We’re lucky to have a great local pet store near our house called I’ll Be Doggone. They’re always hosting fun pet-friendly events, especially around the holidays, and they really show appreciation for their customers. Their annual Halloween party is great! It’s packed with samples, activities, and even snacks for the humans — a true community event for dog lovers.
Our Golden Retriever the Social Butterfly 🎃
Our golden retriever, Boomer, absolutely loves these events. Maybe a little too much! As soon as we arrive, all listening skills disappear. He’s not naughty — just overly excited to meet so many people and other dogs. Boomer is basically the Walmart greeter of dogs — friendly, happy, and ready to say hi to everyone!
I’m hoping that as he gets older, he’ll calm down a little, but for now, we just embrace his big personality and the chaos.
The Graveyard Bone Dig Game 💀🐾
One of the highlights of the party was a game called the Graveyard Bone Dig. It was set up like a small doggie ball pit filled with treats hidden at the bottom. Each dog had 30 seconds to dig through with their nose and eat as many treats as they could.
A staff member counted how many treats each dog managed to find — and Boomer ended up with 31 treats! Honestly, I think that number might have been a little low considering how fast his big mouth can scoop things up. 😄 Either way, he was crowned the big winner of the game and came home with a fun prize basket full of goodies.
How We Made a DIY Harry Potter Dog Costume ⚡
This year, we decided not to do a full family costume theme. Honestly, I didn’t want to buy another costume for Boomer — I love him, but there’s a line between festive and overboard. Instead, I raided our Halloween tote and found some Harry Potter accessories we could reuse for a quick DIY dog costume.
Here’s what we used:
- A small Gryffindor tie, tied around his harness (he didn’t even notice it)
- A Harry Potter scarf, which he wore comfortably
- A mini Hedwig owl clip, which didn’t last long — Boomer thought it was a toy!
- Harry Potter glasses, which stayed on just long enough for a couple of photos
It wasn’t perfect, but it was cute, easy. If you’re looking for a simple, no-sew dog costume idea, this one is fun, inexpensive, and great for photos.
The Costume That Got Away 🦈
I did have one other idea — JP as a lifeguard and Boomer as a shark. It would’ve been easy to make a little shark fin to attach to his harness. Unfortunately, JP didn’t go for it this time, but maybe next year!
Real-Life Dog Photos (No Filters Here) 📸
So here it is — a real, unedited photo of our dog in his costume. Sometimes the perfectly posed pet photos online don’t feel real. I always wonder how those dogs sit so still! Maybe that’s something to work toward, but for now, we’ve got the joyful, slightly chaotic moments that make these memories so special.
If you love the Harry Potter theme, check out our other posts for more inspiration:
- Harry Potter trunk or treat
- Harry Potter birthday party
Welcoming Sentiments 
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