Halloween

Ghosts, goblins, dress-up and candy. Halloween sure is fun for humans. But is it fun for your dog? It certainly can be for well adjusted, confident dogs that go with the flow. For other dogs the constant ring of the doorbell and strangers can be a source of stress.  There are also added hazards that can attract your dog such as candy, candy wrappers, decorations and costumes. It’s important to keep your dog from getting into them as they can be potentially dangerous.

Dressing up your dog for Halloween

Let’s not kid ourselves, dressing up a dog for Halloween is really for our enjoyment, not theirs. They don’t care either way, nor do they understand anything about it. Granted there many dogs that would be just fine wearing a Tutu and revelling in all the attention and excitement. But never push an anxious or stressed dog to wear a costume. If your dog isn’t used to wearing a coat, she might feel uncomfortable having a costume put on her. If she seems ok and willing and you really want to dress her up, make sure the costume is safe and comfortable. Do not cover her eyes, ears or tail. And ensure the costume is not interfering with her ability to move freely and is well ventilated.

Trick or Treat

You get to know what situations make your dog anxious or nervous. If you act accordingly, you and your dog will get through Halloween without being spooked.

When you are handing out candy, consider the following:

• take an extra long walk before the festivities begin
• answer the door before the bell rings
• keep her on leash when answering the door
• keep the candy well out of reach
• put her in a room (or her crate) with her favourite toy or blanket and play soft music

If you take your dog along for trick-or-treating, here are some tips to keep her safe:

• keep her on leash at all times no matter how trained she is
• make sure she is visible to kids, other adults and cars
• keep her on the opposite side of traffic at all times
• pay attention to what is attracting her attention, there could be candy or wrappers on the ground
• don’t allow her to lick any kids hands

It's understandable that if you are taking kids out trick-or-treating, their safety should be your priority. So if you cannot pay the proper amount of attention to your dog then it’s best to leave her at home for this walk. You can make it up to her tomorrow.

Have a safe and happy Halloween.