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Four-Legged Halloween

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Don't forget to include your family's favorite furry friend in this year's Howl-o-ween festivities. We've compiled a bunch of great ideas below that are sure to help your pet stand out from the rest of the crowd!

Freaks of Nature:
What could be more bizarre than an animal that looks like a completely different animal? Dressing your dog up as a cat or another critter is guaranteed to turn a few heads and elicit a few aww's and guffaws. Sure, it might be a little humiliating for your pet, but he'll probably forgive you -- for a few treats.

For a black cat costume, it's easy to turn a child's black t-shirt into the body of a cat. Just cut off the sleeves and put it on your pet. You might need to cut a slit in the neckline of the tee to make sure it fits comfortably. Next, cut two triangles out of black felt and glue them to an elastic headband that will comfortably fit your pet's head without digging into the skin.

An even easier option is a skunk. Take the same black t-shirt and paint a white stripe down the back with fabric paint. Once it's completely dry, cut out the sleeves and put it on your pet for a stinkin' sweet costume.

Boo! I Do!
With these costumes, two really is better than one. Just imagine your delightful duo walking down the sidewalk side by side as if they are going to the chapel of love instead of a haunted house.

The bride's dress begins with a white children's t-shirt. Cut off the sleeves and stitch tulle along the hem for a tutu. Take a white headband and glue extra tulle to it for a veil. This costume makes for a cute ballerina, too, if your pet decides to stay single.

For the groom, take a black children's tee and paint a tuxedo shirt on the front with white fabric paint. Use black fabric paint for buttons and pleating details. Take a length of black ribbon and make a bow tie for your little man. Just make sure it doesn't cut off his ability to breathe or bark. You should be able to fit two fingers easily between his skin and the ribbon.

For an extra touch, decorate a wagon for the lucky couple to ride around in. A sign on the back that reads "Just Married" and cans tied to the wagon with strings will announce their arrival.

Monster Mash
If you like your Halloween costumes a bit spookier, your pet could offer up ghostly greetings as a skeleton or mummy. To create a skeleton costume, first search online for an image of your pet's skeletal system. Next, paint shapes of the bones onto a black tee, keeping in mind that it doesn't have to look perfect. Once the paint has dried, put the t-shirt on your pet and your little Skeletor will be ready to rattle some bones in the neighborhood.

Mummifying your pet couldn't be easier. Just purchase some gauze and start wrapping. If you don't want to waste money on gauze that you'll end up tossing later, recycle an old white sheet by ripping it into long strips you can then use to wrap your pet in. Just make sure you don't wrap him up too tight, and don't cover his paws, face, ears, tail and bottom. If you really want to make your pet mummy look like he's been exhumed from an Egyptian tomb, soak the strips in some freshly brewed tea for an antiquing effect. Just make sure all of your wrapping material is completely dry before dressing your pet.
Fang-tastic Foodies
Are you a food-obsessed pet lover? Combine your two passions to create a hilarious costume even Ghoulia Child would envy. Whether it's an all-American hot dog or something trendier like edamame, it's easy to create a cuisine-themed costume worthy of the pickiest chowhound.

To create a hot dog, start with the bun. Measure the length of your pet's torso (from shoulders to hips) and cut two hot dog bun shapes out of the tan craft foam. Next, cut red and yellow felt into wavy strips to mimic ketchup and mustard. Take the pink t-shirt, cut the sleeves off and glue the red and yellow felt onto the back. Once the glue has dried, put the t-shirt onto your pet. Next, attach the tan craft foam to each side of the t-shirt with safety pins. You'll have one freaky frankfurter to show off!

For edamame, measure the length of your pet to determine how long the dark green felt should be and how many foam balls you'll need for the soybeans. To make the bean pod, glue three to five green foam balls to the center of the green felt in a row. Next, gather the ends of the felt and pin them together to create a boat-like shape around the balls. Take a child's light green tee and cut off the sleeves, then glue the pea pod to the back of the shirt. Once everything has dried, put the t-shirt on your pet and adjust for comfort. Whether your pet dresses up like a favorite food or a scaredy cat, don't forget: Safety always comes first. Happy Haunting!

Wild Things
If your pet is just too cute to spook, consider a costume that gets back to nature. All you need are a few supplies and creativity to have the most boo-tiful butterfly or flower on the block.

For a flower, cut out shapes of petals in the colored felt and glue to an elastic headband. Next, cut off the sleeves of a green tee and put it on your pet as the stem. Once the glue has dried on the flower headband, put it on your pet's head, making sure it fits comfortably, then get ready for a night of flower power.

To create butterfly wings, draw out the shape you want on cardboard and cut them out. Next, cover the front and back of the cardboard in the felt colors of your choice, making a butterfly pattern. Take a black children's t-shirt and cut off the sleeves, then glue the butterfly wings to the back of it. Once it's dry, put the costume on your pet and adjust the collar for comfort by cutting a slit in neck of the tee. Now you're ready to flutter off into the night together.

VIDEO: Tips on selecting the best costume for your pet

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INTERACTIVE: Test your knowledge on this spooky Halloween Creatures Quiz

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