Halloween is now officially just around the corner. To be more precise, it's on Thursday.

What does this mean for you? Practically, not a great deal. If you work for a startup, you'll most likely be required to dress in some 'whacky' costume for the day that serves literally no purpose other than making you uncomfortable and too hot. Outside of that, you'll only need to get a costume sorted if you're heading out for a wild night on the tiles, or to a dingy house party in Clapham that's sparsely populated and almost entirely personality free.

This couple made a 13ft bed for themselves and their seven dogs:

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Or, of course, if you're a child. Or, more accurately, a parent to a child. If you are a parent, then you've most likely already got your kid's Halloween costume sorted ahead of time, but fear not if you're yet to take the plunge, as there's a great deal of inspiration out there on the internet right now.

Earlier in the year we brought you news of a set of Baby Shark Halloween costumes for the whole family, but if you're quietly hoping to ween your young'un off singing the Baby Shark song for time immemorial, then allow me to introduce you to an altogether unlikely source of inspiration.

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This is Keki, a Hungarian puli who, along with their owner, pulled off without doubt the greatest Halloween costume of them all back in 2017.

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The costume even inspired this poem:

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And everyone was just generally extremely taken with this brilliant doggo and owner.

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So while it would be quite hard to pull off this mop and bucket look with a fellow human, hopefully Keki and owner have inspired you to think outside the box and pull off something truly creative this Halloween. Keki, your legacy as a true Halloween influencer is secure.

H/T: HuffPost

As 2018 draws to a close, now seems like a good time to look back at all the insane internet trends the year brought us. There was the tide pod challenge, which saw a bunch of naive teenagers wind up in hospital after chugging laundry detergent, a whole host of amazing Twitter memes, from tHe SpOnGeBoB tExT to the endless 'thank u, next' quote tweets, and - of course - the Baby Shark song.

The catchy (or annoying, depending on how you look at it) tune has been around for a long time, but was popularised this year after one particular rendition of it went viral on YouTube. Since then, it's been practically inescapable.

But, if you still don't think you've got enough out of the 'doo doo doo' jingle, then Amazon may have just the thing for you:

A Baby Shark costume for your dog.

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Yup, as if pups weren't already cute enough, you can now up their adorableness by at least 20 per cent by sticking one of these magnificent costumes on them.

"Why on Earth would I want to do that?" I hear you cry. Well, dear readers, I ask you this in return: "Why wouldn't you want to do this???" It's the ultimate dog accessory!

People will stop you in the street to ask where you got that awesome dog/shark hybrid, your enemies will flee in terror after seeing this magnificent beast you've managed to tame, and other pooches at the park will probably poop themselves with envy.

And just look how happy this lil guy seems with his costume:

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See - he's not traumatised at all!

At the moment, 'Rubie's Official Pet Dog Costume' retails between £14.39 and £18.45, depending on what size you order, meaning you can dress up loads of different breeds of dog (or maybe even a cat if you're willing to risk having your eyeballs clawed out).

And if sharks aren't your thing, Rubie's offers a whole range of dog-stumes. As they say on their Amazon page:

"Designed for the fashion forward pet, Rubie's pet costume collection features hundreds of non-licensed and licensed costumes including Star Wars, Batman, Superman, Hello Kitty, Ghostbusters, Elvis and The Wizard of Oz. The vast selection of pet costumes extends beyond Halloween to other special occasions such as Easter, 4th of July, St. Patrick's Day, Christmas and more. In addition, the distinct line of accessories includes wigs, hats, tutus, bandanas, wings and hair bows."

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So, if you think your pup deserves an extra Christmas present, why not get them a brand new outfit?

Be warned, though, if you leave the house with your sharkified pooch, you might just find that every person you pass starts singing "Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo" - and you'll be obliged to join in.

Halloween is one of the most exciting holidays, a time of candy, scary movies, decorations, pumpkin carving, and costumes.

We like to think that it's a special occasion where the whole family can get involved. But sadly, that's not true. Yes, the truth of the matter is that Halloween is a time when our pets are sadly neglected and don't really get to take part in all the fun.

 

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This is doubly true if you happen to own something small a furry, like a bunny rabbit, hamster, or a guinea pig. However, if you'd like to get your pet involved this year for real, then we have the answer for you.

PetSmart pet stores are offering sharks, pineapple, mermaid and a host of other Halloween costumes for guinea pigs this year, and from what we can make out from the pictures, they're utterly adorable!

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For example, the product description for the shark costume states: "Dress your small pet up as one of the ocean's most feared predators this Halloween with this Thrills & Chills Shark Costume. This fun costume slips on and off easily and features adjustable Velcro straps for optimal comfort, and is a great way for your small pet to join in on all the Halloween fun. Only at PetSmart. [sic]"

 

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However, customers are warned to be extra careful with the costumes and advised that they're not intended to be worn long-term.

The item description continues: "This item is intended to be used for a short duration, under close supervision. Do not use for more than a few hours at a time. Sizing should allow room for 2 fingers to fit between the item and the pet. Do not use as a restraint."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: PetSmart]]

However, this isn't the only Halloween innovation we've seen lately. Check out these incredible children's Halloween costumes specifically tailored to wheelchair users.

This Halloween is going to be a rather different affair compared to previous years, but that certainly doesn't mean there's no fun to be had in the lead up to the spooky holiday.

In fact, one Halloween-loving dog owner is having a whale of a time dressing her French Bulldog (named Toad) up as various iconic things.

Yep, 30-year-old Amy Herrington is using each day of October to post a snap of Toad in a new Halloween costume.

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Taking to Instagram, she explains:

"Double, double, toil, & trouble. The countdown to Halloween has officially begun. I’ll be posting a different costume each day during the month of October. Follow along or join the fun by adding the hashtag #toads31daysofhalloween to your own pet’s Halloween-themed photos. I’ll be sharing my favorites in my stories."

Here's what Amy has come up with so far:

October 2 - MC Hammer

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October 3 - Ancient Roman

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October 4 - Jack-Jack Parr from The Incredibles

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October 5 - Mickey Mouse

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October 6 - Kid from The Sandlot

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October 7 - Red Lobster 

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October 8 - Pineapple

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October 9 - Wolverine

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Related - People cannot decide whether or not this dog is going up the stairs or down the stairs:

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So far, Toad's Ancient Roman-inspired toga outfit from October 3 has received one of the best responses out of all the costumes. Currently at 728 "likes", followers of the account are really digging the look.

It was Toad's Red Lobster-inspired costume from October 7, however, that garnered the most comments. At 82 comments and counting, fans sure had a lot to say about the nod to the popular seafood restaurant.

Hilariously, commenters couldn't stop raving about the restaurant's Cheddar Bay Biscuits, which are unlimited for dine-in guests.

One Instagram user with the handle lulu_the_bluepied_frenchie commented: "Now I’m craving for their cheddar biscuits !!!!! [sic]"

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Credit: @goodboy.toad / Instagram[/caption]Another fan gushed: "Haha cheddar biscuits! Yassss [sic] The best thing at Red Lobster."

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Credit: @goodboy.toad / Instagram[/caption]A third user was beyond impressed by the creativity, writing: "My friend I'm speechless. What a great challenge. So [many] fantastic [dog Halloween costumes] we love it so much and we (I) live you."

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Credit: @goodboy.toad / Instagram[/caption]We cannot wait to see what the rest of October has in store for little Toad.

It's October. The leaves are turning brown and falling from the trees, the nights are getting longer, and the days are getting shorter; which means that Halloween is on the way.

But with so many people around the world stuck indoors for much longer than usual, thanks to the restrictions imposed on us due to COVID, it's unlikely that as many people will be out partying all night long, or knocking on their neighbor's doors while trick or treating.

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Indeed, you may have to restrict your Halloween guests to the people who already occupy your home. If that's the case, then perhaps you want to get your pets in on the fun, by dressing them up in some cool costumes.

So if you're a Guinea pig owner and you're usually frustrated by the lack of options available for your furry friends, then I have good news for you. That's because this year Petsmart is offering a range of adorable, teeny-tiny costumes made just for them.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Petsmart]]

As you can see in the images above and below, there's a variety of hilariously cute outfits to choose from.

These include (deep breath) two types of mermaids, a unicorn costume, a bumblebee costume, a lobster costume, a pumpkin costume, a hot dog costume, a dragon costume, and even a tiny mariachi band costume, complete with poncho and sombrero.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Petsmart]]

The adorable so-called "Thrills & Chills" costumes are available exclusively at PetSmart, and you can pick them up instore, or online.

The costumes come at a very reasonable rate of just $6.99 each, so you won't break the bank if you have multiple pets. Or if you just want your Guinea pig to have a bigger wardrobe.

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The reviews for the products from buyers have been very positive as well.

For example, a reviewer going by the handle "muffetjane", who hails from Rochester in New York, commented in glowing terms in a review made on the mermaid costume.

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They wrote: "This was actually a gift from my mother for my children's guinea pig. They were excited and the pig was less excited, but we got some really cute pictures and memories. Worth the price for all the giggles and fun. [sic]"

So if you're interested in making this year's Halloween something special for your little pet, then why not shoot over to Petsmart now, and buy while stocks still last?

Once upon a time, sharks were hated and feared by mankind in equal measure; due to their frightening appearance, and reputation as the apex predators of the sea. They certainly weren't thought of as cute by kids, that's for sure!

But in 2016 something changed, thanks to a YouTube video aimed at tots featuring a family of adorable baby sharks, dancing underwater to a catchy tune. The animated clip exploded in popularity, and rapidly became one of the most-viewed YouTube videos of all time. Yup, sharks have had a major boost to their PR.

 

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If you want proof of this, then just consider how much merchandise the Shark Family appears on these days. They're making cameos on everything from t-shirts and posters, to toys.

For instance, Halloween is on the way. That's a time when costumes for adults and kids are all but essential. It's good to know then that Amazon has jumped on the bandwagon, and is now selling colourful Baby-Shark-Themed costumes for the whole family. Even your dogs can get involved!

The costumes were created by the Rubie's Costume Company, and feature Baby Shark, Mommy Shark, and Daddy Shark in kids and adult sizes. They're so colourful and eye-catching!

Check out the famous Baby Shark viral video here:

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The product's official item description on Costume Supercentre states: "Take your kid trick or treating as one of YouTube's biggest sensations this Halloween. This Kid's Baby Shark - Mommy Shark Costume is the perfect way to do that."

It continues: "This ensemble comes as a shark romper made to look like Mommy Shark, but hides something even more recognizable under it's gills. An included a pre-recorded sound chip that plays clips of the Baby Shark song! Go out as a school of sharks or let your little one soak up all the attention as a solo act."

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The original video was the brainchild of the kid's entertainment YouTube channel, Pinkfong - an educational subsidiary of the South Korean media startup SmartStudy. It currently boasts an incredible 3 billion views and 9 million likes, which makes it the most-viewed educational video of all time, and its popularity has even spurred an online dance craze in South Korea.

The video is now so beloved that a stage show, Baby Shark Live!, is due to launch in the near future. Commenting on the future tour, Round Room Live co-president and lead producer, Stephen Shaw, told People: "We are really excited to be partnering with Pinkfong to bring a live version of their viral sensation, Baby Shark, throughout the U.S. and Canada."

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He added: "Baby Shark Live is a world-class children's brand that transfers naturally to the live stage, and we can't wait to delight fans with this fun and engaging experience."

This isn't the only Baby Shark merch we've seen online lately. Walmart recently released a range of awesome Baby Shark bedsheets, so kids can sleep in duvets featuring their favourite undersea characters.