As the three-week countdown to Halloween 2023 begins, the hunt has begun for pet parents who are looking for the perfect costumes for their animals.
As with human costumes, the designs for pets range from simple and homemade to intricate and high-priced. It's a trend that many pet owners embrace: According to national survey results released last year by PetSmart, 76 percent of adult American pet owners said they planned to put their pets in costumes, with 30 percent saying they intended to have their pets dress up more than once for the holiday.
There's also money in pet costume sales for retailers. Americans spent an estimated $700 million on pet costumes last year, compared with $1.2 billion spent on children's costumes and $1.7 billion spent on adult costumes, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). The NRF estimates a similar amount will be spent on pet costumes again this season, fueling what the NRF believes will be a record year for Halloween spending.
Any person who visits a pet store in October will realize there are plenty of options when it comes to pet costumes. But many pet parents do have favorites. According to the NRF, a pumpkin is the most popular pet costume in the U.S., with an estimated 11 percent of pet owners dressing their pets in these costumes.
Hot dogs are second in terms of popularity at 7 percent, followed by bats at 4 percent and bumblebees and spiders tied at 3 percent. Devil, cat, lion, ghost and witch costumes also ranked among the 10 most popular pet costumes.
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The story is a bit different when it comes to the most popular pet costumes sold on Amazon. A Chucky costume inspired by the famous horror character sits at the top of Amazon's best-selling dog costumes list. This costume reappears within Amazon's top 10. Bat costumes place second and fifth on the list, and lion manes place fourth and seventh. Other popular pet costumes on Amazon include cowboy attire, a dinosaur suit, Eeyore ears from Winnie-the-Pooh and delivery driver uniforms.
Some pet stores are similarly able to identify which pet costumes are most popular among their customers. Jenn Kovacs, Petco's vice president of design, collaborations and omni experience, named a few favorites in an emailed statement shared with Newsweek on Tuesday.
"Classic costumes that are fan favorites each year include the hot dog, taco and prisoner, but pet parents also look for trendy and unique items that speak to a variety of personalities and interests—such as our new sushi, UFO and alien and mermaid costumes for cats, dogs and small animals; as well as affordable, easy-to-wear headpieces, like our kissing booth, popcorn and more," Kovacs said.
While pet costumes can be fun and festive, not every pet enjoys wearing them—and some choices are safer than others.
Erin Askeland, a certified professional dog trainer and animal health and behavior expert with Camp Bow Wow, told Newsweek pets should never be forced to wear a costume if they're showing signs they don't want to. The best costumes for a pet's comfort and safety will be the simple options that ensure they are able to move around and breathe easily.
"For example, a costume that fits like a traditional dog vest or t-shirt (like a pumpkin t-shirt for dogs) and doesn't cover their entire body and head could be an easy way to keep your pet comfortable while celebrating the holiday," Askeland said.
Pet costumes should be checked for loose or dangling parts that could be choked on if chewed, and for excess material that could catch on something and cause the pet to get stuck or hurt. Costumes that don't fit properly, are made with heavy material, have accessories or cover a pet's ears should also be avoided. For costumes that require fur color changes, Askeland said pet owners should consult with groomers to pick pet-safe options that won't make the pet sick or irritate their skin.
Pet Halloween costumes "should not constrict the animal's movement, hearing or sight, or impede their ability to breathe, bark or meow," Askeland said. "Also, it may be helpful to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed or shows abnormal behavior, don't bother."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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