8 DIY doggie Halloween costumes

Cats loathe costumes but some dogs positively revel in dressing up for Halloween -- strap on a pair of fairy wings and they begin to strut their stuff. Dressing up your dachshund can get pretty pricey, however, without major sewing skills or a big budget. Here, finance expert Andrea Woroch shares a list of easy and frugal ideas to keep your pup happy come Oct. 31.

Octopus
This works best with taller dogs. Stuff pantyhose with a lightweight material, sew eight of them together in a cluster and pin to your dog's harness.
Chippendale dancer
Great for large dogs. Cut the collar and cuffs from a disposable white shirt and secure to your dog's neck and front paws. Create a bow tie out of a strip of black cloth. Encourage donations by tucking a few dollar bills into the collar. This works really well if you have a dog who likes to dance on his hind legs.
Little Red Riding Hood
A good costume for a small dog, this one is also easy on the sewing-impaired. Hit Jo-Ann Fabrics for a yard of red material with some structure to it, like felt or flannel, and a length of red ribbon. Cut the material into a hood and cape shape, then baste the ribbon to the neck of the hood.
Rapper pup
Let your streetwise hound exercise his vocals wearing a hoodie and gold medallions. Make the bling out of Yoplait yogurt lids and pick up a hoodie on the cheap side with a PetSmart coupon from sites like CouponSherpa.com.
Vampire
Those canine teeth will come in handy when your dog takes on the most popular costume of the decade. Simply cut a swath of black silk into a cape shape and attach it to the collar. If you have sewing skills or a glue gun, create a stand-up collar by attaching red silk to a cardboard frame.
Winged fairy
"Teacup"-size pups might be too tiny to handle wings, but a small dog should be able to pull off this low-cost outfit. Read how to create this look with directions from instructables.com.
Rescue dog
This one's a natural for St. Bernards, but even funnier on a smaller dog. Strap an empty beer or pop can to the collar and use a long piece of red felt to create a waistband painted with a white cross. For a humorous twist, larger dogs might be able to handle an empty coffee can instead of the expected brandy barrel.
Pillow camel
From all reports, dachshunds enjoy a bit of dress-up now and then. Turn your wiener dog into a camel by attaching an old sofa pillow in a caramel shade to a center harness. For a lumpier look, wrap a belt around the middle to give them two humps.