Ever since cavemen started keeping wolves as pets, the argument has probably raged: Is Wolfie cute in that bone necklace and skin shirt? Or is it humiliating to him?

There are arguments to be made for both sides, but you only have to look around to know a lot of people have gone to the "It's cute to dress Fido up" camp.

Gail Sickling / Special (ENLARGE)

Pets in costume need not be a scary proposition. Just proceed with caution, and plenty of patience.

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And some experts say there's nothing wrong with that — with some caveats, of course. Here's what you need to know about dressing your pet for the holidays:

• If possible, start training a pet to tolerate a costume when they're a puppy (or a kitten, if you're brave — really, really brave.)

• Adult dogs can be taught to like, or at least tolerate costumes, if started slowly. Put on the shirt (or one arm if that's all they will allow) then give them praise or treats and take it off. Work up to the whole costume, then strive for longer periods of wearing it over days or weeks.

• When your friends ridicule you for dressing your Chihuahua up as Paris Hilton, tell them Kathy Santo, a New Jersey dog trainer and author of "Dog Sense" said training dogs to wear costumes makes them more willing to be handled, which makes for a safer dog. It also strengthens the bond between people and their dogs.

• But costumes must be safe. They can't impede a pet's movement, breathing or sight (Dogs that can't see are much more likely to bite.) Never leave pets alone while in costume.

• On holidays like Halloween, it's best to get a snap shot of your pet in all their finery, then leave them home on the big night. A bunch of goblins are bound to spook even the calmest of dogs. And then there's all that dropped candy — especially chocolate which is toxic to dogs and cats — lying around for the munching. It's pretty much a recipe for disaster, experts say.

• And finally, if your pet truly hates wearing a costume, let it be. (Didn't you hate it when your mom made you wear that hideous plaid outfit to school just because Aunt Edna gave it to you?)