15 unique dog and cat costumes for Halloween, plus how to get your pet to actually wear it

Saddle up your cat and let a mouse take the reins. This one-size-fits-all plush saddle clips around the neck and belly and carries a stuffed 10-gallon-hatted mouse who's ready to hit the trail.

Keep your dog from the dark side with this front-walking Yoda costume. The outfit comes with a step-in robe for the front legs, stuffed foam arms, hood-style ears, and a detachable lightsaber.

This Halloween, give the tiny tyrant in your life the chance to play king of the animal kingdom with this lion's mane hooded collar available in three sizes.

What's more fun than a barrel of monkeys? This front-walking monkey costume, which comes complete with a banana.

Pay homage to the SCOTUS and its most "notorious" member, Ruth Bader-Ginsburg. With RBG's iconic polyester "dissent collar" and shiny gold crown, your cat (or dog) will be serving up justice all Halloween long.

With iridescent green and blue wings and a spiked tail, this dragon costume is as legendary as the mythical beasts, themselves. Made of soft polyester, the easy-to-wear one-piece fastens around the neck and under the belly so your pup can take flight.

Long live cat breading! Chewy brings the internet meme to life with its toast-shaped costume collar just for cats.

This easy-to-wear costume is fit for a superhero. The outfit comes with three pieces — a red cape, a belt that ties around the belly, and a bib with the Man (er ... Dog) of Steel's classic logo.

The red-headed horror icon and his carving knife are out for some child's play in this front-walking dog costume available in five sizes.

On land or at sea, your dog will strike fear in the hearts of all who cross their path with this molded shark fin. Made of lightweight plastic, these easy-to-wear fins come in a variety of colors (and sizes) to complement your cold-blooded canine.

C is for both "cookie" and "canine" with this front-walking Cookie Monster costume. The fuzzy blue monster suit comes with a drawstring hood topped with monster eyes. You supply the cookies.

Reveal your cat's true nature with this satin vampire cape with a Dracula-style stand-up collar. Fangs not included, but never fear (or maybe do), your cat's already got a pair.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to Halloween your pup goes in a dress fit for a princess. In Snow White's classic blue and yellow gown and a big red hair bow, your dog will be the fairest of them all.

There's a killer clown on the loose and it's serving up your pet's head on a platter this Halloween. This creepy front-walking illusion suit slips over the front legs and head, and situates the top half of the menacing doll at the shoulders.

What do you say to a dog in a hot dog costume? Ketch-up! Dress up your pup in this easy-to-wear bun for a wiener-takes-all night of Halloween fun and games.

While costumes are not right for every pet, a little training can go a long way toward helping a cat or dog be comfortable in some form of Halloween attire, whether that's a festive bandana or a full-body suit. The rules are the same for both cats and dogs: Go slowly and reward frequently.

Before purchasing a costume, give some thought to your pet's personality. Are they sensitive to handling? Are they easily spooked by unpredictable noise or movement? One of the keys to helping a dog or cat love their costume is selecting one that fits their comfort criteria, not one based on looks, alone.

For sensitive cats and dogs, you want a costume that is as unobtrusive as possible. It's best to avoid:

• Hoods or head pieces
• Leggings that may partially restrict movement
• Hanging elements like spider legs or other molded pieces your pet can see in their peripheral vision
• Eyeglasses and other facial accessories

If this is your pet's first time wearing clothing, try a less complex costume such as a collar or simple sweater-like outfit to start. A successful fear-free introduction to a low-maintenance costume this year paves the way for a more outlandish one in years to come.

For a dog or cat to love their costume, it must be a source of treats and fun from the day you pull it out of the package. If your pet becomes uncomfortable or frightened as you gradually desensitize them to their costume, end the day's training session and move more slowly the next time around.

1. Sit with your cat or dog. Place their costume, along with a bowl of high-value treats — something extra-special your pet rarely gets such as pencil-eraser-sized pieces of chicken or cheese — on a nearby table or surface.
2. Lift up the costume so that your pet notices it. When they look, mark the moment with the word "Yes!" and reward them with a treat. Put the costume back down.
3. Wait for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat, lifting up the costume and marking and rewarding when your cat or dog looks at it. Repeat for up to 10 minutes.
4. Some pets will begin responding positively to your lifting the costume in a single training session. Others will need several sessions to build up excitement. When their interest is piqued, they are ready to move on.

Next you'll want to get your cat or dog comfortable with the feel of the costume against their body. Each of these steps may require multiple short training sessions with your cat or dog. Keep your training sessions short and give your pet plenty of time to rest in between training.

1. Begin by placing the costume on the floor in front of your pet. Using your voice or tapping the costume with your fingers, encourage them to touch it with their nose or paw. When they do, mark the moment with "Yes!" and reward them, placing the treat on top of the costume. Repeat until your pet is touching the costume with ease without your prompt.
2. Now use the costume like a glove to touch the body parts on your pet that it will cover. If your costume is a collar or hood, touch it to their neck quickly, mark the moment with "Yes," then reward, and set the costume down. If your costume is a body suit, touch it to your pet's back, side, or belly quickly, mark the moment with a "Yes," then reward, and set the costume down. Repeat until your pet is comfortable with its touch.
3. If your costume has velcro or other fasteners that make noise, desensitize your pet to those next. Hold the costume without touching your pet. Fasten or unfasten the material. When it makes a noise, mark it with "Yes" and give your pet a treat. Repeat until your pet remains relaxed when the sound is triggered.

Now that your cat or dog knows that the costume pays handsomely, they can begin trying it on.

1. Begin slipping the costume over your cat or dog's essential body parts. For a collar or suit with a head-opening, hold a treat on one side and lure your pet's nose through the hole. When their head pops through to eat the treat, mark it with the word "Yes." Repeat until they are able to comfortably dive through the hole.
2. For a step-in bodysuit, hold the fabric around your hand so that you can easily slide it over your pet's leg. If that's too much for them initially, place the fabric opening on the floor and encourage your dog to place a paw inside. In either case, mark with "Yes" and reward each time your pet is successful. Repeat until your pet is comfortable. With more complex costumes, introduce each element separately before moving on to Step 3.
3. Finally, fasten the costume. Mark with a "Yes" and reward when the costume first goes on. Continue to mark and reward as your pet wears the costume. Leave the costume on them for just a couple of minutes at first and reward frequently until it's time to disrobe. As your cat or dog becomes more comfortable, increase their costume-wearing duration and gradually decrease the frequency of your treats.