By Heidi Clayton
For dogs, Halloween must seem like they have entered a parallel universe. Crazy blow-up decorations, people wearing strange costumes and masks, and a stream of strangers coming to the front door asking for candy can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to make Halloween festivities easier on your dog.
For starters, you care more about your dog wearing a costume than your dog does. Before dressing your dog up, consider your dog’s temperament and if they will be comfortable wearing a costume. Try doing a test run of your chosen costume before taking your dog trick-or-treating. Make sure to have plenty of treats on hand to make wearing the costume a pleasant and rewarding experience. Check that their vision, breathing, and movement are not obstructed. If your costume of choice stresses your dog out, ditch it and opt for a seasonal bandana or collar.
If your dog or puppy gets overwhelmed with just one person coming over to visit, imagine how stressful a Halloween party or line of trick-or-treaters will be for them. If you are hosting a Halloween party make sure you think about how your dog will handle having free access to a table stocked full of treats and candy. Certain candy additives like xylitol are toxic to dogs so make sure if your dog is a counter surfer that they are going to be closely supervised or put them away with a bone to chew on while the party goes on. If your guests’ costumes will freak your dog out, it is safer for everyone involved for your dog to be put away for the night.
If the doorbell ringing normally sends your dog into hysterics, imagine how hard it will be on them to handle a steady stream of excited children in costumes yelling trick or treat. Consider the real possibility of your dog bolting out of the door when opened and jumping on people or worse running away. If there is any chance of either, consider crating your dog for the night or keeping them on a leash. Also, consider if children will want to pet your dog and how your dog will handle being approached by a child in a costume.
If you would like to take your dog along when going trick or treating, consider your dog’s leash manners before doing so. If your dog pulls you when there are very few distractions, expecting them to walk nicely and not be overwhelmed with costumed children running about may be asking too much of them. Can you reasonably manage your dog and child or children in a crowd of excited trick-or-treaters? Is your dog fit enough to walk the long trick-or-treat walk? If not, leaving your dog at home with their own Halloween treat for the night would be smartest for all of you.
The Four on the Floor staff will be supporting Salon Kink’s Trunk or Treat on Oct. 28 being held at Central Square in Linwood from 2-4 p.m. Come visit us!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
