18 Last-Minute DIY Costumes for Dogs Who Didn't Get the Halloween Memo

Though October 31st is still more than a month away, the Halloween frenzy is already at a fever pitch, and seasonal supplies are flying off the shelves. Chances are, you've already gotten your Halloween costume plans locked in and ready to go - but what's your pup to wear? 

The selection of dog-friendly Halloween costumes available both in stores and with online retailers is somewhat limited even at the best of times, and when the Halloween rush hits, your options can quickly start to dwindle. Luckily, if you need a last-minute costume for your canine companion, we've got you covered. Flex your creative muscles and dress your dog to impress with these quick-to-make, beginner-friendly DIY dog costumes!

Last-Minute DIY Halloween Costumes for Dogs

If you're not a highly experienced crafter, don't worry. While we've included a few slightly more challenging designs for advanced crafters, most of these last-minute DIY Halloween dog costumes don't require a whole lot of know-how beyond beginner-level sewing skills and knowing how to use a hot glue gun. Many of them require even less effort than that! The supplies are cheap and easy to find, too, so you don't have to bend over backwards trying to put together your cool dog costume in a hurry!

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Simple Ghost Costume

This classic cheapo Halloween costume is so simple, you don't really need a how-to guide. If you've got a cheap spare white sheet and a pair of scissors, you're set. Just cut back the sheet as needed to make sure your dog won't trip over it, then cut a trio of holes for their eyes and mouth!

Halloween Pumpkin Hoodie

This adorable dog-size Halloween Pumpkin Hoodie costume from The Dapple is practically tailor-made for short, rotund pups, though any dog will look cute in it! It comes together effortlessly, too - you just need an orange dog hoodie, some stiff black felt, and a hot glue gun.

No-Sew Pirate Costume

No sewing skills? No problem. This swashbuckling pirate pooch costume from Luigi and Me comes together easily with a few pre-made kid-sized pirate supplies and a glue gun - zero sewing supplies required. 

Dog Skeleton Costume

"Spooky scary skeletons are easy to DIY" - that's how the song goes, right? In their take on a doggy skeleton costume, The Pointy Snoot recommends sewing a black fleece onesie from scratch for optimal accuracy, but you can save a lot of time and effort by just buying a black onesie or dog sweater and sewing on the white fleece skeleton pieces (cut out from their printable guide). But if you're looking for something even simpler...

An Even Easier Dog Skeleton "Costume"

As shown here, you don't even need to make a skeleton costume as long as you can score some white pet-safe body paint (like OPawz) and can spare a few minutes to paint your pup! This look will obviously be the most effective on a short-haired black dog, but any dark-colored fur will do nicely as a blank canvas!

Lion's Mane Collar

If you have a Golden Retriever or a similarly yellow-haired dog, all you need to transform them into a little lion is a golden lion's mane. This easy and adorable DIY lion's mane from Instructables uses lycra, faux fur, and a little polar fleece for the ears, and it comes together easily (though the writer recommends taking the time to make a simple paper model of your dog's head to get the sizing right)!

Giant Spider Costume

Despite my arachnophobia, I have to admit that this giant spider dog costume from Instructables is very clever - and, uh, very effective at triggering the heebie-jeebies. You may have to make a craft store run for a few supplies like craft wire and needlenose pliers, but the actual costume assembly is pretty straightforward and easy enough for novice DIYers to follow.

"Corn" Dog Costume

Who doesn't love a punny costume, even if it's "corny"? TikToker @chandlererniegoldenboys uses yellow pool noodles, green felt, and a yellow dog shirt to make her simple yet hilarious "corn dog" costume!

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Hot Dog Costume

Since we're on the theme of punny costumes anyway, let's go for one more with this adorable, easy-to-make hot dog costume! Crafter Mikyla Creates opts for a classic ketchup and mustard motif using red and yellow cardstock, but you can get creative with any crafted "toppings" you can dream up! Chicago dog, anyone

Scooby-Doo Dog Tag

If you've got a Great Dane, dressing them up like Scooby-Doo on Halloween is a no-brainer, just like @TawnyandRex's effortlessly simple how-to for creating a cartoonish Scooby-Doo dog tag. Bonus points if you buy a light blue collar to match Scooby's own!

Underdog Cape

Underdog has been a cartoon icon for Beagles everywhere since the mid-1960s! If your pup already resembles this adorable canine superhero, all you need to complete the look is a simple Underdog cape - this easy, no-sew Instructables version should do the trick!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Costume

OK, I promise these aren't all cartoon costumes, but grant me one more, because what dog wouldn't look cool dressed up as a Ninja Turtle? For Crafts by Courtney's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costume, the most "labor-intensive" part is making a simple turtle shell out of a disposable turkey pan. After that, you just need a green shirt and some ribbon in your turtle's signature color, and your dog will be ready to kick some shell!

Chappell Roan Costume

"Your favorite artist's favorite artist" has a lot of bold signature looks in her portfolio, but this getup (modeled here by Chappell Roan's canine namesake at the SPCA Florida) is easy enough to nail with a simple DIY recreation. You just need a pup-sized pink cowboy hat, a shimmery pink bandana, and a pink dog shirt (preferably sequined), and voila - your dog is an official member of the Pink Pony Club!

Dirty Martini Costume

Even if your dog has to wear a cone on Halloween, that doesn't mean they have to miss out on the fun! Your dog's cone will provide the base for Suzanne Spiegoski's simple dirty martini dog costume. From there, you just need to paint a few Styrofoam balls to look like martini olives, stick 'em on a wooden dowel, and tap the dowel to the inside of the cone. We'll take our dogs shaken, not stirred!

"Pup Cup" Costume

If you're an avid Starbucks drinker, you've probably ordered a "pup cup" or Puppuccino for your furry friend before. But with just a bit of cardboard, a coffee cup lid, and a printout of the Starbucks logo (or your coffeehouse brand of choice), your dog can be the Pup Cup with this adorable DIY Puppucino costume from Whiskers Gone Wild!

DIY Loofah Costume

Not only is this pup-sized loofah costume adorably hilarious, it's also incredibly easy to make and very cheap. All you need is a pair of scissors, a hot glue gun, an old dog shirt, and as many cheap loofahs as you need to cover the shirt with the fluffy stuff. If your dog is as small as Helen Nguuyen's, you may only need to sacrifice a single loofah!

Low-Sew Piñata Pup Costume

This festively detailed piñata costume from HGTV looks super complex, but in actuality, the trickiest part is assembling the hat and cutting out all the fringed felt strips. Once that's taken care of, it just takes some hot glue gunning and a little bit of beginner-friendly sewing to put all the pieces together.

Sushi Roll Costume

This kawaii sushi roll dog costume from Instructables requires a little more sewing know-how than most of the costumes on this list, but it's worth the effort for the deliciously delightful end results. Once the sherpa fleece rice roll and the fabric nori belt are completed, you can personalize your sushi roll with any kind of fabric "fillings" you like!

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