3 Homemade Dog Christmas Outfits

“How should I dress my dog for Christmas?” is frequently asked by dog lovers as the holidays slowly approach. Now is the time to dress your pooch in cute, festive dog Christmas outfits. Allow yourself more creative freedom with his Christmas costume by making it yourself.

Here are 3 simple yet stylish DIY Christmas dog outfit ideas to try on your furry friend.

1. Dog Reindeer Headband and Christmas Bandana

One of the most classic Christmas outfits for dogs is the iconic reindeer. Transform your pooch into one by creating this easy-to-make reindeer headband and pairing it off with a chic Christmas bandana.

If you have spare time, make extra outfits as Christmas gifts for your pooch’s furry friends.

What you need:

For the dog reindeer headband

For the Christmas bandana

Photo Credit: gleefulthings

• 20 x 20 inches fabric with Christmas designs
• Scissors
• Measuring Tape
• Tailor’s chalk
• Thread and needle
• Dog collar

How to make these dog Christmas outfits:

For the reindeer headband

1. Use a glue gun to cover the headband with green felt paper.
2. Pair the red pipe cleaners with the brown pipe cleaners. Twist them together from the top until the ends.
3. Attach each pair of pipe cleaners to the headband by twisting them firmly around it.
4. Bend the pipe cleaners into sharp zigzags to make them resemble reindeer antlers.
5. Glue the red and white rhinestones on the headband. Make sure they are evenly spaced.

For the Christmas bandana

Photo Credit: rosesareblue.typepad

1. Cut the fabric according to the size of your pet’s neck. Below are some size recommendations according to a dog’s size:
   • Small- 8” x 8” inches
   • Medium- 10” x 10” inches
   • Large- 12” x 12” inches
   • X-large- 14” x 14” inches

   Keep in mind that this is only a rough guide, so do not hesitate to adjust the measurement to fit your pooch’s size. It is advisable to add 2 inches to the length so the bandana can be tied loosely around his neck.

2. Form the fabric into a triangle by folding it in half diagonally. The opposite sides should be facing outwards.
3. Sew 1 ½ inches from the horizontal part of the fabric. Sew a ¼ inch seam on the diagonal corners. Do not include sewing the 1 ½ inch gap on both the left and right sides of the fabric since the dog collar will be inserted there.
4. Work out the fabric through the open ends to turn the bandana right side out. Check out this video for reference.
5. Slip your pet’s collar through the pocket, and you’re done.

Notes for these dog Christmas outfits:

• Know if your dog’s collar will fit through the gap by inserting it through the gap before stitching. Make the necessary adjustments if the gap size is too small or too big.
• To easily turn the bandana right side out, you can prod the fabric and put out all 3 corners using a pointed object such as a pencil.

2. Spruced-Up Christmas Dog Sweaters

Photo Credit: thebrokedog

Does furry pal have old, unused sweaters lying around? Make them look brand new by turning them into eye-catching Christmas dog outfits.

What you need:

• 1 Big Christmas-themed applique
• 1 Christmas bow tie
• Pom poms and rhinestones in various colours
• Fabric glue
• Thread and needle
• Any plain-looking sweater your dog owns

How to make these dog Christmas outfits

1. Arrange the applique, pompoms, and rhinestones on your dog’s sweater to know where you like them best.
2. Start gluing them all on the sweater. Allow them to dry completely.
3. Sew the Christmas bow tie in front of the sweater just below the collar.
4. Do the same process as with other old dog sweaters. Do not be afraid to let your creativity flow. Try to mix and match different clothing ornaments and form them into beautiful patterns.

Notes for these dog Christmas outfits:

• The pom poms, rhinestones, and other clothing ornaments can be accidentally ingested when chewed on. Always keep an eye on your dog when he wears the Christmas sweater to keep him from munching on the decorations.

3. Dog Santa Claus Hat with Christmas Scarf

Dressing your pooch in a Santa Claus dog costume is never out of fashion. Keep his outfit simple yet classy by sewing a Santa Claus hat with a comfy Christmas scarf to match it.This costume is a great Christmas present for small breeds, as they easily get chilly during the winter season.

What you need:

For the Santa Claus hat

• 1/8 yard of red fabric or felt
• 1 spool white faux fur
• 1 white pom pom
• 1 handful of batting or other filler
• 1 package of 1/8″ elastic band
• Tailor’s chalk
• Thread and needle

For the Christmas scarf

• 1 yard green fleece fabric
• 3 small bells
• Thread and needle
• Scissors

How to make these dog Christmas outfits

For the Santa hat

1. Measure the top of your dog’s head. Use scissors to cut out a cone pattern from a piece of paper. Its circumference should be an inch bigger than his head.
2. Place one side of the pattern on the fabric’s fold. Trace and cut.
3. Fold the fabric so that the right sides are touching. Make sure the wrong side is facing out.
4. Sew down the length of the open side of the fabric and then turn it inside out. The right side should be facing out this time.
5. Sew the fur on the bottom edge of the Santa hat.
6. On the tip of the hat, sew the pompom.
7. Sew the ends of the elastic band on either side of the Santa hat. They should be placed approximately where your dog’s ears would be. It prevents the elastic from tightly clinging under his chin.

For the Christmas scarf

Photo Credit: phar-ma

1. Use your dog’s collar to determine the length of the fabric. Ideally, it should be twice as long as the collar. The width depends on your preference, but it must be long enough to fold over. You can drape the fabric on your dog to get an estimate of what its width would be.
2. Place the fabric on a flat surface and fold it lengthwise.

3. Sew the long side of the fabric as well as one of its short sides.
4. Turn the fabric inside out, so the right side of the fleece is showing.
5. Take the short side that was stitched closed and form a loop. The loop’s size should be big enough for the entire width of the scarf to fit through.
6. After making adjustments, stitch the loop in place.
7. Sew a straight line 2 inches above the short open end of the fabric.
8. Cut short fringes on the open end of the fabric.
9. Sew the small bells on the scarf’s left, center, and right fringes.

Teach Your Pooch to Love Wearing Dog Christmas Outfits

We often come across the question: “Should dogs wear costumes on Christmas?” Letting dogs strut in adorable Christmas outfits is a fun family activity during the holidays. However, pawrents should also be considerate of their pet’s feelings since they are also an important part of the family.Not all dogs enjoy wearing clothes. For some, it could be a distressing and stressful affair. Here is a step-by-step guide you can follow to help your pet feel comfortable wearing their new dog Christmas costumes:

1. Choose easy-to-wear dog Christmas outfits.

If your dog is new to wearing costumes, start with simple outfits to keep him from feeling overwhelmed. Opt for items like headbands, bandanas, or bow ties. When your pooch has grown to love dressing up, that is the appropriate time to bring out more elaborate Christmas costumes for dogs.

2. Introduce your dog to the clothes early.

Do not wait for the holidays to come around. Create or purchase your pet’s dog Christmas outfits at least a month or 2 weeks in advance. It gives you plenty of time to make him accustomed to them. When the Christmas season arrives, you will have little to no trouble dressing him up.

3. Create a positive experience.

Let your pooch associate dog Christmas outfits with fun experiences. Do this by rewarding him with praise or dog treats whenever he sniffs or looks at the clothes. Do this a few more times before attempting to put him in the costume.

This brings us to the question: “How do you put an outfit on a dog?” Below is a method you can try:

1. Start by making him wear only one part of the outfit instead of the whole thing. Pick the easiest one to wear for the highest chance of success. For instance, choose a dog bandana instead of a sweater.
2. Let the clothing drape on his neck for a few seconds and reward him if he stands still. Avoid giving treats if he tries to remove them. Repeat this step until he learns to be calm whenever the clothing touches his body.
3. Slowly fasten the clothing into place. It is a good idea to do this during mealtime when your dog is focused on eating. Do not force it if he is uncomfortable. You can always try again later.
4. Once he has successfully worn the clothing, engage him with productive activities such as playing with a dog toy. This will distract him from the clothing. At the same time, it helps him associate getting dressed with having fun.
5. Initially, let him wear the dog costume for only 10-60 seconds. Increase the length of time gradually if he continues to remain calm while wearing the clothes.

4. Let your dog do it at his own pace.

Never force your furry friend to wear something he does not enjoy. He might like the bandana you put on him but hate the headband. It is okay to leave out this part of the dog costume. Remember that your dog’s comfort matters more than getting him dressed up.

Keep in mind that some dogs will never learn to love wearing dog Christmas outfits. Do not resent them for it. Instead, focus on finding other ways to make the holidays a blast for them. Making delicious homemade Christmas meals and handcrafting a gift for dogs are some great ideas you can try.