Haute dog

Young Chang

They have it better, in a way.

Because how many humans can pull off “dogzilla” on Halloween?

A hotdog?

A simple pink sweater?

Dogs (or their owners) just have way more fun.

You probably saw pugs prancing around in costume-y ensembles

Saturday at TeWinkle Park for Pugtoberfest. On Oct. 26, the Newport

Dunes Waterfront Resort will hold its 10th annual “Top Dog” Fashion

Show. And for Halloween, area dog-fashion experts predict a little of

the angel and a lot more of the devil.

“I’ve seen a lot of interest in the devil costume,” said Debbie

Lane, owner of the Newport Dog Groomery. “The red horns, the red

cape.”

Tammy Limon, who manages the Barkery on Balboa Island, dresses her

black pug Pepper almost everyday, without occasion. Pepper is often

seen wearing her “Tiffany” necklace, which isn’t actually from

Tiffany’s but looks and costs like it might as well have been. It’s a

sterling silver rope with a silver heart charm.

On Friday, Pepper had opted for a combination of silver and

plastic, wearing both her Tiffany piece and a Halloween necklace that

has glow-in-the-dark bats.

“I don’t know if she really likes it all, but I think it’s fun to

put on her. And once she puts it on and people start adoring her,

she’ll start prancing around,” Limon said.

Pepper’s Sunday outfit is always her Miami Dolphins jersey, a

teal, blue and orange number.

Other favorites (of Limon’s) are a leather Harley Davidson jacket

that comes with a hat and a trendy, sparkly little shirt that has

flames on the front.

Pepper’s favorite is a red, white and blue sweatshirt that keeps

her warm in the winter.

“A lot of people like the hotdog costume,” Limon said. “Two buns,

and they’re hooked together and there’s mustard on top.”

The mustard actually zigzags across the dog’s back.

Limon’s Halloween predictions for pooches include Batman outfits,

“dogzilla” suits, pumpkins, angel wings, devil ears, Halloween

bandanas, Halloween bows and sweaters or shirts decorated with

pumpkins and spider webs.

The most common accessory for both occasions and everyday is

easily the necklace.

“A lot of customers have necklaces for a whole year -- Halloween,

Christmas, Valentines Day, Summer Beads ... They’re crazy. I mean, I

am crazy ‘cause I love animals,” Limon said. “She’s my kid, so she

gets anything.”

Jack Linscott’s pampered pet -- a French poodle named Babe -- will

participate in the “Top Dog” show. She’ll probably wear a pink

sweater, a pink hat, her usual patriotic-colored sunglasses and her

newly manicured pink nails.

“She likes to be coordinated,” he said. “She’s quite a fashion

plate. She wears glasses because she doesn’t like to be recognized.”

Which isn’t too common among dogs. Lane says some will tolerate

sunglasses for a short time but most won’t.

“Most don’t like anything on their heads,” she said.

Ginny Nelson, receptionist at the Costa Mesa Animal Hospital, said

there are things to remember if you’re thinking of dressing your dog.

Avoid anything that’s too tight and anything that’s too frightening.

“If you put sunglasses on them and they’re not accustomed to it,

then that would be frightening to them,” she said.

Owners should also stay away from too-tight collars and harnesses.

“You have to be very careful because it can cut off the

circulation,” Nelson said.

Limon added that when it comes to necklaces, owners should be

watchful and make sure the chain doesn’t choke or trip the dog.

But when it comes to fabrics, almost anything can go, Lane said.

No material is particularly irritating or harmful.

And shoes? There are special little “booties” made to Velcro

around the dog’s ankles, but most dogs don’t like things restricting

their feet.

Linscott said Babe won’t be dressing up for Halloween because she

gets afraid of being attacked.

But on any other day, she’s more than cooperative of dressing up,

going out and getting attention. Babe is, in fact, a past photo

subject for not only area papers, but television stations too.

“The dogs are nonchalant about it,” Linscott said. “Some of them

are really foolish [looking], but they don’t realized that ... In

this hectic world, it brings a smile to people’s faces and that’s

what people need, a smile.”