Late October in Britain is rarely warm, and most Halloween outfits are thin novelty fabric that leaves a dog colder than they started. This one is thick plush with a padded body, so it does the job of a jumper at the same time as the job of a costume. For a short-coated pet out on a dark, damp evening, that is a genuinely useful combination rather than a gimmick.

The padding is what separates it from a printed nylon cape. It holds a shape, so the pumpkin reads as a pumpkin instead of hanging flat, and it holds warmth against the body while you are out. Four sizes run from XS to L, and fit is decided at the chest, measured round the deepest part of the ribcage just behind the front legs. A costume that pulls there will be shrugged off within a minute of leaving the house.

• Thick plush outer with a padded body
• Warm enough to work as a layer on a cold evening
• Four sizes, XS through to L
• Holds its pumpkin shape rather than draping flat
• Suits small and medium pets

Two things worth knowing. Costumes are for short supervised spells, so take it off before your pet is left alone, sleeps, or plays roughly in it. And the padding that makes this warm outdoors makes it too warm indoors for long. A heated living room plus a padded costume is how a dog ends up panting in the corner while everyone else admires the photographs.

Who it's for: Owners of a short-coated pet who want a Halloween outfit that also keeps them warm for the hour it is actually on.