep in mind when picking Halloween costumes for yourself and your dog:

-Size: Make sure the costume you pick is the right size for your dog. You don’t want it to be too tight or too loose.

You want to measure the girth of the neck as well as the girth of his chest. Those two measures are very important as most costumes place the colorful and playful element on the front. Sometimes there is something on the back of the costume so to fit it right will prevent the costume from sliding on one side or the other. Make sure it is long enough as well. Boston Terriers have big chest and a short body so keep that in mind. You don’t want the sleeves to be too long either unless you don’t mind modifying it.  If the costume you want has a hat, you’ll want to make sure to have the right size or else it won’t last long. I personnally try to avoid costumes with head dress, too much of a hassle but that’s just me.

-Comfort: Your dog will be wearing the costume for a while, so you want to make sure it’s comfortable.

Avoid anything with too many straps or that covers their face. Dogs will chew on it and frankly I understand. Lately I discovered that wearing masks really is uncomfortable to us humans so I can’t imagine how it must be for a creature who doesn’t understand why we dress up lol  Be aware of the fabric you choose. You’ll want to avoid fabrics that can create rashes or itches. Avoiding cheap and botched seams is also a good idea as the costume might tear up during the evening or simply show a tread that your pup will gladly pull and play with it, imagine the party for him!

-Mobility: Can your dog move around easily in the costume? 

You don’t want them to trip and fall or have a hard time walking. I told you this year wasn’t a winner for us. This is the reason. We ordered a costume of a French Sailor with a guitar attached to it that looked like the dog was playing it. The thing is we fell in love with it, focused on the size and didn’t check anything else before pressing the order button. Well, it turns out the guitar was actually a plastic guitar that was heavy and sturdy. We thought it was made of cardboard when were shopping. Ivar could’nt walk for more than 5-6 steps without banging it against his legs and it would hurt him. Not to mention the damages it could have made to our kitchen table and chairs legs! 

-Potential hazards: Some costumes come with small pieces that your dog could choke on or that could harm them if they swallowed it. Be sure to avoid anything with small parts or sharp edges. Some have leather straps and buckles, make sure they are well sewn to the costume. 

-Style:  I will not elaborate much on this as I consider style to be very personal. You might want to have something that fits with your own costume or not. This year, our pick had nothing to do with ours. It all had to do with the fact we love music and I play gutiar. Personality of your dog can also be a factor. Our Ivar is proud but also very submissive to our shenanigans so we can pretty much make him wear what we want but if your dog is not as easy, consider something that fits HIS personality.

With these things in mind, you’re sure to pick the perfect halloween costume for you and your furry friend!

Make sure you watch the video below to see how much fun they can have!

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Conclusion

So as you can see, there are a few things to consider. Unlike anyting in life, you will probably make mistakes when picking your first halloween costume for your pup. You know what? I bet you will also make mistakes when picking up the 4th or 5th one. Don’t beat yourself up, your dog will forgive you. Especially Boston Terriers, it’s in their DNA 🙂  

We ended up taking a few pictures and videos of Ivar and then we modified his costume. We could not let him try to walk around with this. He was still dressed for Halloween but not as funny as we thought he would look. I guess we can’t pick a winner every year but next year, I will come back here and read my own advice before I pick a Halloween costume for me and my dog to avoid another mistake lol

For more cute pictures, see our Boston Terrier’s Gallery and our Instagram page @everything_boston_terrier

I sincerely hope I have saved you some time and deceiving moments and I welcome all comments and tips you can send my way. Don’t hesitate to comment below and have a great Halloween!

J-F