Dan's Papers - October 26, 2007 - Tricks or Treats for Fido?

To dress or not to dress the dog for Halloween is one of the most hotly debated questions between animal lovers come October. And it's no surprise - because animals can't tell us whether or not they would prefer to celebrate Halloween at all, much less choose which costume they would like to wear. Dressing an animal in a costume tends to say nothing about the animal in the costume, yet speaks volumes about the person holding the leash.

On October 9 of this year, the American Kennel Club posted a poll which asked their website visitors, "How do you feel about people who dress their dogs up for Halloween?" Not so surprisingly, 41% of voters chose "Why humiliate your dog like that?" However, 22% of voters replied "Doesn't everyone?" and another 20% admitted "It's cute, but my dog hates wearing clothing." Judging from this informal online poll, internet-savvy dog owners are split pretty evenly between these two extremes.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to include your dog in the fun this Halloween, no matter which side you choose to take.

For those dogs who would devour any sort of costume as soon as they saw it, there is an array of festive collars, leashes and bandannas available that will show off your pet's spooky spirit without driving him mad or making him uncomfortable. Simple collars printed with candy corn or Jack o'Lanterns are the most rugged of the bunch - even if your pooch decides to go for a swim in the ocean before heading out to beg for treats around the neighborhood. A sturdy nylon collar will hold up to the waves and still look cute come trick-or-treating time. Although they are not quite as rugged as a plain nylon collar, Halloween-themed bandannas are an appropriate costume for most any dog. As long as the bandanna is fitted loosely and is short enough that the dog won't be tempted to rip it to shreds, a bandanna can be a comfortable yet festive alternative to a full-on costume. There are even bandannas that act as a costume, such as a black bandanna that reads "POLICE K-9" or "Firehouse Dog." If you take your pet out trick-or-treating or invite him to your costume party, the bandanna can even be coordinated to match your costume for an adorable photo op.

Of course, with the rise in popularity of dog clothing spurred on by such celebrity mutts as Paris Hilton's "Tinkerbell," full-on dog costumes abound for every size dog. If you have a particularly tolerant dog who is not a big chewer, or want to take a quick photo then undress the dog for the night, some of the most laugh-inducing costumes are the William Wegman-inspired one-pieces that look as if your dog's head was on a little, costumed human body. These are basically dog shirts with stuffed arms hanging down and come in every style, from Shrek or Princess Fiona to a Nascar Driver. If your pet is going to be spending some time in its costume, however, you might want to opt for a full-on human-style costume. These can be as simple as something resembling a dog coat, like the slightly humiliating but very funny "hot dog" costume, or as elaborate as a Football Player costume with little pants, sneakers, a jersey and a helmet. If you can dream it up, chances are that some dog costume company is selling it.

No matter how you decide to dress your pet for Halloween, remember that your pet's safety and comfort should always come first. Although most pet owners know that chocolate is lethal to dogs, children must be warned of the danger of sharing their Halloween loot with their canine buddies before an accident sends puppy to the emergency room. If your dog begins to chew on any part of his costume, remove it immediately and look for any pieces that might have come off. Even a costume labeled "non-toxic" could cause a deadly obstruction, so watch your pet closely whenever he is in his costume.

Pets love to be with their owners no matter what the occaision. If you can include your dog in your Halloween plans by taking him along sans costume or by dressing him up, you will both be happier for it. Have a happy howl-o-ween!