With Halloween around the corner, we want to remind you that Halloween festivities may be too scary for your dog, as they can easily be overwhelmed by all the noises, smells and costumes.
To allow for the comfort and safety of your dog on Halloween, we offer you these tips:
- Keep your dog safely indoors in a crate or room away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities.
- Give your dog a bone or toy stuffed with food to keep his mind off all the people coming and going at the front door.
- Make sure pets are wearing tags with a current ID. Opening the door repeatedly for trick-or-treaters creates plenty of escape opportunities.
- Keep candy out of pets’ reach. Chocolate and other ingredients can be toxic to them.
- Most pets are happiest wearing nothing. If the pet is put in a costume, forgo masks and make sure the costume is comfortable and accustom your dog to it before Halloween Day.
- Decorations and costumes can be dangerous and should be kept out of reach so your dog can’t chew on them or get tangled in them.
- Leave your dog at home when you go trick-or-treating. Dogs can be easily excited by Halloween commotions, causing them to bite or run away.
- Every Halloween, pets are stolen or injured as part of pranks, so be sure to keep your pets safely indoors if possible.
Keep an eye out for strange dogs while you are trick-or-treating. Parents and their kids should follow these tips:
- Avoid houses with dogs barking behind the door or running around in the yard.
- Don’t approach dogs if you are in costume, they may be scared of your costume even if they know you.
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
