Halloween is a week away,  busy doggy parents everywhere are scrambling to get ready.

According to a survey done by Dogster, 65% of dog owners will be including their pooches in Halloween festivities this year.

Fun doesn’t just mean staying home to answer the door and pawing out candy. Local pet supermarkets and boutiques host activities ranging from costume competitions to parades.  For a small fee, donated to charity, many of the sites offer a souvenir picture to take home.

This Sun., Oct. 26 the world’s largest Halloween pet event will once again be hosted by the Haute Dog. The Howl’oween Parade, as seen on TV, had more than 600 costumed dogs in the 2007 parade and expects an even bigger turnout this year.

You still have time to join in all the Haute Dog events so be sure to stop by and visit their site for all the fun filled details.

So..will these pups be showing up dressed to the nines or au natural?  Dogster’s survey showed 40% of dog owners have definite plans to dress up their pets, and 72% of those plan to buy their costumes rather than make them at home.

For dogs entering contests, Haute Dog founder Justin Rudd suggests tried-and-true ways to beat the competition. “You’ve got to do something to stand out. It could be a motorized float or a grouping of dogs. In last year’s parade, we had five pugs in jail suits, riding in a wagon called the Pugitentiary.” Other winners included a choo-choo train, gnome, grim reaper, aviator, geisha and lobster.

Casey Whitcher, owner of the high-volume web retailer GlamourDog, says newly available costumes are always the most popular, and October brings in huge sales-second only to the December holiday rush.  They have great costumes, new styles for 2008 as well as the perennial favorites.  Check it out soon, there’s not much time left to order for  arrival before Halloween.

While dressing your dog up may be fun for you, it isn’t always fun for your furry pal. According to Dogster’s survey 43% of the respondents admitted their costumed pooches resent having to wear holiday garb, though many end up in it nonetheless. The majority of dogs, though, can’t wait to embrace the eerie events-according to their human companions anyway.

Survey Highlights

* 65% of dog owners will be including their pooches in Halloween festivities this year.

* 40% have definite plans to dress up their dogs.

* 72% of those dressing up their dogs will be buying their outfits rather than making them at home.

* 46% percent think the coolest costume last year was Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.

* 43% say their pets resent wearing costumes.

* 19% of dog owners say their pets love getting gussied up for Halloween-the more outrageous the outfit, the better.

Remember,  Halloween night is often accompanied by noises your dog isn’t used to, which can be scary.  There are some safety tips to keep in mind to make this a fun and safe day for all.

Boo!

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I came across this article and I thought it would be fun to see what Dogsters thought on the subject.

In Dallas, TX it seems that dog owners love to dress up their dogs.  I’m talking  everyday apparel, not just Halloween.

Parent: Denise Devora, Dallas

Pup: Chiquitita the Chihuahua

Ms. Devora, 32, an administrator at Mountain View College, got Chiquitita last April in San Antonio. Doggy couture wasn’t a natural fit for Ms. Devora, although she’s become a convert. “I never thought I would dress up a dog. I never saw that coming. We always had outside dogs; she’s only the second inside dog I’ve ever had.

“But you see these cute little outfits, you think how cute she’d look in that, and one thing leads to another …
“She just eats up the attention she gets when she’s got them on,” Ms. Devora says. “I take her to the mall sometimes in a carrier, and she’ll be really good till someone notices her. Then she’s sticking her head out, and then it starts. Then there’s no stopping her.”

The movie  Beverly Hills Chihuahua was number one at the box office last weekend. In the movie dog star Chloe has her own wardrobe. The producers obviously realized that dressing your dog isn’t just a trend, it’s here to stay.

Go into any doggy boutique or national chain, like PetSmart, and you’ll see sections devoted to dog clothes.  I admit Lisa and I dress the pups up for Halloween, but the neighborhood kids look forward to seeing them every year.  Okay, we do it for ourselves too.  Other than that they go au naturel for the rest of the year.

Last year Bo even wrote a blog entry letting us know his feelings about being dressed up.  You can read Halloween Humiliation and find out what he thought.  I know Bo’s feelings about the subject but I wonder if other dogs like to be dressed up?

The other day I was in the store picking up dog food  when a lady with a small dog started trying to put a Halloween hat on him.  He was squirming around looking like he was about to jump out of the cart when the woman turns to me and says, “He doesn’t like be fully dressed, but he enjoys this.”

That wouldn’t have been my assessment, but what do I know.  So….who out there likes to dress their dog year round?  Who thinks you shouldn’t dress your dog?  Fess up, give me a bark.

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Looking for some early Halloween fun?  Disney is on a quest to find the best dog costume photos.

Trick out your dog and win a sweet treat! Submit a photo of your best friend in costume for your chance to win a year’s worth of dog food, training, pet insurance, and $2,000.

Go over to Disney to find out contest rules and prize information.

I asked Bo what he would do if he won, his response “I’m going to Disneyland”, of course.

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I just got word about a fun contest being brought to us by the Independent Film Channel.

Think your bulldog’s a ringer for Bono? Dress up your guitar hero like a rock star, snap a picture, and upload your entry to the IFC “Dress Your Pet (and/or Kid!) Like a Rock Star” photo contest.

Runners up win $500 each and the grand prize winner earns a cool $5000. Plus, the highest rated photo each week wins a $50 iTunes gift certificate. Enter as many photos as you like (one per day). And make sure to check out the photo gallery daily to rate the rockers.

Good luck to all the Dogster rock stars wannabes.

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