Happy National Pug Day! :)

It's October 15, and that marks National Pug Day! So in celebration of this national holiday, here are 10 reasons why to love this adorable breed!

1. They Are Masters of Disguise

If you look hard enough, you'll realize that these "flowers" are actually pugs!

2. They Love Babies!

And the baby looks pretty happy to be cuddling with the pug as well!

3. Your Cat Will Love Him/Her! 

Who said that cats and dogs will never get along? With a pug in the family, you'll never have an issue! 

4. The Have Impeccable Rain-Weather Style

Rainy weather? That's no issue for a pug! He'll just put on his best roan coat! 

5. They Love The Christmas Holiday

Are you a big fan of the holidays? Chances are, so is your pug! 

6. You Will Always Have a Valentine

Never dread being single on Valentines Day again! Your Pug will always be there for you. 

7. Probably Because They're So Romantic!

8. They'll Share Your French Fries With You

Feeling guilty about hitting up the fast food drive through? Your pug will help alleviate that guilt. 

9. Yet, They Exude Great Self Control

The pug may want that cookie, but he knows that it's probably not a good idea… You'll never have missing food on the counter again. :)

10. Their Smiles are Contagious

Seriously, how could you not smile when you look at them? :)

The Most Over the Top Pet Halloween Costumes

So in my last post about the cutest Halloween costumes for your pets, I briefly mentioned that I saw some pretty ridiculous ones as well. So for fun, I thought that I'd go ahead and showcase the outlandish costumes in today's post! While I cannot deny that some of these costumes are creative, and some of them did require a lot of thought and creativity, but they are just a tad bit over the top (although funny). 

A Plant

Let me ask you something: in your childhood memories of dressing up for Halloween, did you wake up one day and think, "I'm going to be a plant this year!"? How about when you were in college choosing a costume to wear to all of the Halloween parties? I just want to know HOW this idea came into play... 

The Headless Horseman

Another intricate costume, and you know what? It is rather creative, and without a doubt, a head turner. If that's the intention here, well, the owner didn't miss the mark! 

A Pinata

This is another "why and how" costume... as in why a pinata, and how did this idea even come up? Was everyone sitting around at the kid's birthday party, and suddenly someone thought, "you know what would be really cute? If we turned this pinata into a Halloween costume for our dog this year!"? I seriously want to know...

A Tomato? 

I'm not sure where they were going with this one.... is it supposed to be a tomato? Or is it a pincushion? The hat does nothing to further explain things here. In my opinion, it started out as a tomato costume, and someone had the random idea to add some lollipop elements. What an interesting combination...

Spaghetti Dog

This one takes the expression, "you eat it or wear it" to the next level. Though, I don't know many dogs that would turn down a big plate of spaghetti... dogs will truly eat anything! So maybe this costume is actually a punishment for stealing the spaghetti from the table! The dog does have a look of guilt on his face... 

Fish Cat

The expression on this poor cat's face says it all... Let's take a mental note here: cats like to eat fish, not the other way around. This costume just might be every cat's worse nightmare.

Darth Vader Pug

Another very intricate Halloween costume... Though I will admit, this one makes more sense than the plant and pinata costumes, so props for that!

Mop Dog

This one takes "mop dog" to a whole new level... Perhaps this owner really wants on of those breeds (Komondor)? Or maybe she's just having fun with the idea that the dog always cleans stuff off of the kitchen floor... 

Fairy Princess

So in my previous post, I mentioned that for fairy princess costumes, less is more. This is exactly why. Let's leave the frilly tu-tus and skirts for our children's costumes, shall we?

Smurf Dog

At least this Pomeranian seems to be having fun, but they're just an off breed that seems to enjoy looking silly (seriously, in ever picture I see of them dressed up or with dyed hair, they are smiling). I do wonder how long it took to get this dog's entire coat that perfect shade of blue...

Bride Dog

This dog does not look pleased... Perhaps he's a boy dog wondering why he has to be wearing a dress. I don't really have any words for this one... 

The Top 10 Cutest Halloween Costumes for Your Pets!

Halloween is just around the corner! While you're searching for your perfect costume, why not have your pet join in on the Halloween fun, as well? Need some pet costume ideas? I've seen some pretty outlandish costumes that include wigs, dresses, and props. While it's great that you want to get your pet into the spirit of Halloween, I will say this: less is more! A simple hat and vest/jacket will do the trick to make your pet festive for the upcoming holiday. 

Below, you will find a list of what I believe are the top 10 cutest Halloween costumes for your pets. 

1. A Real-Life Cat in the Hat!

No need for any fancy props for this costume; just slap on a red and white hat and a bow-tie, and you've got yourself one realistic looking Cat in the Hat. Granted, this particular costume idea may only work with this color combination cat... on any other cat, people may not "get" the idea you're going for, and you'll just end up with a cat wearing a red and white hat. But if you do have a black and white cat, this simple costume idea will surely create quite a buzz among children and Dr. Seuss fans alike! 

2. Puss in Boots! 

This costume requires a few extra thrills, but if your cat does not mind wearing the boots, you'll have a costume for all Shrek and Puss in Boots fans to appreciate! And what if kitty doesn't like wearing the boots? The great thing about this costume idea is that the boots don't actually make the costume! Your kitty will make a great Spanish crusader/swordsman without them! 

3. Pumpkin Pom!

Look how happy this little pom is to be a pumpkin this year! Now, this costume idea comes in a variety of different styles, but the overarching premise remains the same: a pumpkin-top hat and an orange vest adorned with a Jack-O'-Lantern carving design. The idea is so simple, yet so fitting for Halloween!

4. A Lion!

The great thing about this lion mane costume, is that it has the ability to work for both cats and dogs! Cats have the benefit of actually being related to the lion, and dogs have the benefit of being larger in size, making them fully able to pull off the idea. 

5. A Fairy Princess!

This costume idea is very simple, and (I imagine) festive. All you need to do it simply strap on a pair of wings, and your dog transforms into a fairy princess for the holiday. 

However, I've seen people go overboard with the concept; they would add ridiculous tutus and dresses. This costume idea doesn't need that much added fluff; the wings make a statement on their own. Remember the idea mentioned above: less is more. 

6. A Lady Bug!

Yes, this Halloween costume idea is a spin-off of the fairy princess idea above. However, for those that aren't a fan of the fairy princess idea, this example shows another way that wings can be incorporated into a cute Halloween costume. 

7. A Real-Life Hello Kitty!

This one is sure to please children and hello kitty fans alike! Of course, we all know that the real Hello Kitty is white, but I don't think that really matters in this case (unlike the Cat in the Hat costume above)! 

I would say that the cute tabby on the right pulls this costume off just fine.  :) 

8. A Hot Dog!

This costume is particularly adorable if you happen to own a Dachshund; the whole idea of it is just so fitting for that breed.

I'm not saying that other breeds cannot pull the costume off, however. If you type in "hot dog costume for dogs" into google, you will find a variety of other breeds that are pulling this costume off as well.  

9. Taco Cat!

Love the taco costume that is seen on many dogs every Halloween? Well cat owners, do not be discouraged! This kitty proves that the ever popular dog costume looks pretty darn cute on cats as well!

Don't be mad dog owners. You'll find another costume idea to take ownership of. But hey, you still have the hot dog!

10. A Banana! 

This costume falls under the category of "so ridiculous, it's funny." I'm actually at a loss of words on this one... 

So there we have it! A commentary on what I believe are the 10 cutest Halloween costumes for your pets! I hope that I was able to draw some inspiration for you and your furry friends. Happy costume hunting! :)