Remember that time you saw Buzzfeed’s best dog costume list and decided to try one out on your own pooch?
If things didn’t go as planned, you might not have given your pet enough time to become comfortable with the costume, says pet expert Mikkel Becker.
Becker, a certified animal trainer and behavior specialist, says the best way to help your pets adjust to wearing costumes during the holiday season is to start as early as you can.
“The formative weeks in kittenhood are between 3 and 16 weeks. The same goes for puppies. That’s the time when they’re learning about the world, and learning what is safe and comfortable,” she says.
She adds that dressing pets in clothing when they’re young serves a functional purpose too. “In smaller dogs, older dogs, and really young dogs, you aren’t able to regulate their temperature well,” she says.
If you didn’t train your pet from an early age to take walks in sweaters, you’re still in luck. Becker says that a week or two before you plan to dress up your dachshund as a hot dog, you can still help him become accustomed to the costume.
“The mistake most people make is chasing the animal down, and wrangling it into a costume the day of the festivities. The animal doesn’t look very happy because it hasn’t been a happy experience for him,” she says.
She says distractions are a great way to make the experience more palatable for pets. “I try to tie it to something you always do in your pet’s life. During breakfast or dinner, training sessions can be very short and effective,” she says.
That can mean placing their favorite food in a bowl while wrangling that cape around your puss in boots. Becker says giving the animal a treat while he wears the costume is a way of reinforcing that he’s safe and can relax.
Becker adds the training sessions shouldn’t last too long. It should just be a couple of minutes of the costume being put on, the animal getting treats, and the costume going back in the closet, she says.
Hats are often the toughest part of the costume for animals, which owners who have tried to keep anything on their cat’s head for more a minute can attest to.
If your pet is particularly temperamental, it might be easier to go with a costume that has a vest that velcros and doesn’t need the animal to put its legs through, Becker says.
“If you’re looking for costumes that are easy, try one with a hood that you can put up for pictures,” she adds.
It’s also important to make sure the costume is a good fit for your pet. Becker says the most important measurement to remember is the length from your pet’s neck to the base of the tail. Save your receipt, and try it on your pet beforehand, in case you need to return it, she advises.
The most important thing you can do for your pet on Halloween is keep it safe and supervise it while it’s in costume.
“It should not constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow,” says the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Their advice if your pet isn’t keen on a costume: consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.