If your pampered pooch is truly one of the family, making a spider dog costume is an excellent way to include him in the Halloween festivities. Spider dog costumes also make a fun way to prank your friends, as evidenced by the popular YouTube video from SA Wardega featuring Chica the DogSpider chasing strangers in a furry homemade spider costume. The video shows Wardega “lifeless” in an elevator with Chico the DogSpider standing over him and a large spider web that appears to have human limbs stuck in it.
To make your own spider dog costume, you’ll need some black velvet material, a purchased spider decoration, and a dog life vest. Fake fur can also be added to the legs of the spider for a more realistic touch, if desired. Craft stores such as Hobby Lobby and Michaels Crafts are a good place to look for spider decorations to use for your homemade dog costume. You will want to pick one that is slightly smaller than your dog, since a decoration that is too big will make it hard for your dog to move. Cover the dog life vest with the black velvet material. Cut off the legs of the spider decoration. Carefully sew them on to the sides of the vest.
If you have a little extra time, you can make your own spider legs for the costume using black felt and polyester fiberfill. Martha Stewart Crafts has templates for this project. Stitch the pieces together with a knitting needle and use fabric glue for added reinforcement.
If you’re not crafty at all, you can purchase a spider dog costume for your four-legged friend at Dog.com. For a female dog, there’s also a cute green spider dog dress costume at Poochie Heaven.
Regardless of whether you make your spider dog costume or purchase it from a store, remember to pay close attention to your pooch throughout the night. If the costume is heavy or it’s very warm on Halloween, your pet might overheat. If your dog is panting excessively or falling behind when you’re trick-or-treating, it’s time to remove the costume. You should also check to make sure the costume is not too tight by making sure you can get two or three fingers between your dog and any fabric or tie that goes around him. A costume that is too tight can make it hard for your dog to breath and create a safety hazard by restricting his movement.
Do you dress your pets up for Halloween? If so, what do you think of the spider dog costume idea?
[Photo courtesy of cykocurt via Flickr.]