Skip to content

Costume ideas for Pup Crawl

Pupspiration for the big day

Thirty-two ways to dress the dog for the costume contest, plus twelve ideas for the owner and dog look-alike contest. Some take five minutes, some take a weekend. Every one of them belongs in Tower Grove Park on Sunday, October 25.

Browse the ideas Look-alike ideas

Costume ideas

Spaniel in a witch hat and cape among pumpkins
Medium

A pointed hat with a chin strap and a short cape. Pumpkins in the background do half the work.

French bulldog puppy in a red and black vampire cape
Show-off

A stand-up collar cape turns any flat-faced dog into nobility. Bring a tiny cauldron if you want the photo.

Dog lying under a white ghost sheet next to jack-o-lantern buckets
Easy

An old white sheet, trimmed short. Cut wide eye holes or drape it from behind the ears so your dog can see.

Pit mix in an orange bat-print cape and small witch hat
Easy

Orange tulle with a bat print, plus a mini witch hat. Store-bought, but it reads from across the park.

French bulldog in an orange and black striped witch hat
Easy

Just a hat. Perfect for dogs who tolerate headwear for exactly one photo.

Blue-eyed dog wearing a headband with black bat wings
Easy

Felt bat wings glued to a headband. Five dollars, ten minutes.

Beagle in a vampire cape and spider wig in autumn ferns
Medium

Cape plus a fuzzy spider on top. The confused look is free.

Pug in an orange bat-print costume with black tulle
Easy

A little dress with a tulle hem. Pugs pull it off; so will yours.

Black puppy in an orange pumpkin costume with green felt leaves
Easy

Orange fleece ring plus a green felt collar cut into leaves. The most on-theme thing you can wear to Tricks for Treats.

Small dog dressed as a gingerbread cookie holding a candy cane
Medium

Brown suit, white rick-rack trim, felt buttons. Early for the holidays, and nobody will care.

Corgi-type dog wearing a fluffy lion mane in a meadow
Easy

The mane is the whole costume. A classic for a reason.

Chihuahua in a green dinosaur hoodie with yellow spikes
Easy

A hoodie with spikes. Small dog, big predator energy.

Fluffy small dog in a blue and purple dinosaur costume
Easy

Bright colors photograph best against fall leaves. Go loud.

Chihuahua in a green frog hoodie with googly eyes
Easy

Frog hood with big eyes on top. Warm, too, if October turns cold.

Poodle wearing a white bunny-ear hood
Easy

Bunny ears in October: wrong holiday, right amount of cute.

White bulldog puppy in a full unicorn costume with a silver horn
Medium

Full body suit with a horn and mane. Try it on at home first; puppies need practice.

Brown and white bulldog in a unicorn hood
Easy

Hood only, so it goes on and off in seconds.

Three dogs sitting in a row wearing flower-crown unicorn horns
Easy

Multi-dog household? Match them. Flower-crown horns work on any size.

Sheltie in a striped bee costume next to red tulips
Easy

Yellow and black stripes plus antenna. The flowers are optional.

Small dog in a bee hoodie trotting down a path
Easy

Pick a suit with a secure fit around the chest so it stays put while your dog moves.

Yorkshire terrier in a bee dress with a sunflower
Show-off

Stripes, a tutu and a sunflower. Bows on the ears for extra points.

Schnauzer in a firefighter jacket and red helmet
Medium

Reflective jacket plus a helmet. Every kid in the park will want a photo.

Golden retriever in a red eye mask and cape
Easy

A felt eye mask and a cape. Cut the mask wide so it sits above the eyes, not over them.

Pug in a purple and white caped costume
Easy

Any cape counts. Commit to the pose.

Two dogs in red superhero costumes on a city sidewalk
Medium

Two dogs, one theme. Coordinate with a friend and walk in together.

Child and golden retriever dressed as matching superheroes
Easy

Kid and dog in matching masks and capes. The look-alike judges will be waiting.

Owner in skeleton pants standing over a dog wearing pumpkin headbands
Easy

You go skeleton, the dog goes pumpkin. A look-alike entry that takes zero sewing.

Doodle wearing a tuxedo lying on the grass
Show-off

A tux with a bow tie. Match it with your own for the look-alike contest.

Bulldog in a red plaid shirt and cap in autumn leaves
Easy

Red flannel on both of you. The easiest owner and dog look-alike there is.

Large spotted dog in a green tutu walking in a parade
Easy

Big dogs in tutus are a crowd favorite. Tulle is cheap; use a lot.

Happy dog in a rainbow bandana and tulle tail
Easy

Rainbow bandana, rainbow tulle. Bring your Tower Grove Pride gear back out.

Two dogs in rainbow tutus and bandanas on a walk
Easy

Two dogs, one palette. Bright colors look great against fall trees.

The owner and dog look-alike contest

Look-alike ideas for you and the dog

The contest nobody enters on purpose and everybody wins at. Twelve ways to match, from five minutes to a full weekend project.

See look-alike photos
  • Easy

    The lumberjacks

    You
    Red flannel shirt, jeans, knit beanie.
    Your dog
    Red flannel bandana or a tiny plaid vest.

    Add a toy axe for you and a stick for the dog. The dog will supply the stick.

  • Easy

    Ghost and ghostie

    You
    A white sheet with eye holes, or a white hoodie.
    Your dog
    A white bandana or a short sheet cape. Nothing over the face.

    Cut the dog's version short so it clears the legs and leash.

  • Easy

    Cardinals fans

    You
    Red jersey and a ballcap.
    Your dog
    A red pet jersey or a red bandana with a ballcap on the collar.

    A St. Louis crowd will cheer for this one before you say a word.

  • Easy

    Tourist and tourist

    You
    Loud floral shirt, sunglasses on your head, fanny pack.
    Your dog
    A matching floral shirt or bandana and a paper lei.

    Hang a cheap camera around your neck and call it done.

  • Easy

    Ballerina duo

    You
    Any tutu over leggings.
    Your dog
    A tutu in the same color, worn around the waist.

    Big dogs in tutus win hearts. Match the tulle colors exactly.

  • Easy

    Farmer and pumpkin

    You
    Overalls, straw hat, bandana in the back pocket.
    Your dog
    An orange pumpkin vest or a leaf collar.

    Carry a small basket. Bonus points if the dog sits in it.

  • Medium

    Copy the coat

    You
    A wig or faux-fur vest in your dog's color, parted the same way.
    Your dog
    Exactly as is. Just a good brushing.

    The classic look-alike move. Doodles, sheepdogs and spaniels make it easy.

  • Medium

    Spot the difference

    You
    Spots drawn or pinned on a white shirt to match your dog's markings.
    Your dog
    Nothing. The dog brings the spots.

    Works for Dalmatians, pointers, beagles and any dog with a patch over one eye.

  • Medium

    Beekeeper and bee

    You
    A beekeeper hat with netting and light-colored clothes.
    Your dog
    A bee suit with wings that don't flop.

    The bee suit fits almost every dog. The netting does the rest for you.

  • Medium

    Wizard and familiar

    You
    A dark robe, striped scarf and round glasses.
    Your dog
    The same striped scarf, tied loose.

    Keep the scarf short and loose so it can't snag.

  • Medium

    Chef and meatball

    You
    Chef whites and a paper chef hat.
    Your dog
    A spaghetti-and-meatball or hot dog costume.

    Carry a wooden spoon and a plate. Judges love a story.

  • Show-off

    Painter and masterpiece

    You
    Beret, smock and a palette.
    Your dog
    A lightweight frame (cardboard works) on a harness.

    Paint dabs on the smock should match the dog's coat colors.

How to win it

  • Match the coat. Pull your colors from the dog, not the other way around.
  • Steal the signature. Floppy ears, a spot over one eye, a tail curl. Copy the one thing people notice first.
  • Practice a pose. Same head tilt, same sit. Ten seconds of treat training goes a long way.
  • Dog first. If your dog hates the outfit, you wear the costume and the dog wears a matching bandana.

Before you zip anything

Costume comfort rules

A happy dog in a bandana beats an unhappy dog in a masterpiece. A few ground rules for the afternoon.

  1. Test drive it at homePut it on for short stretches the week before, with treats. If your dog freezes, scratches or hides, go simpler.
  2. Eyes, ears, mouth clearYour dog should be able to see, hear, pant and drink without anything in the way.
  3. Nothing to chew offSkip small buttons, bells and loose trim that could be swallowed.
  4. Leash and collar still workThe costume goes around the harness, not over it. You still need a good grip in a crowd.
  5. Watch the weatherFleece suits get warm in the afternoon sun. Bring water and take it off between contests.

Pick one. Show up in it.

Sunday, October 25, noon to 5, Tower Grove Park. Free to attend, costumes strongly encouraged.

Everything about the day