Throw these devilish dogs a bone at the 10th annual Spooky Pooch Parade and Festival in Lakewood’s Kauffman Park Oct. 21. Last year, 27-year-old Lauryn Papa’s 4-pound mini Yorkshire terrier Cujo won best in show for her Where’s Waldo? costume. We get the scoop on ways to trick out your canine’s costume this fall.
Test the costume a few days in advance. “Cujo was not a big fan of the glasses,” says Papa. “It helped her a lot by wearing them so she knew how they felt on her face.”
Play up your pup’s strengths and weaknesses. “She likes being carried,” she says. So Papa designed a diorama by gluing a faux book onto a wooden platform that could contain Cujo.
Make it a team effort. Two years ago, Papa had foot surgery that left her in a cast. So she dressed up as a patient and let Cujo take the lead in a homemade nurse costume. “Dressing up with your pet lets you be included in the fun,” says Papa.
*This article was last updated 10/16/2023. The 16th annual Spooky Pooch Parade and Festival was held on Oct. 14 at Madison Park.
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