Is Your Pooch Ready for Dog Christmas Costumes?

People dress up for the holidays, so why shouldn't our pets? Dog Christmas costumes have become increasingly popular over the years, and you can now find an assortment of hats, bandanas and complete costumes to turn your favorite pooch into an elf, reindeer or Santa himself. But will your dog tolerate this type of dress-up as well as the Grinch's dog Max, who barely uttered a protest when the Grinch stuck reindeer antlers on his head? Here are some things to consider and some images of holiday costumes available for your favorite pet.

(Image of Santa dog hat provided by Amazon. See link below.)

There are plenty of dog Christmas costumes available these days to dress your pet for the holidays. Is your furry friend ready to play Santa?

Christmas is a time for family, and for many people, time with family includes those with fur and four feet. Dog lovers often include their furry family members in holiday celebration. And for some, that means getting the family pet dressed for the occasion.

Dog Christmas costumes can be as basic as a holiday collar or as extreme as a full Santa or reindeer outfit, and they can certainly make any pooch the star of the holiday party. But if your dog isn't a fashion hound used to wearing clothes, you'll want to be sure he's ready to be dressed like Santa, an elf or a reindeer.

First, consider your dog's basic temperament. A dog in a Christmas costume will be the center of attention at almost any holiday gathering, especially if there are kids present. Most guests will want to pet him, and to a small child, your costumed dog is a magnet to be hugged, tugged and kissed. If your dog is shy or doesn't like children, he is probably a poor candidate for dressing up for a holiday party. If, on the other hand, your dog is adaptable, loves kids and adores attention, you have the perfect pet to transform into a Christmas character.

If you decide to purchase a dog Christmas costume for your pet, make sure you get one that fits comfortably, something that won't be too tight or too loose. Dressing your dog up for Christmas is more than just picking out a costume and throwing it on the dog twenty minutes before the guests arrive. Proper preparation will insure that you, your guests and the dog will all enjoy the evening.

When purchasing a costume, remember that pet Christmas costumes can be scary for a dog who isn't used to wearing outfits. Introduce him to the costume slowly. Let your pet see the costume and smell it before you put it on him. You may even want to give him a small treat while holding the costume or stroking against him. When he seems comfortable, put the outfit on and see how he does.

Puppies who are raised around children are often familiar with "dress up" and actually seem to enjoy it. Even most adult dogs, however, can be coaxed into wearing a costume for Christmas if you handle it properly, even if the costume is only elf ears or reindeer antlers.

If your dog absolutely goes crazy when you put on the outfit, however, you can try again later. But if he absolutely won't tolerate looking like an elf, check out some of the great dog Christmas collars or bandanas available for the holidays. These can be attached to his collar and he probably won't even realize that you've turned his bah-humbug attitude into one that makes people smile.

(Image of holiday dog costume provided by amazon)

Is that Santa Claus or Santa Paws wearing the traditional red and white outfit?

Christmas Chinese Shar Pei Shirts by cutechristmasanimals

Once you put this costume on your dog, you better keep him inside on Christmas Eve or Santa might just mistake him for a reindeer and hook him up to the sleigh.

No one's every really seen an elf, so it's quite possible they have four legs and fur, right?

With this little red cap so lively and slick, you'll think for a moment your dog is St. Nick.

Some dogs won't wear hats, but don't mind a bandana at all. Try one of these for that festive look!

If your dog longs to be a Hollywood star like the Grinch's dog Max, get him his own set of reindeer antlers.

Simpsons creator Matt Groening helped create this movie about a dog who hears Santa talking about "all of the other reindeer" and mistakenly thinks he is calling her "Olive, the Other Reindeer." Thinking that Santa needs her help to pull the sleigh after Blitzen breaks a leg, the small dog travels to the North Pole to help save Christmas.

Some content adapted with permission from Are Dog Christmas Costumes Right for Your Pet? on FreeSantaLetters.net.