Don’t let all of the cute social media posts fool you; you don’t have to be in a relationship to wear a couple’s Halloween costume (and even if you are in a relationship, you still don’t necessarily have to dress up with your partner). You could always opt to become a dynamic duo look with your best friend or a sibling. Or, you could think up a matching Halloween costume for your pet, and head out with your fur baby on October 31st.  

While not all pets are fans of dressing up, if you own a dog, cat, guinea pig, etc. who is willing to wear a costume for the night, then opting not to dress up your pet for Halloween feels like a missed opportunity. There are a plethora of pet Halloween costumes out there to choose from, from generic classics, like skeletons and witches, to Halloween costumes inspired by television series and movies. Whichever look you decide should ultimately depend on the types of clothing your pet will tolerate and how creative you want to be. 

Ahead, we’re rounding up some of our favorite Halloween costumes for pets. Whether you're feeling nostalgic or are searching for something quick to pull together, you'll find plenty of inspiration.

Elle and Bruiser Woods from Legally Blonde

If you and your favorite pup are Gemini vegetarians and agree that whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed, dress as Elle and Bruiser Woods from Legally Blonde. While you don’t necessarily need to be parenting a chihuahua for this Halloween costume for dogs, you will need a blinged-out collar (we think this one speaks to Bruiser’s style). As for you, an all-pink-everything ensemble will do just fine. After all, Elle is one of the OG Barbiecore icons. 

Sabrina Spellman and Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Black cat owners, this is your fur baby’s time to shine. Whether you’re a fan of the original Sabrina series starring Melissa Joan Hart or prefer the creepy comics-turned-Netflix series starring Kiernan Shipka, both witches buddy up with the talking black cat. Complete the facade with either Hart’s 90s-high schooler outfit (think straight-leg denim, a velour collared zip-up tops, or mini a-line dress,) or Shipka’s moody, modernized dark-witch-in-disguise aesthetic consisting of mock necks, mini A-line skirts, knit sweaters, and black stockings. 

Skeletons

We love a good pop culture-inspired Halloween costume, but classics are classic for a reason. An easy Halloween costume idea is a spooky skeleton, and if you really want to lean into the lazy route, you can achieve the look by pairing this animal-friendly skeleton hoodie from Petco (available in dog and cat sizes) with this comfortable adult skeleton onesie from Tipsy Elves. 

Joe Fox and Brinkley from You’ve Got Mail

Fall may be for Meg Ryan stans, but historically speaking, where there is Meg Ryan, there is Tom Hanks, and where there is Tom Hanks in the 1998 film You’ve Got Mail, there is his character’s dog, Brinkley. Brinkley is Joe Fox’s friendly golden retriever, and together the pair steal Kathleen Kelly’s (Ryan) heart. The benefit to dressing up as Fox and Brinkley for Halloween is that the outfits Fox wears to walk his furry sidekick are pretty lax. Simply throw together a pair of cream-colored slacks, a short-sleeve two-button polo, and a brown jacket, or channel Fox’s version of cozy boy fall with blue jeans and a turtleneck. 

A Life Guard and Shark 

Another clever Halloween costume for pets and their owners is the iconic lifeguard and shark pairing. Petco has an adorable shark onesie for dogs, and it’s not difficult to piece together a DIY lifeguard costume. We’d suggest pairing a bright red one-piece (think Baywatch), white shorts, and flip-flops. Tie your hair in a high pony, and don’t forget a pair of black sunnies to tie it all together. A silver whistle is a given, and if you can find/tolerate holding an inflatable Lifesaver float, even better (just don’t be surprised if your pup confuses the prop for a chew toy).

Lilo and Stitch

Together, six-year-old Lilo Pelekai and her extraterrestrial “dog thing,” Stitch, make for one of this writer’s favorite Disney movie duos. Their friendship could be described as quirky and strange, but there’s a lot of love and adventure there, and if you and your pet can relate to these unconventional cartoon BFFs, then this is the Halloween costume for you. Etsy has a ton of Stitch costumes for pets, while Chewy has a Disney Stitch Space Suit option. As for your Lilo costume, a leaf-printed maxi dress and sandals, similar to the character's main outfits, will work just fine (and will allow you to extend the life of your summer wardrobe).

Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen

The Princess and The Frog’s Tiana and Naveen are a match made in Disney fairytale heaven, and they also make for a fantastical Halloween costume for pets and their owners. There are a plethora of frog costumes for pets on the market, but we especially love this amphibian hoodie for dogs (available on Esty), this knitted froggy bonnet for cats (available on Amazon), and this precious frog prince hat for pets like guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and sugar gliders. And, if a blue or green poufy dress feels like too much effort, you can always cosplay with those color schemes and rock clothes you already own.

Dorothy and Toto from The Wizard of Oz

While you might not be able to be transported to another dimension on the 31st, encountering talking trees, flying monkeys, good and bad witches, and a horse of a different color, you can channel Oz-like energy on Halloween by dressing up as Dorothy and Toto with your furry pal. To achieve Dorothy Gale’s iconic ensemble, opt for a blue and white gingham dress, pigtails, and, if you can, a pair of red pumps. As for Toto, he’s best portrayed by lap dogs you can fit into a wicker basket (but, of course, big fluffy dogs can also take on this role).

The Grinch and Max from The Grinch

In the mood for a Halloween/Christmas mashup? The Grinch and Max make for one mischievous pair, and you can’t deny channeling the green guy’s grump energy wouldn’t be fun. Simply slip this Max-inspired headband onto your pup and decide which kind of Grinch beats to the rhythm of your tiny black heart. We love this deluxe suit by Aoibox for social festivities, but if you’re just staying in and handing out candy, we highly recommend opting for this clever character robe.

Hermione Granger and Crookshanks from Harry Potter

To all the cat parents out there, this Halloween costume is double the fun; not only is it a costume you can wear with your pet, but you also get to pose as the brightest witch of our age. This would be an especially perfect costume for owners of lazy, chubby cats with attitude. Just carry them in your arms, chastising them often throughout the night, while you look particularly magical in a Hogwarts robe. 

Mary Kate or Ashley and Clue from The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley

If you were a fan of The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley series (bonus points if you owned the entire collection on VHS), you might remember the twins’ hound dog, Clue. The sullen-looking pup may not have been super helpful when the sisters were solving mysteries, but he was a cute sidekick in his detective’s cap. For your half of the ensemble, opt for a trench coat, matching fedora, and black sunglasses if you’re going undercover. For your pup, there are detective costumes for dogs around the web, like this one from Walmart, and this one from Etsy. 

Wilma and Dino from The Flintstones 

One surefire way to have a yabadabadoo time this Halloween is for you and your pet to dress up as Wilma and Dino from The Flintstones. While we don’t suggest dying your fur baby’s coat purple for the occasion, there are plenty of Dino Flintstone costumes for pets floating around, which are, essentially, animal onesies. Wilma’s costume will take a little more effort on your end, as it consists of a white mini dress, chunky pearls, and a fiery red wig. Though, you may have a few of these pieces in your wardrobe already, so check your closet before adding anything to your cart. 

Baseball player & Hercules from The Sandlot 

Attention massive dog owners, this one is for you. The Sandlot’s “Beast” aka Hercules turned out to be just an old English mastiff that wanted to play ball… or fetch. Suit up your furry friend for a game by DIYing a jersey their size, and let them know you’re teammates by designing one for yourself. Add a pair of jeans (for you, not your pup) and some dirt-scuffed sneakers and you’re ready to hit the mound.

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