My Dog Hates Your Costume Halloween Shirt

Somebody had to say it.

Most dogs do not enjoy being dressed up. They tolerate it. There's a difference, and it shows up in the whale eye, the frozen posture, the lowered head, the tail tucked while everyone takes pictures.

This isn't about ruining anyone's fun. It's about the thing Angie has been saying for nearly four decades: the dog is always telling you something. Learning to read it is the entire job. If your dog genuinely doesn't mind the bandana, great. If he goes still and stops blinking the second it goes on, that's your answer.

Halloween night is one of the hardest evenings of the year for a lot of dogs. Doorbells, strangers, masks, chaos. Give him a quiet room and a chew, and wear the shirt instead.

Designed by Angie Woods, a dog psychologist with nearly 40 years in canine behavior and severe behavior rehabilitation.

The shirt

• Unisex fit, sizes XS through 5XL
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton
• Fabric weight 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk, side-seamed, shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Printed on demand, black only
• Blank sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US

Size chart

Measurements are of the garment laid flat, in inches. Width is measured across the chest one inch below the armhole.

• XS: width 16.5, length 27
• S: width 18, length 28
• M: width 20, length 29
• L: width 22, length 30
• XL: width 24, length 31
• 2XL: width 26, length 32
• 3XL: width 28, length 33
• 4XL: width 30, length 34
• 5XL: width 32, length 35

Fit note: This tee runs slim. It's side-seamed with a tapered body, so it fits closer than a boxy unisex tee at the same listed measurement. If you want a relaxed fit, size up. Easiest check is to lay a shirt you already love flat, measure it, and match those numbers to the chart.

Care instructions

Machine wash cold, inside out, with like colors. Tumble dry low or hang dry. Do not bleach. Do not iron directly on the print. Do not dry clean.

Washing inside out in cold water is the single best thing you can do to keep the print sharp. Hot water and high heat are what fade a design over time.

Disclaimer: The fabric is slightly sheer and may appear see-through under certain lighting conditions.