If you like to dress your dog up in red, white and blue, raise your paw.
As July Fourth approaches, this year Independence Day holiday falls on Friday, July 4, 2025 , it’s an opportunity to extend your patriotism to your four-legged friends via a patriotic pet costume. The red-white-and-blue-pride could vary from super simple, think a star-spangled bandana, to an elaborate, fancy stars-and-stripes costume.
A 2024 post on Barkloom, formerly a site for dog owners before the Texas-based store permanently closed, offered a pro tip if people in Florida dress their dogs in July Fourth apparel: “If you spray your bandana with cold water, it will help to protect your pup from the sun and keep them cool.”
And if you’re bringing your dog to an Independence Day parade in your town, “prepare tasty organic dog treats or frozen treats or ice water to keep your pup cool and hydrated.” With the hot summer weather in the Sunshine State, it’s important to keep your pets cool and hydrated. Frozen treats are one way to do this.
Of course, there are other opportunities during the year to shop for pet costumes — not including the biggest day for dress-up, for pets and their humans, Halloween, Oct. 31, every year:
Below is a photo gallery of patriotic pet costumes compiled from archive coverage from the USA TODAY Network-Florida.
Pet costume ideas for Fourth of July and photos of patriotic dog costumes
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: July 4th dog costumes: Furry friends show pride from patriotic capes to pet dresses, bandanas
Reporting by Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
