15 Dogs Who Are Taking Halloween Very Seriously 🎃

Halloween is supposed to be fun.

Someone apparently forgot to tell the dogs that.

While we’re carving pumpkins, filling candy bowls, and trying to remember where we put the decorations from last year, some dogs are approaching October 31 like they’ve been preparing for it all year.

There are costumes to wear. Trick-or-treaters to supervise. Pumpkins to inspect. Strange creatures appearing on front lawns that definitely weren’t there yesterday.

It’s a lot of responsibility for one dog.

From tiny witches to four-legged security guards, these 15 dogs are taking Halloween very seriously.

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1. The Chihuahua Who Has Taken Over the Candy Bowl

This little Chihuahua has been placed beside the Halloween candy for approximately three minutes and has already promoted himself to Head of Candy Distribution.

Every trick-or-treater gets carefully inspected.

Costume? Acceptable.

Candy bag? Acceptable.

Walking onto his porch without receiving permission first?

Absolutely not.

At this rate, the candy may last all night simply because nobody can get close enough to take any.

2. The Golden Retriever Who Is Very Proud of His Pumpkin Costume

Some dogs tolerate costumes.

This Golden Retriever appears to believe he was born to wear one.

He’s happily sitting in the middle of the living room dressed like an enormous pumpkin while everyone tells him how handsome he looks.

And he’s soaking up every second of it.

He doesn’t know what Halloween is.

He just knows he’s wearing something ridiculous and receiving an unusual amount of attention.

Best holiday ever.

3. The Beagle Who Is Investigating the Trick-or-Treat Bags

You can hide treats from many dogs.

A Beagle is not one of them.

Every bag coming through the door requires a complete inspection.

There are smells in there.

Interesting smells.

Possibly edible smells.

The humans keep insisting that chocolate isn’t for dogs, but the Beagle would like to conduct his own investigation before reaching any conclusions.

4. The Great Dane Who Is Afraid of the Yard Decorations

He’s approximately the size of a small horse.

The plastic skeleton weighs three pounds.

Guess who’s scared?

The Great Dane has been staring suspiciously through the window ever since that skeleton appeared beside the porch.

He isn’t going outside until somebody explains exactly who invited that thing and why it hasn’t moved in six hours.

Sometimes being brave requires knowing when to stay inside.

5. The Shih Tzu Who Knows She Makes an Excellent Witch

The hat is slightly crooked.

The cape is dragging behind her.

She couldn’t care less.

This little Shih Tzu has discovered something important: people give you extra attention when you’re dressed like a witch.

She’s now strutting around the house as though Halloween was created specifically for her.

Honestly, we’re beginning to think she may be right.

6. The Bulldog Who Refuses to Participate

Everyone else is excited about Halloween.

The Bulldog has concerns.

Someone put a costume on him.

Someone else took seventeen pictures.

Then everyone laughed and said how adorable he looked.

He is now sitting in the middle of the room wearing a pair of bat wings and looking deeply disappointed in the entire family.

His face says it all:

You people owe me treats.

Several of them.

7. The Dachshund Whose Costume Was Far Too Obvious

You already know what happened.

Someone saw a Dachshund.

Someone saw a hot-dog costume.

And apparently nobody in the family had enough self-control to walk away.

Now there’s a very unimpressed little Dachshund dressed as a hot dog wandering through the house.

It’s predictable.

It’s ridiculous.

And we’ll admit it.

It’s still funny every single time.

8. The Labrador Who Thinks Every Trick-or-Treater Came to Visit Him

The doorbell rings.

Best friend!

It rings again.

ANOTHER BEST FRIEND!

By the tenth group of trick-or-treaters, the Labrador cannot believe his good fortune.

Apparently the entire neighborhood has decided to visit him tonight.

Some of them are dressed strangely, but that’s okay.

He doesn’t judge.

He’s simply thrilled that the door keeps opening and new people keep appearing.

Halloween may officially be his favorite holiday.

9. The Pomeranian Who Has Become Part of the Decorations

Somewhere among the pumpkins, orange leaves, hay bales, and Halloween decorations sits one extremely fluffy Pomeranian.

At first glance, you might not even notice him.

Then the decorations blink.

He’s been sitting there patiently while his family takes pictures, looking like the world’s fluffiest little Halloween ornament.

Nobody knows how long he’s willing to continue posing.

Treat negotiations are currently underway.

10. The German Shepherd Who Has Appointed Himself Head of Security

The humans call them trick-or-treaters.

The German Shepherd calls them unidentified visitors approaching the property after dark.

Masks?

Suspicious.

Capes?

Suspicious.

A six-year-old dressed as a dinosaur?

Extremely suspicious.

He’s keeping a close eye on the situation from inside while his family answers the door.

Nobody requested security.

Security was provided anyway.

11. The Poodle Whose Costume Is Better Than Everyone Else’s

This was supposed to be a casual family Halloween.

Then the Poodle arrived.

Perfect costume.

Perfect hair.

Perfect pose.

Suddenly everyone else’s costume looks like something they found five minutes before leaving the house.

The Poodle doesn’t brag.

She doesn’t need to.

She simply sits beside the pumpkins looking fabulous and lets everyone else come to the obvious conclusion.

She won Halloween.

12. The Basset Hound Who Fell Asleep During the Party

There are children running around.

The doorbell keeps ringing.

Someone is playing music.

People are laughing.

And right in the middle of all of it is a Basset Hound sound asleep on his blanket.

His little Halloween bandana is still around his neck.

He participated.

He made an appearance.

His responsibilities have been fulfilled.

Wake him when dinner is served.

13. The Yorkie Who Is Barking at the Ghost

The family hung a friendly little ghost decoration near the front window.

Big mistake.

The Yorkie noticed it immediately.

She barked.

The ghost didn’t leave.

She barked louder.

Still there.

Clearly this is a particularly stubborn ghost.

The Yorkie has now been protecting the family from it for most of the afternoon and would appreciate a little recognition for her bravery.

14. The Senior Dog Who Just Wants His Favorite Blanket

He’s been through plenty of Halloweens.

He’s seen pumpkins.

He’s heard doorbells.

He’s watched children arrive dressed as superheroes, monsters, princesses, and creatures he couldn’t begin to identify.

None of this impresses him anymore.

Give him his comfortable blanket, a quiet corner of the couch, and maybe an extra dog treat.

The younger dogs can handle Halloween this year.

He’s retired.

15. The Rescue Mix Who Can’t Believe He Gets to Be Part of It

He doesn’t understand why there are pumpkins on the porch.

He doesn’t know why everyone is wearing strange clothes.

And he certainly doesn’t understand why the doorbell keeps ringing.

But he does understand something else.

He’s home.

He’s surrounded by people who love him. Someone bought him a silly Halloween bandana. His name is on his treat jar, his bed is in the corner, and when all the excitement is over, he’ll curl up in the same safe place where he sleeps every night.

He doesn’t know he’s celebrating Halloween.

He just knows he belongs here.

And maybe that’s the best costume-free Halloween story of all.

Halloween Is Just Better With Dogs

Halloween looks a little different when there’s a dog in the house.

Costumes don’t always stay on.

Decorations occasionally get barked at.

Doorbells create chaos.

Taking one decent Halloween picture may require 47 attempts and a handful of treats.

But that’s part of the fun.

Years from now, you probably won’t remember exactly how you decorated the porch or which candy you handed out.

You might remember the dog who barked at the plastic skeleton.

You’ll remember the Dachshund in that ridiculous hot-dog costume.

You’ll remember the senior dog sleeping through the commotion and the puppy who couldn’t understand why dozens of children suddenly appeared at the front door.

Those are the little moments that become family memories.

So if your dog takes Halloween a little too seriously this year, take the picture.

Someday, you’ll be very glad you did.