Have you ever seen a dog running around with a faux lion‘s mane framing his face? There’s hardly a better, more practical costume for a dog than this, because it allows your dog freedom from constraint of any clothing save that one headpiece, and if matched correctly, your dog can truly look like the king of the jungle! Are you planning on dressing your dog up as a lion this year? If so, then we’d like to assist you in looking for the best dog costume to make your canine look as close to a real lion as possible.
We’ve reviewed four top lion costumes for small to large dogs. Continue reading to discover our top picks and decide which one is right for your dog.
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Check Amazon- Black 100% polyester faux fur with attached ears
- Drawstring hood for comfortable fit
- Comes in black, white, and gold colors
- Sizes Medium and Large
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Check Amazon- Available in sizes XSmall - 2XLarge
- Lion onesie with hood, faux fur mane, attached tail
- One-piece slip-on made of polyester
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Check Amazon- 100% polyester
- Slips over front legs, with attached hood, faux fur mane, and tail
- Available sizes Small - XLarge
The Top Picks for the Best Dog Lion Costume: Ranked
#1 Best Overall: RWM Dog Lion Mane Costume
Our selection as the best overall lion costume for dogs is the RWM Dog Lion Mane Costume.
This simple lion mane costume can quickly transform your dog into a ferocious lion. The mane simply slips your dog’s head and has an adjustable elastic strap to ensure a secure fit. This golden-colored wig looks very realistic as it has two ears integrated into the design. RWM also includes a free tail puff with each mane to make a dog’s tail look more like a lion’s tail, although customers have reported that this does not stay attached very well.
RWM used top-quality materials and kept safety in mind when making this mane. It is crafted using non-toxic materials so you can be completely confident that your pet is not being exposed to any harmful substances while they are wearing it.
It is designed to fit medium and large breed dogs with a neck circumference between 15.75 and 30 inches, including mastiffs, beagles, and other similar-sized dogs. However, this does mean this it is unsuitable for smaller pets.
Pros and Cons of the RWM Dog Lion Mane Costume
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This mane is a simple slip-on design which is secured by an adjustable elastic strap. | The additional lion’s tail does not stay attached very well. |
| It is made from top quality, non-toxic materials. | It is not suited to smaller breeds of dog. |
| It is designed to fit medium and large breed dogs with a neck circumference between 15.75 and 30 inches. |
•Slip-on lion's mane costume
•Medium-Large sizing
•Tail puff optional
2. Best Black Mane: Onmygogo Lion Mane Wig for Dogs
For those darker-colored pets that need a black mane we have chosen the Onmygogo Lion Mane Wig for Dogs.
If you have a black dog, choosing a black lion mane can offer a more realistic look. This mane is available in medium and large sizes and should deliver a good fit for medium and large dogs with a neck circumference between 24 and 31 inches. Lion ears are also added to the mane to complete the look for your pet.
This polyester wig is made from lightweight and breathable material which is great as it prevents your pet from overheating or being uncomfortable. It also features a soft lining for added comfort.
This mane is very easy to slip onto dogs and you can easily adjust the fit of it by tightening or loosening the elastic drawstring, although some customers complained that the band broke.
Pros and Cons of the Onmygogo Lion Mane Wig for Dogs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This mane is made from lightweight and breathable material. | Some customers reported that the elastic drawstring broke. |
| It features a soft lining for added comfort. | |
| It is easy to adjust the fit using the elastic drawstring. |
- Black 100% polyester faux fur with attached ears
- Drawstring hood for comfortable fit
- Comes in black, white, and gold colors
- Sizes Medium and Large
3. Best Full-Body Lion Costume: Rypet Dog Lion Costume
For pet owners who prefer a full-body lion costume for their pet, we recommend the Rypet Dog Lion Costume.
Manes that go over a dog’s head won’t work for smaller dogs. If you want your smaller pup to take part in the fun of dressing up as a lion, consider this full-body costume from Rypet. This costume is available in six sizes (extra-small, small, medium, large, extra-large, and extra-extra-large) to fit dogs weighing between two and 16 pounds. However, some pet parents have reported that the sizes are sometimes a little smaller than expected and sizing up is needed.
This design features a hood that pulls up around your dog’s head. The hood keeps the mane and lion ears up around the head for a more realistic look. The back of the costume features a tail with a ‘lion puff’ at the end.
This costume is made from plush polyester fabric which is designed to be completely soft and comfortable for your pet. However, some owners have found that the fabric is thick which means pets become hot quickly while wearing it.
Pros and Cons of the Rypet Dog Lion Costume
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This costume is made from polyester fabric which is soft and comfortable for the dog. | The fabric is thick which means that pets can quickly become hot. |
| There are a range of sizes available — to fit pets weighing up to 16 pounds. | The sizes are sometimes a little small and sizing up is required. |
| It is not suited to larger dogs. |
- Available in sizes XSmall - 2XLarge
- Lion onesie with hood, faux fur mane, attached tail
- One-piece slip-on made of polyester
4. Best Simba Costume: Rubie’s Disney Lion King Simba Pet Costume
For owners whose favorite Disney lion is Simba we have chosen Rubie’s Disney Lion King Simba Pet Costume.
This super-cute costume easily slips over the front legs of your dog and features a hood which decked out in reddish-brown fur. Two little ears stick out and there is a lion’s tail to complete the look.
This costume is available in four sizes including small, medium, large, and extra-large, and fits dogs weighing between six and 45 pounds. There’s a helpful sizing chart with other measurements to ensure you can gauge the fit properly.
This costume is made from 100% polyester which is super soft and comfortable for your pet. However, owners have reported that pets can quickly become too hot while wearing it.
Pros and Cons of Rubie’s Disney Lion King Simba Pet Costume
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This costume is available in a range of sizes to fit dogs up to 45 pounds. | Pets can quickly become too hot in this costume. |
| It is made from 100% polyester which is super soft and comfortable. | |
| The slip-on design is easy to use. |
- 100% polyester
- Slips over front legs, with attached hood, faux fur mane, and tail
- Available sizes Small - XLarge
What to Look For in a Lion Costume
We’ve put together a short buying guide to help you choose the best dog lion costume for your dog. Every dog is different, and each lion costume is a bit different as well. Using the features outline below to guide your search can help ensure you choose the best option for your pup.
Safety
Safety is paramount when shopping for anything for a dog. When choosing a costume, avoid anything with smaller pieces that your dog could choke on if they manage to pull them off of the costume.
Also, while overly bulky costumes are funny and cute, they may not be the safest option for your dog. Dogs could get stuck on furniture and other items in a house or yard if their costume is too bulky. This, obviously, could pose a safety risk for your dog. To keep this from happening to your pup, you should always watch them closely when they’re dressed up, regardless of how bulky their costume is.
Materials
Choose costumes made using durable materials that aren’t likely to break or tear after just a few uses. You should also look for options that look like they will be comfortable for your dog to wear.
You may enjoy wearing a thick, heavy-duty costume on a cool fall night, but dogs already have fur to keep their bodies insulated and a costume that is too thick could cause them to overheat, especially if they wear it out on a warmer day. Try to choose costumes that are made from more breathable materials or ones that feature mesh lining to keep dogs cooler.
Fit
Costume manufacturers include a sizing chart to help dog owners choose the best-fitting costume for their pup. You will need measurements of your dog’s neck circumference and chest circumference to compare to the ranges on the sizing chart. You may also need your dog’s length and weight. Most manufacturers recommend sizing up if your dog appears to be between two costume sizes.
Design
Finally, consider the design of each lion costume. Many lion costumes are simply a mane to put over a dog’s head. This may work well if you have a larger dog whose fur is similar in color to the mane color. However, it may not look very realistic on a dog whose color doesn’t match the mane color, like a white dog. The advantage of the mane headpiece is that your dog’s body can breathe, and he can run or get frisky without risk of damaging a full-bodied costume.
Small-breed dogs also may not fit well in mane-style costumes, since they have smaller heads, and the lion head pieces are often designed for larger dogs. Choosing a full-body lion costume may be the best option in these cases.
Our Criteria and Experience — How We Chose the Best
When we recommend dog costumes to our readers, we have to take into account the fact that there is no “perfect” costume. Even the best dog costumes can have fit issues depending on your dog’s size, breed, and unique features. What we do look for are costumes with fabrics that are safe for dogs, hold up well on the feistiest of dogs, and fit the majority of dogs as intended. And we of course looked for lion dog costumes that are pleasing in the eyes of their beholders.
- Our overall best pick is a fine lion headdress made from 90% cotton and 10% artificial wool. It’s orangey-brown tone matches wonderfully with the coats of golden dog breeds, but would also do well with brown breeds. One of the best things about this costume is how easy it is to fit the piece on a dog’s head with the elastic adjustable tightener. This mane is a great choice for medium to large breed dogs. However, customers reported that the tailpiece the manufacturer includes is a throw-away item.
- Our second choice is made from 100% polyester which goes well with dogs whose coats vary from white to gray to black. This mane is very easy to slip on dogs and has an elastic string buckle that holds it in place, although some customers complained that the band broke. It’s also recommended to gently brush the mane out as it will look more like a real mane.
- The full-bodied #3 costume is about the cutest dog costume we’ve ever seen! The polyester/cotton costume is one piece that stays in place once you maneuver it onto your pup. However, customers found the fabric to be thick and a bit stiff. Depending on where you live, a night out in this costume could make your dog hot, so do take that into consideration. We’d also advise checking the sizing chart, as some customers found that sizing up was necessary.
A lion dog headpiece is a great costume choice for a dog that resists wearing a full-bodied costume.
©iStock.com/Eva Blanco
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