Halloween Costumes for Large Dogs: From Clowns, to Superheroes to Hawaiians

For Halloween, many people -- including myself -- enjoy dressing up their pets. I have looked high and low for dog costumes, but because my dogs are large, I don't usually have any luck finding costumes that fit them.

Here are five costume ideas that don't take a lot of time to put together, won't annoy your dog too much to wear, and won't break the bank

1) Cowboy

This costume is by far the easiest to put together and probably the easiest to get your dog in and keep him in. All you need is a bandana and a hat and you've got yourself an entire costume for your dog. The hat can be tricky to keep on, but if you can get a hat that's light weight, then attach a strap and tie it under your dog's chin. Some dogs will keep the hat on, but if he or she doesn't, then just go with a colorful bandana.

2) Superhero or Vampire

It doesn't matter what superhero your dog goes as, as long as there is a cape involved. Capes can easily be made or you can find them as part of a costume at the store. Similar to bandanas, dogs don't usually mind wearing capes, so they are easy to keep on and not too uncomfortable for the dog. The headgear might pose a bit of a problem, but if your dog won't wear it, then the cape is still sufficient to show that he or she is dressed up. For a vampire, all you need is a black cape. Your dog as his or her own teeth to work with.

3) Clown

Clown costumes are easy to find in the store, so depending on how big your dog is, he or she cold probably fit into a baby or child's clown outfit. If you don't want to put your dog into a whole outfit, you can simply buy clown accessories such as clown wigs, bowties, ruffles, and pompoms and use whatever your dog will allow you to.

4) Hawaiian

A Hawaiian outfit is fairly easy to put together and easy for your dog to wear. All you need is a lei and a grass skirt if you have a female dog. Make sure that you get a grass skirt that is sturdy so that when you tie it around your dog's waist, it won't all fall to the sides. Also, you might want to shorten the lei so that it fits snugly around your dog's neck. If you have a male dog, keep the lei, but put a Hawaiian shirt on him.

5) Devil or Angel

The devil or angel costume is a Halloween staple and it is very easy to find. You can use a red or white cape for the majority of the outfit, and then accessorize as much as your dog will allow. For a devil, all you really need is a red cape and some devil ears that you can find anywhere at Halloween. For an angel, you need a white cape, then find a halo at a costume store, or just wrap some garland around your dog's head.