The 21st century may be forever regarded by future anthropologists as the age when mankind developed a fetish for anthropomorphizing his pets, especially dogs, although if we take into consideration marketing mavensʼ use of squirrels, lizards, cows, bunnies, ducks, frogs . . . well, you get the picture. We love to dress our pets up like people, imaginary creatures, or even other pets, especially at Halloween; make that "Howloween." You can go as fancy and expensive as you wish on the costuming, but half the fun is using your imagination and bits and pieces you can obtain easily for not much cash outlay and coming up with your own outfit to embarrass your dog and entertain your friends.

Pet Mummy is an easy one. You can either start with inexpensive rolls of gauze bandages or raid the rag pile or local thrift store for old sheets. The sheets will probably be easier, especially on a larger dog, and stay on better. If youʼre using gauze, you can start winding without any preamble other than convincing the victim, err, dog, to stand still. Sheets will have to be torn into strips first. Theyʼll be easier to handle on medium and large dogs if you donʼt make them narrow. Remember, as your dog walks around (assuming he doesnʼt go on strike and refuse to move unless carried) the wrapping will get messier — a good look for a mummy — so you shouldnʼt be overly concerned with making it neat. Secure the ends by either tying them together and tucking the knots under a wrap or you can use safety pins (carefully). Knots will add a nice lumpy effect, like loose flesh or possibly a greedy scavenger that died under the coverings. Remember to leave room for movement (and calls of nature) as well as breathing and sight openings. Also, donʼt wrap too tight over the ears. Once all the wrapping is done, you can let your dog add that aged, just dug up look by rolling in dirt.

The Trash Diver isnʼt too far of a stretch for most dogs and itʼs easily accomplished by using a lightweight plastic garbage can. Slit the can from top to bottom down one side. Cut the bottom, or most of it, out. Thatʼs where your dogʼs head is going to be. Measure the distance from your dogʼs muzzle to his front legs and between the legs, side to side and front to back, then mark and cut out holes in the can, making allowance for movement. Remember, you want him to be able to see out of the bottom, but not necessarily have his head protruding more than an inch or two so it looks like heʼs worked his way through the garbage head first. Attach paper-type trash to the inside edges of the trash can, top and bottom — duct tape will work. Pad the inside of the can with batting or even old towels duct taped to hold them securely, fit the trash can around your dog and duct tape the seam together under the belly. Naughty dog!

Your dog might experience a meteoric rise to the heights of the social ladder dressed as a meteor (or a Mars rock), and itʼs almost embarrassingly easy to do. Using lightweight padding, perhaps wadded up tee shirts, socks, depending on the size of your dog, build up the rock shape you want around his body, leaving space for taking care of natural urges, of course. Secure the shape with strips of duct tape, not too tight. Once youʼve got the rock shape you want, start covering it with sections of aluminum foil. It can be secured by folding and wadding it into itself, or with strips of double sided tape. Use both the dull side and the shiny side out and scrunch it for a rough, rocky effect. Use non-toxic paint and markers to add detail. Dress yourself up like an alien or an astronaut and off you go! Wings are easy to form from wire coat hangers. Decide what kind of wings you want, fairy, butterfly, dragon, bat, and make your shape, adding a pair of loops side by side to run a harness through to secure them to your dogʼs back, then choose a fabric that gives you the effect you want, cut it to shape, with at least an inch of overlap on the frame, and use fabric or hot glue to secure it. Once itʼs dry, you can go back with paint, glitter, glue on crystals, even feathers and decorate them however you want. Small dogs make great sock puppets.

One thing to remember is to leave a place for the leash! Youʼre only limited by your imagination and your dogʼs patience. Better take along a pocketful of bribes, I mean treats.