Colorado Dogs Are Dressing Up for Halloween

Colorado dogs already put up with a lot.

They wear booties in the snow. They get dragged to breweries. They are forced to pose on mountain trails like they personally summited a fourteener. Some of them have Instagram accounts with better branding than most local businesses.

So naturally, Halloween is another chance for dog parents to say, “You know what this animal needs? A pumpkin hat.”

A new survey from the National Retail Federation says pet parents are expected to spend $1 billion on Halloween costumes this year. Yes, billion. With a “b.” For pets who would mostly prefer a nap, a snack and maybe not being turned into a taco for 47 minutes.

Still, the people have spoken, and apparently the dogs have no legal representation.

The Most Popular Dog Costumes This Year

According to the National Retail Federation survey, the most popular dog costume is a classic: the pumpkin.

Pumpkins accounted for 11.6% of pet costumes, making them the top choice nationwide. It makes sense. Pumpkin costumes are cute, easy to recognize and generally less humiliating than dressing your dog as a pirate accountant or whatever Etsy has cooked up this year.

Here are the top dog costume picks from the survey:

1. Pumpkin — 11.6%
2. Hot dog — 5.9%
3. Ghost — 2.8%

Other popular pet costumes include:

• Superheroes
• Witches
• Lions
• Spiders
• Dragons
• Clowns
• Devils
• Sharks

Honestly, if you have ever seen a French bulldog dressed as a shark, you understand why civilization peaked and then immediately started declining.

Colorado Dogs Will Absolutely Be Overdressed for This

In Colorado, Halloween costumes for dogs come with extra considerations. One minute it is 68 degrees and sunny, and the next minute your golden retriever is dressed as a pumpkin in sideways snow while you pretend this was a good idea.

That is why Colorado dog costumes tend to fall into a few very specific categories.

The Practical Costume

This is the dog wearing something fleece-lined, weatherproof and technically festive.

Maybe it is a pumpkin hoodie. Maybe it is a bat costume over a puffer vest. Maybe it is just an orange jacket and the owner says, “He’s a Halloween safety cone.”

Honestly, valid.

Colorado weather does not care about your theme.

The Brewery Patio Costume

This dog is dressed as something adorable, but also socially acceptable in public because the owner needs strangers to comment on it at a brewery in RiNo, Fort Collins, Boulder or Colorado Springs.

Likely choices:

• Hot dog
• Cowboy
• Superhero
• Shark
• Taco
• Something with a tiny hat

The dog will be photographed next to a hazy IPA. The caption will include the word “spooky.” We all know the drill.

The Mountain Dog Costume

This is the dog dressed like a tiny hiker, park ranger, bear, mountain lion or ski patroller.

Very Colorado. Very on-brand. Slightly confusing if worn near actual wildlife, but that is between you and the elk.

A lion costume is especially risky here because if your dog already has a big mane, you are basically one Amazon order away from making your neighbors do a double take.

The Broncos Dog Costume

Some Colorado dog owners will dress their pets in Denver Broncos gear and call it a costume.

Technically, this is allowed. Emotionally, it depends on the season.

A dog in a Broncos jersey is cute. A dog watching a late-game collapse while wearing a Broncos jersey is performance art.

The “My Owner Tried Too Hard” Costume

This is the elaborate costume with wings, lights, props, foam pieces and possibly a structural support system.

The dog hates it. The owner insists it is “only for a quick picture.” The quick picture takes 29 minutes. Everyone is sweating.

These costumes usually include dragons, spiders, superheroes and anything involving more than four legs, which feels like a cruel joke to an animal that already has four.

Why Pumpkin Costumes Keep Winning

The pumpkin costume is popular for a reason.

It is simple. It is seasonal. It works on every size dog, from a Chihuahua who looks like a decorative gourd to a Great Dane who looks like a haunted hayride broke loose.

Pumpkins also tend to be less restrictive than some other costumes. That matters because dogs, despite the entire internet’s best efforts, are still animals. They need to walk, breathe, see, hear and move without being wrapped in 14 layers of polyester nonsense.

Plus, orange shows up well at night, which is helpful for Halloween walks, especially in Colorado neighborhoods where sidewalks may or may not be treated as a serious concept.

Hot Dogs Are Still Elite

The hot dog costume coming in second at 5.9% is no surprise.

It is one of the all-time great dog costumes. It is stupid in exactly the right way. It is especially good on dachshunds, obviously, but it works on just about any dog.

A Labrador dressed as a hot dog? Excellent.

A corgi dressed as a hot dog? Perfect.

A Great Pyrenees dressed as a hot dog? Ridiculous. Put it in a museum.

The only downside is that your dog may try to eat part of the costume, but that is less a flaw and more an inevitability.

Ghost Costumes Are Trickier Than They Look

Ghosts ranked third at 2.8%, and while the idea is cute, dog ghost costumes can be a little tricky.

A traditional sheet-over-the-head ghost costume does not exactly work when the model has paws, ears, a snout and no interest in your creative direction.

The better option is usually a ghost-themed bandana, hoodie or lightweight costume that does not block the dog’s eyes. Because nothing says “Happy Halloween” like your dog walking directly into a porch pumpkin because it cannot see.

The Colorado Costume Power Rankings

Based on national trends and Colorado’s very specific personality disorder — outdoorsy, dog-obsessed and seasonally dramatic — here are the costumes most likely to be big with Colorado dogs this Halloween:

1. Pumpkin

Classic. Cute. Easy. Works in snow, sunshine or whatever meteorological nonsense October decides to serve.

2. Hot dog

Always funny. Even better if the dog is long, short or deeply confused.

3. Superhero

Perfect for energetic dogs who already think they are saving the world by barking at Amazon drivers.

4. Witch

Great for black dogs, tiny dogs and any dog with the judgmental stare of someone who knows your secrets.

5. Lion

Ideal for fluffy dogs. Dangerous for owners who will say “king of the jungle” 19 times.

6. Shark

Peak comedy on small dogs. Also acceptable on large dogs who already patrol the house like unpaid security.

7. Spider

Very popular, very creepy and guaranteed to scare at least one unsuspecting neighbor.

8. Dragon

For dogs with attitude, big ears or a strong desire to make the costume budget everyone else’s problem.

9. Broncos fan

Cute, regional and depending on the year, possibly the scariest costume on the block.

10. Ski patrol dog

Colorado-specific, adorable and useful if your dog already acts like it is in charge of everyone’s safety.

A Few Tips Before Dressing Up Your Dog

Because we do occasionally have to be responsible adults, here are a few reminders before turning your dog into a seasonal decoration.

• Make sure the costume fits comfortably.
• Avoid costumes that block vision, breathing, hearing or movement.
• Skip small pieces that can be chewed off and swallowed.
• Try the costume on before Halloween night.
• Watch for signs of stress, including freezing, pawing, whining or trying to escape.
• Use reflective gear or lights for nighttime walks.
• Keep candy away from pets, especially chocolate and anything with xylitol.

Also, if your dog clearly hates the costume, maybe go with a festive bandana. It still counts. No one from the Halloween Costume Authority is coming to audit you.

Probably.

Colorado Dogs Are Ready for Their Close-Up

With pet parents expected to spend $1 billion on Halloween costumes this year, it is safe to say dog costumes are not going anywhere.

Pumpkins, hot dogs and ghosts may be the national favorites, but Colorado dogs will no doubt add their own flair — a little mountain-town energy, a little Broncos trauma, maybe a tiny puffer vest for good measure.

And sure, your dog may not understand why it is suddenly dressed as a dragon in front of the garage. But it does understand attention, treats and the fact that humans are weird.

So this Halloween, whether your dog is a pumpkin, a hot dog, a ghost or a shark with no dignity left to lose, just remember: Take the picture fast, pay the treat tax and let the poor thing go back to being naked.