Slinky Costume
Stretch your imagination with this classic Toy Story toy dog look.
Slinky Dog, the beloved toy dachshund from the Toy Story franchise, is a classic costume choice for Disney fans. This look captures his signature orange-brown body, floppy ears, and iconic metal spring middle. Whether you are going solo, pairing up as a two-person team, or dressing up the kids, this guide covers both DIY and ready-to-wear options.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $25–80
Try it on
See yourself as Slinky
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What you need for a Slinky costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Slinky costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Brown base layers
A matching long-sleeve shirt and pants in an orange-brown or tan shade to mimic a dachshund's coat.
DIY: Use any solid brown sweatpants and a matching brown t-shirt from your closet.
Slinky coil midsection
A flexible, metallic silver dryer vent duct or a large plastic toy spring worn around the waist.
DIY: Wrap silver tinsel or metallic silver poster board strips around a wire hoop.
Floppy dog ears
Dark brown felt ears attached to a brown headband or a brown baseball cap.
DIY: Cut ear shapes out of dark brown felt and hot-glue them to a plain headband.
Slinky dog tail
A short, spiral silver wire or pipe cleaner with a small brown felt tip attached to the back of the pants.
DIY: Coil a silver pipe cleaner around a marker to create a spring shape, then safety-pin it to your pants.
Green dog collar
A simple bright green collar or a strip of green felt worn around the neck.
DIY: Cut a strip of green felt or fabric and secure it with Velcro or a safety pin.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Slinky costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the solid orange-brown long-sleeve shirt and matching pants.
- 2
Secure the green collar around your neck, ensuring it fits comfortably.
- 3
Carefully expand the silver dryer duct or plastic coil to fit around your torso, securing it with suspenders or attaching it to your shirt with safety pins.
- 4
Place the brown dog ears headband on your head, positioning the ears so they flop downward.
- 5
Attach the coiled silver tail to the back of your pants using a safety pin.
- 6
Add black face paint or eyeliner to the tip of your nose to complete the puppy look.
Makeup & hair
Use black eyeliner or face paint to draw a small black circle on the tip of your nose. Keep hair simple or tucked under a brown cap if using one.
Slinky for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person wears the front half (head, collar, front legs) and the other wears the back half (tail, hind legs), connected by a long flexible silver duct.
- group
- Pair with other Toy Story characters like Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and Rex for a complete group theme.
- kids
- Use a brown sweat suite, attach a smaller section of silver dryer hose around the belly, and add a felt ear headband.
- Plus size
- Use stretchy, comfortable brown cotton loungewear as the base and opt for a wider, flexible plastic coil that expands easily.
- pet
- A brown dog can wear a lightweight silver metallic tube around their midsection with a green collar.
Tips
- If using a real metal dryer duct, tape the sharp cut edges with silver duct tape to prevent scratches.
- Keep the midsection coil flexible so you can easily sit down during parties or while driving.
- For a two-person version, make sure the connecting spring is long enough to allow comfortable walking distance between both partners.
Slinky costume FAQ
- How do you make a two-person Slinky Dog costume?
- One person dresses as the front of the dog with the ears and collar, while the second person wears the tail. A long, flexible silver dryer duct or pop-up tunnel connects the two at the waist.
- What is the best material for the Slinky spring?
- A flexible aluminum dryer transition duct is the most realistic and affordable option, but a large plastic toy spring or silver-painted foam tubing also works well.
- Is this costume comfortable to wear all night?
- Yes, if you use lightweight materials. Make sure the coil is secured to your clothing with suspenders so you don't have to hold it up.
Did you know? Slinky Dog was based on the real-life Slinky pull-toy introduced in the 1950s, which was later redesigned for the Toy Story films with a friendlier face.