Don't Forget the Dog: Grogu

When The Mandalorian debuted on Disney+ in November 2019, the big reveal of the first episode wasn't a villain or a planet. It was a small green baby in a hovering pram, with giant ears and a robe a few sizes too big. Fans called him Baby Yoda for a whole season before the show finally gave him a name, Grogu, and by then he was already the most famous puppet on the planet. This May, The Mandalorian and Grogu brought him to the big screen, directed by Jon Favreau, and the little guy is back on every T-shirt and toy shelf. So if your family is dressing up as Star Wars characters this year, there's one member who deserves the role more than anyone: the dog. HalloweenCostumes.com sells a Star Wars Grogu Costume for Pets by FUN Costumes for $39.99 to $49.99.

It makes sense, if you think about it. Grogu is small, he's always being carried around, he eats things he shouldn't and he gets away with all of it because he's cute. That's a dog. Here's what's in the bag, how the sizes work, how to measure your pet and what to pair it with.

What's in the bag

The Grogu pet costume (item FUN96453) is officially licensed and part of the site's "Made By Us" line. It comes in two pieces: a jacket and a headpiece.

The jacket is made of plush minky fabric, the soft, velvety kind used for stuffed animals. It has sherpa trim on the collar and the cuffs, which is a nice nod to Grogu's robe in the show, with its thick, fuzzy collar that always looks like it's swallowing his neck. The jacket closes with hook-and-loop down the center front.

The headpiece is the real star. It has big foam-backed ears, so they stand out to the sides the way Grogu's do, and a jersey knit lining inside to keep it soft against your pet's head. It fastens with hook-and-loop under the chin.

Everything is 100% polyester. The listing describes the costume as a way to turn your pet into "the galaxy's most adorable little buddy, complete with big green ears," which is about as accurate as product copy gets.

Why the ears matter

Grogu's ears are his whole silhouette. If you saw only a shadow, you'd still know who it was. So a Grogu costume lives or dies on the ears, and foam backing is the right call. Fabric ears flop. Foam-backed ears hold their shape, even when your dog shakes its head, which it will.

The headpiece is also separate from the jacket. That's a big deal for pets. Some dogs are fine with a jacket but hate anything on their heads, and vice versa. With two pieces, you can use just the jacket for a long walk and add the ears for photos.

How the sizes work

The costume comes in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large. The pricing runs backward from what you might expect. The Small and Medium cost $49.99, and the Large and Extra Large cost $39.99. So owners of big dogs get the better deal this time.

The size chart lists the measurements of the jacket itself.

The Small has a 26-inch chest, a 15.5-inch neck opening, a 9.5-inch front length and an 11.5-inch back length. The Medium is 30 inches at the chest, with an 18.5-inch neck opening and lengths of 13.5 and 15.5 inches. The Large is 34 inches at the chest, with a 22.5-inch neck opening and lengths of 17.5 and 19.5 inches. And the Extra Large is 40 inches at the chest, with a 26.5-inch neck opening and lengths of 20.5 and 23.5 inches.

The chart doesn't list weight ranges or breeds. So you'll need a measuring tape.

What "Small" really means

Here's the thing to notice. The Small has a 26-inch chest. That's not a tiny-dog size. Many toy breeds have a chest girth well under 20 inches, so a Chihuahua or a Yorkie would probably swim in it.

A 26-inch chest is more in line with a small-to-medium dog, something like a beagle or a larger terrier. And the Extra Large, at 40 inches, is built for big dogs, the kind that take up most of the couch.

So don't pick a size based on what you'd call your dog. Pick it based on the tape measure. If you have a very small dog or a cat, this costume may simply be too big, and one of the other Grogu pet options on the site, which I'll get to below, might fit better.

How to measure your pet

You need three numbers.

First, the chest. Wrap the tape around the widest part of your pet's rib cage, just behind the front legs. Keep it snug but not tight. You should be able to slip two fingers under it.

Second, the neck. Measure around the base of the neck, where a collar would sit, again with two fingers of room.

Third, the back length. Measure from the base of the neck, at the collar, to the base of the tail.

Then compare those numbers to the chart. Since the chart lists the jacket's own measurements, you want the jacket to be a bit bigger than your pet, especially at the chest. A jacket chest that's an inch or two larger than your dog's chest should be comfortable. If your pet falls between two sizes, go up. Hook-and-loop closures give you some room to tighten.

One more thing. The listing says the costume isn't returnable once the package is opened. That's common for pet costumes, but it makes measuring even more important. Measure twice, then order.

Keeping your pet comfortable

Most pets need a little time to get used to a costume. Here's how to make it easier.

Start with the jacket alone, a few days before Halloween. Put it on for a minute or two, give a treat and take it off. Do that a few times, making each try a bit longer.

Then try the headpiece. Slip it on, fasten it gently under the chin and give another treat. If your dog paws at it or keeps shaking its head, take it off and try again later. Some pets will never love a hat, and that's fine. The jacket on its own still says "Grogu," especially with the sherpa collar.

Watch the chin strap. It should be snug enough to keep the headpiece on, but you should be able to fit a finger under it easily. And never leave your pet alone in a costume. Minky is soft and warm, so check that your dog isn't getting too hot, especially if you're out for a long time.

Make sure the costume doesn't cover the eyes, the nose or the mouth, and that your pet can walk, sit and go to the bathroom normally. If anything seems off, take the costume off. Your dog's comfort comes before the photo.

The other Grogu pet costumes

The site sells two other Grogu options for pets, and they're worth knowing about, especially for small dogs.

The Star Wars Grogu Pet Costume Hoodie costs $29.99 to $49.99. It's a single fuzzy hoodie with an embroidered Grogu face on the hood, satin-lined ears and sleeves for the front legs. It fastens at the belly with hook-and-loop. It's listed by weight: Small for 11 to 25 pounds, Medium for 25 to 40 pounds and Large for 70 to 110 pounds. There's no size listed between 40 and 70 pounds, which looks like a gap in the chart. Right now only the Medium is in stock.

The Star Wars Grogu Pet Costume costs $39.99 and is a different take. It's a velour robe with a sherpa collar, and it has fiberfill-stuffed arms in front that hold a small alien figure. The hood has embroidered Grogu features and fluffy ears. It comes in Small for 11 to 25 pounds, Medium for 25 to 40 pounds and Large for 40 to 70 pounds, with chest girths from 14 to 25 inches. At the moment, only the Large is in stock.

So here's a rough guide. For a small dog, look at the hoodie or the robe with the stuffed arms, since their Small sizes are listed down to 11 pounds and a 14-inch chest. For a medium or large dog, the FUN Costumes jacket and headpiece is the most detailed option, with the best ears. Both of the other costumes are also non-returnable once opened.

Pair it with a Mandalorian

A Grogu dog needs someone to look after it. In the show, that's Din Djarin, the Mandalorian, a bounty hunter in silver armor who never takes off his helmet.

The easiest option is The Mandalorian Adult Mask for $15.99. Add a brown or gray outfit from your closet, and your dog's sidekick is ready to go. For a full costume, the Men's Qualux The Mandalorian Costume by Jazwares costs $59.99. It includes a printed jumpsuit with fiber filling in the arms and chest, a detachable cape, a plastic mask and foam-backed shoe covers. And for a big upgrade, there's the Men's Deluxe Star Wars Din Djarin Season 1 Mandalorian Costume for $129.99.

For kids who want to be the Mandalorian, the Kid's The Mandalorian Costume costs $39.99 to $49.99, and The Mandalorian Kid's Mask is $12.99.

A dog in Grogu ears walking next to a kid in a Mandalorian helmet is about the cutest thing you'll see on Halloween. It's also very on brand, since Mando spends most of the show trying to keep Grogu from wandering off.

Making it a whole family

If more than one family member wants to be Grogu, the site has you covered. The Grogu Ears Costume Headband costs $12.99, and it's an easy way for a parent to match the dog. For babies, there's an Infant Deluxe Star Wars Grogu Costume for $49.99, and for toddlers, a Toddler Deluxe Star Wars Grogu Costume for $69.99. And for an adult who wants to go all in, The Mandalorian Adult Inflatable Grogu Costume costs $124.99.

There's also a Grogu Shoulder Sitter Costume Accessory for $79.99, for anyone who wants a Grogu riding along. Although if you have a real dog dressed as Grogu, you're already covered.

For props, a bowl of dog treats is perfect. Grogu spent a famous part of the show sneaking snacks he wasn't supposed to have. Your dog will play that part without any coaching.

What it costs

The pet costume costs $39.99 for a Large or Extra Large dog and $49.99 for a Small or Medium. Add a $15.99 Mandalorian mask for the owner, and a dog-and-owner pair comes to $55.98 to $65.98.

For a full Mandalorian costume and the pet costume, you're looking at $99.98 to $109.98 with the $59.99 Qualux suit. That's a fair price for a matching pair, especially one this recognizable.

Summary

The Star Wars Grogu Costume for Pets from FUN Costumes is a two-piece set with a plush minky jacket, sherpa trim and a headpiece with foam-backed ears, for $39.99 to $49.99. It comes in four sizes, from a 26-inch chest up to 40 inches, which makes it a better fit for medium and large dogs than for tiny ones. It's non-returnable once opened, so measure your pet's chest, neck and back first. For small dogs, the site's Grogu hoodie or robe-style pet costume may fit better.

So, is it worth it?

For medium and large dogs, yes. It's a well-made, licensed costume with the one detail that matters most, ears that actually stand up. The two-piece design is pet-friendly, and the price is fair, especially for bigger dogs.

I'll admit the sizing surprised me. A "Small" with a 26-inch chest isn't what most people picture when they think small dog, and owners of Chihuahuas and Yorkies could easily order the wrong thing. But if you measure first, you'll know right away whether it'll work.

So grab a tape measure, check your dog's chest and practice with the jacket a few days early. Have the treats ready. Then put on your Mandalorian mask, clip on the leash and head out. Just remember what Mando learned the hard way: the little one always gets the snacks.