I got the idea to have my Labrador Retriever be Big Bird because Labs are “bird dogs”. It was a play on words that she be BIG BIRD DOG. I dressed up as Oscar the Grouch. I got my supplies from Joanne fabrics and the Dollar Tree. For my costume I only had to purchase a shirt at Wal-Mart with Oscars face on it, everything else I had in the house. For the trash bin I cut a hole in the bottom of a collapsible laundry basket and then spray painted it silver. I used Duct Tape to create suspenders and a take-out aluminum dish for the trash can lid. I added aluminum foil for the handle and strung a piece of elastic through the dish.
To create my dog’s costume I needed yellow felt, yellow feathers, foam eyes, 2 pairs of socks, a visor cap, foam paper and acrylic paint. I adhered everything using Aileen’s No Sew Glue.
Step One: I traced the shape of a raincoat my dog wears onto the yellow felt. It covers her like a blanket and has extended tabs underneath the belly and in the front of her neck.
Step Two: Attach Velcro to “tabs”. I purchased Velcro that is 1.5″ by 3″. The piece that is soft I keep whole. The rough sided one I cut in half width wise. I do this because the rough side can catch on the felt fabric and pull it. I then glued on a piece of Velcro to each end of the tabs. It also helps to keep the softer piece long so that you have more room to adjust it on your pet, kind of like holes on a belt.
Step Three: Glue on the feathers using Aileen’s Glue.
Step Four: I found pink and orange striped socks at Dollar Tree that I made into leg warmers by cutting open one end.
Step Five: Paint foam balls with pink and blue acrylic paint. Glue them onto the top of a foam visor. On the under side of the visor brim I cut out 3 diamond shapes in yellow, red and pink to create the mouth and tongue.
And there you have a Homemade Big Bird Dog and Oscar the Grouch Handler Costume.
I love that you incorporated the fact that your dog is a “bird dog”, to make it Big Bird Dog.
Very cute costumes! Creative!
Very creative and cute!
That’s the cutest thing!
Loved the costume! Great job so creative! Loved the thinking behind it! Big bird – bird dig!! So cute!’
Great job!!
Love it!
love it
love it cute idea!
love it
great costume!
Good luck very cute
Love this couple…you both look so adorable
Really really cute!
I really like this. How many feathers did you need?
Gl
GL
VERY CUTE–GOOD LUCK
I LOVE IT Good luck
Big Bird Dog is the best dog in the world. Can she fly?
cutie! good luck!
AWW HOW CUTE!!!
i absolutely love this photo who doesn’t love oscar n big bird, totally unique and awesome !
Cute
Good luck!!!
Great job, Abby! Very creative! – Janet G
These are 2 of the best costumes ever. They are both very beautifully made and the idea behind the dog costume is brilliant. The extremely good looking young woman in the photo who created all of this should be a costume designer in show business.
very cute! nice
Awesome! How creative! GL!
Very nice! How fun!
Awesome. You should totally win this!
Good job Abby and thanks for your patience Olivia
I think he is the greatest Big Bird Dog!
SOOOOOOOO cute!!!!!
LOVED THE COSTUME TOO BESIDES THE DOG.
loved the custume and Abby you did a great job! great! And the dogs are the best!
adorable! pats to olivia
how creative! this is a great costume!
both costumes are so cute and creative. you did a great job abby.
You look so cute a-dog-able in that costume that I helped make with your mom, the grouch. What will you be next year? Can’t wait to store another costume on my dining room table for 6 weeks. Love Grandma
How did you ever think of something so creative, to combine her breed of dog with a costume. Quite original.
Did you know 20 years ago I too dressed up as big bird when i was a school principal. I love the detailed instructions you provided to tell how to make this costume.