At Dan’s Pet Care, we enjoy dressing our dogs up in safe, comfortable costumes — and it’s even more fun when we get to match our dogs on Halloween. Here on Long Island, there are plenty of Halloween costume contests your dog can enter. Even if there’s no competition involved, attending a Halloween event with matching costumes can be lots of fun. It makes for a great photo op, too! But if you’re busy and you don’t have a lot of craft supplies at home, trying to come up with costume ideas can be a little intimidating.

Are you looking to match your dog for Halloween this year? Short on time and looking for some last-minute inspiration? You don’t have to spend a lot of money or be a professional to have fun. Keep reading to discover some of our favorite ideas for matching Halloween costumes. All our suggestions are quick and simple, since they don’t require much time, effort or materials.

Dress up as a farmer and make a barnyard costume for your dog

One of the simplest costumes you can make for yourself is a farmer outfit. At minimum, you’ll need some overalls, a plaid or buffalo check shirt, and a straw hat. Bonus points if you can add a bandana, too!

Dressing your dog as a barnyard animal is the fun part. The easiest approach is to buy a simple pet t-shirt and add decorations. In a pinch, you can use a white t-shirt with black spots to dress your dog as a cow. For an even simpler option, put a bandana around your pet’s neck. They’ll blend right in with you!

Dress as a cheerleader and give your dog a football jersey

If football is part of what you love about fall, why not celebrate with a cheerleader/football player costume pairing? You can dress as a cheerleader with a pleated skirt, some pom-poms, and pigtails. Get your dog a football jersey from your favorite team. You’re all set!

Dress up as Little Red Riding Hood and the woodcutter

Fairy tales are a great source of easily recognizable characters that work well for DIY costumes. This costume idea works great for couples who want to dress up with their dog. Make a simple Red Riding Hood costume for one person — a red cape and a picnic basket will do the trick. For the other person, a work shirt, some boots, and an axe (real or costume) make a great woodcutter costume. As an alternative, you can dress the second person up as Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother. Your dog is the simplest element in this ensemble. All they need is a pair of wolf ears, and they’re ready to go!

Attend your event as a garden gnome with a beautiful flower

If you’ve got a pointy hat and a faux white beard, you’re ready to pull off a garden gnome look. If you can add a spade or shovel, some black boots, and a simple tunic with a rope belt, you’ll look even more convincing. To dress your dog as a flower, you can buy a pre-made costume that goes around their neck and features petals surrounding their head.

Choose a nautical theme that works for both you and your dog

If you enjoy swimming or boating, you can easily create some ocean-themed costumes for you and your dog in just a few minutes. Do you love yachting? Dress up as a ship’s captain, and get a matching hat for your dog. If you’re more into deep sea exploration, you can wear a wet suit, flippers, and goggles. Give your dog a cardboard shark fin attached to their harness, and you’re all set.

Dress up as an artist and make your dog a masterpiece

Creating an artist’s costume for yourself is pretty simple. You might want to start with a pair of overalls — bonus points if they have paint stains on them. Carry an easel, a palette, or a paintbrush, and everyone will get the idea. You can get a curly wig if you want to take things up a notch. Then, simply dress your dog in a white T-shirt covered with many different paint colors. A pet-sized beret never hurts as a finishing touch!

Why not try Dan’s Pet Care this fall?

Your dog deserves the very best care. At Dan’s Pet Care, that’s exactly what we provide. Whether you need grooming, boarding, walking, or any other pet care service, we’re here to help. Contact us today to get started!