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Halloween Costumes for Small Dogs: Boo’s Greatest Hits

A dog named Boo taking Halloween seriously was basically a legal requirement, and he delivered every year. This guide ranks small-dog costume ideas by the standard he set: maximum cute, zero misery, and a photo your group chat will care about.

One rule before the list, learned from the master: the best costume is one your dog barely notices wearing. If your dog turns to stone the moment the outfit goes on, scale down to a themed bandana or collar. We wrote the honest guide to whether dogs even like this; read it before October.

The ideas, ranked by Boo logic

1. The dinosaur. The reigning champion of small-dog costumes and a Boo classic. A hood with felt spikes turns any small dog into a five-pound apex predator. High cute, low restriction. **

2. The pumpkin. The entry-level icon. Usually just a soft vest or hood, meaning even costume-skeptical dogs tolerate it. Orange was Boo’s color anyway. **

3. The teddy bear. For Pomeranians and doodles this is barely a costume, it is a documentary. Lean into what the haircut already started. **

4. The hot dog. The pun writes itself for dachshunds but works on any small dog with the confidence to carry a bun. **

5. The ghost. Budget pick: it is a white sheet with ear holes, and on a dog named Boo it was practically canon. DIY in ten minutes, photographs beautifully.

6. The pilot / bomber jacket. For the dog with a serious face and no patience for hoods. Jacket-style costumes restrict the least and flatter the most.

7. The spider. A harness with soft legs attached. Maximum drama from above, minimal awareness from the dog wearing it.

Buy in September (a Boo-fan pro tip)

Small-dog costume sizing is the first thing to sell out, every single year. The XS dinosaur exists in abundance in early September and is a collector’s item by October 20th, and rush-shipping a replacement means paying double for the wrong size anyway. Boo’s costumes were always ready early, because photos take rehearsal: a first short wear for the fit check, a second for treats-and-praise association, and by the third session the costume is old news and the photos look relaxed instead of hostage-like. Two weeks of runway is the difference between a dog wearing a costume and a dog tolerating an ambush.

Fit and safety, the short version

Measure neck, chest, and back length before buying; small-dog sizing is chaos across brands. Nothing over the face or pinning the ears. Supervise the first wear, keep sessions short at the party, and bring treats so the costume stays a good deal. If the evening involves a lot of strangers and doorbells, the costume matters far less than the calm.

Boo’s own costume archive lives on in the photo gallery, and his year-round wardrobe, the tees and hoodies and boots, is documented in Boo’s Closet. Halloween was just his championship season.

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