Halloween is a week away, busy doggy parents everywhere are scrambling to get ready.

According to a survey done by Dogster, 65% of dog owners will be including their pooches in Halloween festivities this year.

Fun doesn’t just mean staying home to answer the door and pawing out candy. Local pet supermarkets and boutiques host activities ranging from costume competitions to parades. For a small fee, donated to charity, many of the sites offer a souvenir picture to take home.

This Sun., Oct. 26 the world’s largest Halloween pet event will once again be hosted by the Haute Dog. The Howl’oween Parade, as seen on TV, had more than 600 costumed dogs in the 2007 parade and expects an even bigger turnout this year.

You still have time to join in all the Haute Dog events so be sure to stop by and visit their site for all the fun filled details.

So..will these pups be showing up dressed to the nines or au natural? Dogster’s survey showed 40% of dog owners have definite plans to dress up their pets, and 72% of those plan to buy their costumes rather than make them at home.

For dogs entering contests, Haute Dog founder Justin Rudd suggests tried-and-true ways to beat the competition. “You’ve got to do something to stand out. It could be a motorized float or a grouping of dogs. In last year’s parade, we had five pugs in jail suits, riding in a wagon called the Pugitentiary.” Other winners included a choo-choo train, gnome, grim reaper, aviator, geisha and lobster.

Casey Whitcher, owner of the high-volume web retailer GlamourDog, says newly available costumes are always the most popular, and October brings in huge sales-second only to the December holiday rush. They have great costumes, new styles for 2008 as well as the perennial favorites. Check it out soon, there’s not much time left to order for arrival before Halloween.

While dressing your dog up may be fun for you, it isn’t always fun for your furry pal. According to Dogster’s survey 43% of the respondents admitted their costumed pooches resent having to wear holiday garb, though many end up in it nonetheless. The majority of dogs, though, can’t wait to embrace the eerie events-according to their human companions anyway.

Survey Highlights

* 65% of dog owners will be including their pooches in Halloween festivities this year.

* 40% have definite plans to dress up their dogs.

* 72% of those dressing up their dogs will be buying their outfits rather than making them at home.

* 46% percent think the coolest costume last year was Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.

* 43% say their pets resent wearing costumes.

* 19% of dog owners say their pets love getting gussied up for Halloween-the more outrageous the outfit, the better.

Remember, Halloween night is often accompanied by noises your dog isn’t used to, which can be scary. There are some safety tips to keep in mind to make this a fun and safe day for all.

Boo!