No matter the occasion, a dog in a costume can be adorable. There are just as many costumes out there as costumes ideas, though, so selecting one can be difficult. After all, most are designed to look unquestionably delightful on any canine.

That said, not all costumes are made equal. Some are difficult to put on, while others are not durable. Since most dogs will complain about the costume even if it is perfect, you must choose the best option available.

Here, we created reviews of 10 of the best dog costumes. These should provide you with many ideas and hopefully, help you choose the best one for your dog.

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The 10 Best Dog Costumes

1. Frisco Formal Dog & Cat Tuxedo — Best Overall

There are many great costumes out there, but we think the Frisco Formal Dog & Cat Tuxedo is one of the best overall costumes for dogs. This costume is versatile, so your dog can likely wear it more than once. It is comfortable and designed to be worn during special occasions.

The suit jacket is directly attached to the shirt flap, providing a realistic look while still being easy to get on your dog. A bowtie is already sewn onto the outfit, so that is one less piece that you have to worry about. The hook-and-loop fasteners are easy to close and won’t open without human intervention, making it difficult for your dog to remove this costume by themselves.

Gold button accents provide added detail to the costume and make it look high-quality.

This costume is available in many different sizes, so you can choose the best size for your pup. Be sure to check the sizing chart to ensure that you order the correct one.

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2. Frisco Jingle Bells Dog & Cat Holiday Collar with Bells — Best Value

As a simple collar, the Frisco Jingle Bells Dog & Cat Holiday Collar With Bells contains much less material than most other options out there. Therefore, it costs less. We consider it to be the best dog costume for the money.

This festive collar has bells and comes in red and white. It is easy to slip onto your pet’s neck without much of a problem. If your dog usually wears a collar, then this option will probably be one of the least stressful out there. If your dog refuses most other costumes, you may want to give this one a try.

You can even put this over your dog’s standard collar so you can continue to use their leash.

There are different sizes available. Therefore, you should be able to find one to match your dog’s size with ease.

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3. Frisco Front Walking Santa Dog & Cat Costume — Premium Choice

The front-walking costumes are among the most popular (and hilarious) options out there. The Frisco Front Walking Santa Dog & Cat Costume is a simple Santa costume that goes on the front of your dog’s body. Therefore, it looks like your dog is walking around as Santa.

It comes in many different sizes, from X-small to XXX-large. With so many different sizing options, you’ll likely find the perfect size for your pup.

The body and headpieces are separate for comfort and ease of use. Since it is two different pieces, it is much easier to put on. It also comes with a detachable beard.

The top piece has elastic ear and chin straps to help keep it in place. Therefore, you just have to slide it onto your dog’s face. The chest piece is attached with hook-and-loop fasteners.

Since there is so much material involved, this costume is a bit more expensive than some other options out there.

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4. Rubie’s Costume Company Sushi Dog & Cat Costume

For a fun and exciting costume, you may want to consider the Rubie’s Costume Company Sushi Dog & Cat Costume. This costume comes in two pieces, including a soft bodysuit. Together, these pieces make the dog look like a rice roll with orange fish and seaweed. It even has a headband with a rising sun design to make it clear what your dog is trying to be.

You can use this for Halloween or just as a fun costume for your dog.

That said, this costume is a bit more challenging to get on than some others. It is a bodysuit, so you have to squeeze your pet into it. This isn’t easy to do in many cases, as you might imagine.

There are a few different sizes available.

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5. Rubie’s Costume Company Hula Girl Dog & Cat Costume

The Rubie’s Costume Company Hula Girl Dog & Cat Costume is a fun and obvious costume. No one will be wondering what your dog is dressed as when you put them in this.

This costume comes with three different pieces: a “coconut bra,” leaf skirt, and a flower lei. Since it contains so many pieces, it takes a little longer to put on. However, this also makes it easier to put on because there is less material that you have to wrestle onto your dog at one time.

There are four different sizes available. You should be able to find the correct size for your canine using the sizing chart provided by the company.

That said, this costume is a bit more expensive than most other options out there. If you’re looking for a budget choice, this costume is not for you.

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6. Frisco Formal Dog Wedding Dress

The Frisco Formal Dog Wedding Dress is quite elegant and can be utilized in many situations. For instance, you can use it during an actual wedding or put it on your dog for Halloween. There are many different sizes available, though they aren’t that accurate. The sizing chart can help you figure out exactly what option is best for your canine.

This dress has lace floral embellishments. Beading, a layered tulle skirt, and a satin bow provide elegance and set this costume apart from other options.

On top of being made entirely with polyester, this dress is comfortable. You can even shove the whole thing into the washer between uses.

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7. Rubie’s Costume Company Multi-Colored Dog & Cat Sombrero

The Rubie’s Costume Company Multi-Colored Dog & Cat Sombrero is designed for pets that tend to be fussy about their costumes. It only has one piece, which is a sombrero. Since it is so simple, it can be paired with other costume pieces quite easily. You can put this on your dog by itself, or you can use it as part of a bigger costume.

An elastic chin-strap works to keep this hat in place while your dog wears it. This strap is quite comfortable and easy to use. You just slip it over your dog’s head.

There are various size options. However, since it only goes on your dog’s head, it typically isn’t a huge deal if you get the wrong size.

That said, this hat isn’t the most durable outfit. It is also relatively easy for many animals to take off, so you may have trouble getting your dog to wear it for an extended period.

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8. Rubie’s Costume Company Lederhosen Hound Dog Costume

If you’re looking for a unique and funny costume, then the Rubie’s Costume Company Lederhosen Hound Dog Costume may be suitable for you. It features a bright green hat, a scarf, and a suit, making it a complete costume that doesn’t require any other purchases.

The hat comes with an elastic strap that is easy to put on. However, this strap is also easy to take off. Therefore, if your pet is known for pawing at their costume, this option may not be suitable for them.

The suit has fasteners that are easy to use and more secure than most other options.

This costume is made in multiple sizes, so you can choose the best option for your canine.

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9. Rubie’s Costume Company Menorah Dog Hat

The Rubie’s Costume Company Menorah Dog Hat is exceptionally inexpensive. However, there is a reason for this: There are only two sizing options available, making the fit somewhat tricky.

Specifically, this costume only seems to be made for small dogs, despite coming in a “large” size.

This hat can also come off fairly quickly if your dog paws at it, as it is only kept on with an elastic strap.

That said, this is a unique costume, and you probably aren’t going to find many like it on the market. If you’re looking for a Jewish dog costume, this is one of your few options.

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10. Rubie’s Costume Company Donut & Coffee Dog Costume

The Rubie’s Costume Company Donut & Coffee Dog Costume is made to look like a donut, with a hat that looks like a coffee cup. This costume is versatile and can be used in various situations. Plus, it is incredibly adorable.

This costume comes in two pieces, and you shouldn’t need anything else to complete it.

The donut is kept on using hook-and-loop fasteners, as well as a belly strap. Therefore, it is easy to put on but relatively difficult for your dog to take off. However, the hat is only kept on with an elastic strap. It tends to fall off easily. Your dog can quickly reach up a paw, grab it, and pull it down.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Costume

There are tons of costumes on the market. Companies come up with new ideas every year for dogs to wear. Unfortunately, most costumes are only available for a limited time. Therefore, if you see something you love, be sure to purchase it. You don’t know when it’ll be back in stock again.

That said, you don’t need to purchase everything on the market. There are some costumes that your dog won’t wear, and that’s okay.

We put together a guide to help you make educated decisions on which costumes to purchase.

Costume Ease of Use

Preferably, you should only pick costumes that are easy to get on your dog. Even the most laidback dog is only going to put up with getting dressed for so long. Therefore, you want a costume that can easily be put on your dog.

Hook-and-loop fasteners are easy for you to put on and take off of your dog, but they are difficult for your canine to take off themselves. Therefore, they are excellent for dog costumes.

Plus, this sort of fastening device is automatically somewhat adjustable, so you can make it looser or tighter as necessary.

Difficult for Your Dog to Get Off

Most dogs will attempt to take off the costume if they can, even if they are well behaved and used to being dressed. For this reason, you want a costume that will stay on.

An elastic neck strap is a great way to keep a dog’s hat on. However, since it slides under your dog’s neck, it’s easy for your dog to pull it off with their paw.

Basically, if your dog pulls at a hat that is only kept on with an elastic strap, it will probably come off.

Instead, we recommend choosing costumes that can stay on a bit better. Some hats come with ear straps, which are a bit more difficult for your canine to take off.

Most body pieces are going to be substantially more difficult for your dog to take off because they can’t just pull them off with a paw. That said, the costume should be able to withstand rolling and jumping. Sometimes, your dog may even chew on it if they can reach it.

Dog Costume Price

Most costumes are inexpensive. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need a budget. Some costumes will be costlier than others.

Typically, the company that creates the costumes does matter. There are quite a few out there that mass-produce straightforward costumes. These are cheap, but they may be lacking in quality. Some companies have better reputations than others, so be sure to do your research.

Some boutique companies also make dog costumes. Just like with human clothes, you’ll have to pay more for these. These costumes are often high-quality, but this isn’t always the case. Therefore, you should always research the company and read reviews.

Of course, you are the only person who knows your budget. If you’re just looking for a laugh or a costume that your dog will only wear once on a not-so-special occasion, then you should consider purchasing something cheap.

Big events, like weddings, may call for a more expensive costume, though.

Dog Costume Durability

Often, costumes are only worn a few times. Therefore, many costumes are not built to be durable. This can be a problem if you want your dog to wear the costume more often.

If you’re planning on using the costume frequently, you’ll likely need to choose a high-quality item, which may lead to a high price tag.

Either way, you’ll need to consider how durable you need the costume to be based on how often you plan on using it. Then, choose an appropriate costume.

Dog Costume Completeness

Many costumes are complete when you purchase them. They come with all the accessories needed to make it a costume. Therefore, you won’t need to spend more money on putting something together.

But some costumes are not well put together. They may be an accessory themselves and not designed to be worn alone. Or, the costume can be so poorly designed that it requires accessories to be complete.

Remember, if you need to add more stuff to a costume, you’ll end up spending more money. Keep this in mind when you’re purchasing, and be sure to compare it to your budget. If you need more accessories, it could drive the price up substantially.

Conclusion

There are tons of different costumes out there. You can turn your dog into basically anything.

That said, some costumes are better than others. We particularly recommend the Frisco Formal Dog & Cat Tuxedo. This costume comes complete and ready to go. It is available in many different sizes, and a bowtie is already included.

For those who want a cheap costume for a few laughs, consider the Frisco Jingle Bells Dog & Cat Holiday Collar With Bells. This collar features festive bells for use during the holidays. It is also easier for sensitive dogs to tolerate because it is designed to fit just like a collar.

We also like the Frisco Front Walking Santa Dog & Cat Costume. It is a humorous costume that is easy to put on but difficult for your dog to take off. It comes in two pieces and is durable enough for many uses.

That said, there are many other quality costumes in our reviews list. We hope that one of them suits you and your canine.

• Related read: Do Dogs Like Wearing Clothes? What Do They Prefer? 

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Featured Image Credit: Masarik, Shutterstock