Halloween Hounds: 13 Tricks, Treats and DIYs for Dog Lovers

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With Halloween just over a week away, I’ve caught the pumpkin bug and I want to HALLOWEEN ALL THE THINGS.

Even if, like me, you’re a little late to the party, you can still totally fit in a project or two before the spooky day. If your dog is food motivated, you could learn a fun new trick in an afternoon or even whip up a batch of homemade dog treats or, it it’s more your speed, you can still order from Etsy or Amazon and get it next week. No matter how you plan to celebrate, we’ve got the scoop on all the tricks and treats for you and your dog.

1. DIY Bat Bow Tie

photo courtesy of Wear the Canvas

How stinking cute would your dog look in this SUPER simple DIY Bat Bowtie? I’m tempted to make one for each of the boys in the their classic orange and green colours and then sew it onto a collar (instead of glueing it onto a pin). Find out how to make one for your dog at Wear the Canvas and then check out her super cute Etsy shop

2. Witch Hat Ribbon Sculpture Barrette

Photo courtesy of The Ribbon Retreat

This makes me want a little girl dog, really, REALLY beadly. I mean, a little fluffy dog with a teeny tiny witch hat barrette? IT WOULD BE TOO CUTE FOR WORDS. Find out how you can make one for your dog (and then send me pictures) at The Ribbon Retreat and then shop all the ribbon-y goodness at the Ribbon Retreat shop

3. What Does Your Dog’s Future Hold?

Photo Courtesy of The Gingerbread Shoppe.

Set the spooky mood in your house with this hand painted sign from The Gingerbread shop. Buy it on Etsy. 

4. Occupy the Tiny Humans with this Dress Up Dog Printable

Image Courtesy of Living Locurto

Oh. My. Woof. I was obsessed with dress up dolls when I was a kid. The idea of a dress up dog tickles my fancy. Head over to Living Locurto to download the free printable.

5. DIY  Tombstone Dog Bed

Image courtesy of Sew Doggy Style

Your dog will sleep like the dead in this adorably spooky DIY Dog Bed. Visit Sew Doggy Style to find out how to make one for your dog. and hop on over to the Sew Doggy Style esty shop.

6. Celebrate simplicity with a customizable Rustic Hound collar 

Image Courtesy of Rustic Hound

Squeeeee! So cute! These Rustic Hounds collars are customized using Jibbitz charms and they make the perfect accent for dogs that hate to dress up, but want to show they have Holiday spirit too. Buy yours at Rustic Hound.

7. Watch your favourite movies featuring Halloween Hounds

Image courtesy of Disney from Frankenweenie

There are SO. WOOFING. MANY. great Halloween movies with canine stars. I’m partial to the classics: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with Snoopy and Garfield’s Halloween Adventure with Odie, plus my all time favourite: Zero from the Nightmare Before Christmas. You can find even more movies with Halloween Hounds on this list from Cascadian Nomads, where Bethany claims to be the biggest Tim Burton fan ever. She’s wrong. I am.

8. DIY Zero the Dog

Image courtesy of Polish the Stars

I need this. I NEED THIS REALLY BADLY. I’m a little short on time this Holiday can someone please come make it for me? If you need a Zero the Dog of your own (and let’s face it, doesn’t EVERYONE?), head over to Polish the Stars for the full tutorial.

9. Halloween is all about the fun and games.

We have all of these. I might have a Halloween obsession.

Grab a few Halloween dog toys for your furry friends. Koly and Fe LOVE LOVE LOVE they “Hide a Toy” pumpkin! Get these and other Halloween Dog Toys on Amazon (<–affiliate link)

10. Put the Tricks in “Trick or Treat”

Image from KHOU.com

Want to freak out your Halloween guests? Teach your dog to fetch a severed hand or collect bones from all over the yard to go in your “witches brew”. See this and other ridiculously cute tricks at KHOU.com

11. You’re going to need Treats after all those tricks!

Koly loves these cheese treats. I actually like them too.

We’ve got you covered! Koly loves these easy, cheesy candy corn treats or check out all our Halloween Dog Treat Recipes.

12. Replace your snapshots with Halloween art.

Image courtesy of Dottie Dog

I need this. I need it so bad that it’s hurting my heart and making me wonder how I even celebrated Halloween before I knew it was a thing. There are other breeds too! Check out Count Corgula, The Wicked Witch of the Westie and Frencheinstein over at the Dottie Dog Etsy shop.

And because I am the ultimate Tim Burton fan (and not that Bethany), I couldn’t resist tucking in just one more Nightmare project:

13. Zero’s Dog House 

Image from DIY Nightmare Before Christmas Props (squeeeeeee)

OK, how cute is this?! Made from foam, it actually looks fairly easy too. Maybe I can squeeze in just one project before Halloween. Find out how it’s made over at DIY Nightmare Before Christmas Props.

Are you making anything special for Halloween?