Best Halloween Costumes for Pets & Families
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Halloween is now a full family event, pets included. Matching family pet costumes let everyone join the fun and create photos you will want to keep forever. From classic dog Halloween costumes to themed outfits for the whole crew, coordinating looks make trick or treat, school parties, and neighborhood events more memorable.
Our family has tried everything from dinosaurs and superheroes to Ghostbusters and the Addams Family. Building each look around Bo and Piper helps us choose colors, props, and comfortable pieces that the dogs can actually wear. If you are planning early, this guide will help you find ideas, compare budget and splurge options, and keep your pets safe in their Halloween outfits.
Top Family-Themed Costumes We’ve Done
Jurassic “Bark”
Long before kids joined our Halloween crew, we went all in on a favorite theme: Jurassic Bark. Bo and Piper dressed as dinosaurs, and we played the intrepid park staff. We set up a playful “electric” fence in front of the porch (complete with a homemade warning sign), and the neighborhood loved it.
Our outfits came from the thrift store (khaki shorts, button-downs, a red bandana, and a blonde ponytail wig). The real stars were the dino-pups!
Shop the look:
Dog costumes: Dog Triceratops Costume and/or Pupasaurus Rex Costume
Human costumes: Khaki Button-Down Safari Shirt, Khaki Shorts, Red Bandana, Explorer Hat, Blonde Ponytail Wig
Mario & Friends
One year we jumped into the world of Super Mario, and it quickly became a family favorite. Bo dressed up as Bowser, and Piper took on the role of Princess Peach, both in homemade costumes that turned out adorable and surprisingly sturdy. We even crafted a little Yoshi outfit for the baby, complete with a tail and hood, which stole the show.
The rest of us filled in as Mario and Luigi, with classic overalls, colorful shirts, and oversized hats (plus the mustaches, of course). We even made a DIY “warp pipe” prop to bring the whole scene to life.
Shop the look:
Dog costumes: Bowser and/or Princess Peach
Yoshi: Youth
Tips:
If you want to go the DIY route for pets, use felt and fabric glue to create accessories like spikes, crowns, and collars.
Lifeguards, Shark, and Tacky Tourists
This year’s look was all about summer vibes with a twist. We dressed up as lifeguards, complete with matching red gear and rescue buoys. Everson made the perfect little shark, chomping his way through the day in an adorable shark hoodie. Bo and Piper got tropical as “tacky tourists,” showing off their best vacation looks with floral shirts, sunhats, and leis.
The contrast between the serious lifeguards and our silly tourists (plus one hungry shark) had everyone laughing and stopping for photos. It was easy to pull together and super comfortable to wear all day.
Shop the look:
Lifeguards: T-Shirt, Jacket, Ball Cap, Bucket Hat, and Bouy
Tacky tourists: Dog Hawaiian Shirt, Dog Bikini
Superhero Squad
One of our most action-packed family themes was our Superhero Squad. Dad suited up as Captain America, Mom became Captain Marvel, and Everson took on the role of Iron Man. To complete the team, Piper made an excellent Thor (complete with her winged helmet) and Bo was our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
This theme was a huge hit because everyone got to be a hero, and the dog costumes fit right in with the rest of the Marvel universe. It was colorful, instantly recognizable, and made for some of our favorite group photos.
Shop the look:
Dog costumes: Spiderman Costume, Iron Man Costume, and Captain America Costume
Tips:
Coordinating around one movie franchise makes it easy to mix store-bought and homemade pieces.
The Addams Family
For a spooky twist on family costumes, we transformed into the Addams Family. Mom dressed as Morticia, dad became Gomez, and the kids took on Wednesday and Pugsley. To complete the look, the dogs joined the fun with their own perfect Addams-inspired roles. Piper was Cousin Itt, complete with long flowing hair, sunglasses, and a bowler hat, while Bo was Kitty Kat, the family’s loyal pet lion. Piper looked absolutely hilarious shuffling around with her hair swishing and her tiny glasses wobbling, and she 100% stole the show.
Shop the look
Adults: Morticia Dress, Gomez Striped Suit
Dogs: Cousin Itt Wig, Hat, Glasses, Lion Mane
Extras: The Thing Hand
Ghostbusters
Who you gonna call? Our family went full Ghostbusters one Halloween, and it was such a fun theme for both kids and dogs. We all wore the classic tan jumpsuits with proton packs, and the kids got really into “busting” ghosts around the neighborhood.
The dogs brought the laughs as our villains for the night: Piper dressed as the iconic Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and Bo nailed it as Slimer, complete with a goofy green getup. Their costumes added the perfect playful touch to balance out our serious ghost-hunting crew.
Shop the look:
Adults & Kids: Ghostbusters Jumpsuit Costume, Youth Costume
Every year our costumes start with Bo and Piper and grow into a family story we get to wear. Some sets were quick and budget friendly. Others took more planning. All of them turned into memories we still laugh about when we scroll through photos.
If you are just getting started, pick a theme your crew already loves and make the dogs the stars. Keep the pieces comfy, take a few trial runs at home, and snap the candid moments as much as the posed ones. That is the magic for us. It is not the perfect outfit. It is the way the kids light up when the dogs trot out in costume and the way the whole night feels a little more like an adventure.
