Most dogs tolerate a Halloween costume for approximately three minutes, one photograph and whatever treat was promised in exchange for their cooperation.
These dogs misunderstood the assignment.
Somewhere along the way, putting on a costume became becoming the character. A French Bulldog discovers he can climb walls. A tiny Pomeranian looks into the mirror and sees a werewolf staring back. Indiana Bones runs for his life through an ancient temple, while one remarkably cheerful Golden Retriever continues looking for someone to throw his tennis ball despite the small inconvenience of a zombie apocalypse.
For this collection, we wanted to imagine Halloween dog photography with all the drama of a big-budget movie. The settings are beautiful, the lighting is cinematic and the costumes deserve their own wardrobe department. The fact that the stars happen to have four legs makes everything considerably better.
So dim the lights, grab the treats and suspend disbelief for a few minutes.
These dogs aren’t wearing Halloween costumes anymore. They’re living them.
Spider-Dog
With great power comes great responsibility. Unfortunately, nobody explained the second part to the French Bulldog currently halfway up the living-room wall. Dressed for the job and apparently unconcerned by gravity, Spider-Dog has discovered his superpower. His owners would mostly like to know how he plans to get down.
The Dark Knight
High above the sleeping city, a solitary figure watches from the rain-soaked rooftops. Cape moving in the wind and the skyline glowing behind him, this imposing Great Dane looks every inch the mysterious guardian the night deserves. Somewhere below, a refrigerator remains completely unprotected.
Superdog
Nobody actually saw him take off. One moment he was chasing a ball across the lawn; the next, a caped Jack Russell was sailing heroically over the backyard fence while his owner stood below reconsidering everything he knew about dogs. Up, up and apparently away.
The Incredible Hound
The patio table is upside down. Two chairs are missing. A flowerpot has met an unfortunate end. Standing proudly in the middle of the destruction in a pair of torn purple shorts is one extremely satisfied Bulldog who would like it entered into the record that he was angry.
Dogtor Strange
Something unusual is happening in the living room. Autumn leaves spiral through the air, curtains lift without a breeze and an Afghan Hound stands calmly at the centre of it all as though opening portals between dimensions is perfectly ordinary. Nobody touch anything until Dogtor Strange has finished.
Wonder Dog
Every superhero deserves an appropriately epic setting. Wonder Dog has chosen the kitchen. Standing heroically between the dishwasher and a bowl of bananas, this powerful Boxer looks prepared to defend truth, justice and whatever someone just dropped beside the refrigerator.
The Ghostbuster
There’s something under the bed.
Armed with considerably more courage than common sense, a Beagle inches toward the strange glow spilling across the bedroom floor. His equipment may be questionable and his backup appears to have abandoned him, but somebody has to investigate. Who you gonna call?
Dogula
Dinner is served at eight. Guests arrive at seven. Nobody asks what is in the goblets.
Seated at the head of an impossibly elegant candlelit table, a Doberman in a sweeping velvet cape surveys the room with aristocratic calm. He would like you to stay for dinner. Possibly forever.
The Mummy
Ancient evil has awakened and is slowly making its way down the hallway.
Very slowly.
Wrapped from ears to paws in unraveling bandages, this Basset Hound may technically be a terrifying creature risen from the tomb, but at his current speed everyone has plenty of time to make coffee before he arrives.
Frankenpup
Lightning cracks outside the laboratory as machinery sparks and something enormous rises from the shadows.
Frankenpup is alive.
Unfortunately, the first thing this shaggy monster wants after being brought back from the dead is exactly the same thing he wanted before: dinner.
The Werewolf
At first, the little Pomeranian sees only himself in the bathroom mirror. Then the lights flicker.
Staring back from the glass is an enormous wolf, powerful and wild beneath the full moon. For one glorious moment, he sees himself exactly as he has always imagined. Then someone walks past carrying cheese and the transformation is over.
The Headless Horseman’s Dog
Hooves thunder through the fog as horse and dog race between ancient trees beneath a cold autumn moon. Pumpkins glow beside the trail and leaves scatter behind them as the legendary rider disappears deeper into the forest.
His dog, naturally, is having the greatest walk of his life.
The Invisible Dog
The neighbours have stopped asking questions.
Every evening at approximately six, an empty collar and leash make their way down the sidewalk accompanied by a perfectly fitted Halloween costume and the unmistakable sound of panting. Occasionally they stop at a fire hydrant. Nobody looks too closely.
The Skeleton Dog
Moonlight spills between crooked headstones as a skeletal figure moves silently through the cemetery.
Long-legged, black and almost impossibly elegant, this Greyhound doesn’t so much wear his Halloween costume as become part of the landscape. Beautiful, eerie and just unsettling enough to make you walk home a little faster.
The Witch’s Familiar
The old pickup rattles down a country road loaded with pumpkins while leaves tumble across the fields behind it. In the back sits a black Labrador wearing a witch’s hat that absolutely refuses to stay on his head.
Dark magic is apparently no match for highway speed.
The Pirate
Somewhere between the shallow end and the inflatable flamingo lies adventure.
Standing aboard a tiny pirate ship with the determination of a seasoned sea captain, this enormous Newfoundland surveys the treacherous waters of the backyard swimming pool. The treasure is buried near the barbecue. He can smell it.
The Zombie Apocalypse
Civilization has collapsed. Zombies roam the streets. Cars have been abandoned and smoke rises beyond the city.
Through all of it trots one extremely happy Golden Retriever carrying a tennis ball.
The world may be ending, but somebody still needs to throw this.
Indiana Bones
The ancient temple is collapsing. Stone crashes from the ceiling, dust fills the passageway and an enormous pumpkin is rolling directly toward him.
Indiana Bones runs for daylight with his ears flying behind him. Archaeology, he is beginning to suspect, was a questionable career choice.
The Dogfather
Behind a vast wooden desk in a shadowy study sits a Mastiff who rarely needs to raise his voice.
Two nervous humans wait across from him while he considers their request. Eventually, a paw settles on the desk.
He’ll do them this favour. But someday—and that day may never come—he may ask them for a treat in return.
Halloween Night
The final photograph belongs to Halloween itself.
Porches glow beneath strings of orange lights, jack-o’-lanterns line the sidewalks and costumed children move from house to house beneath the autumn trees. Then a pack of superhero dogs, monsters, ghosts and creatures comes racing down the street as though they’ve been waiting all year for this exact moment.
For one night, nobody tells them they’re just dogs.
Until Next Halloween…
Eventually, the cape has to come off. The ancient temple stops collapsing. The zombies go home. The invisible dog becomes visible again, and even the Dogfather has to get down from his chair and go outside before bed.
But that’s the wonderful thing about Halloween. For one night, the ordinary rules don’t seem quite as important.
Your dog can be a superhero, a pirate, a vampire, a ghost hunter or the fearless explorer narrowly escaping a giant runaway pumpkin. And whether the costume lasts all evening or approximately 45 seconds, you’ll probably end up with a photograph you’ll laugh about for years.
Just remember: keep costumes comfortable, never force a dog who isn’t enjoying himself, and always make sure they can move, see, breathe and behave normally.
Because underneath every legendary Halloween character is still a dog.
And frankly, the dog was pretty great to begin with.
More Halloween Fun & Safety for Dogs
Halloween is a lot of fun for us, but our dogs don’t always share the enthusiasm. Strange costumes, constant doorbells, unfamiliar visitors and bowls filled with things dogs definitely shouldn’t eat can turn October 31 into a surprisingly stressful night.
Before the trick-or-treaters arrive, find out Why Do Dogs Hate Halloween? and read our guide to Preparing Your Dog for Halloween for ways to make the evening safer and more comfortable.
And because dogs have an extraordinary talent for finding exactly what they’re not supposed to eat, it’s worth knowing What to Do When Your Dog Eats Halloween Candy before there’s an empty candy wrapper and a suspiciously innocent face staring back at you.
