Halloween is fast approaching! This is a holiday enjoyed by the young and the young at heart. It’s heralded with lawn decorations, costumes, parties, spooky sounds, smells, and lighting. All of this culminates with children dressing up and running throughout the neighborhood after dark ringing doorbells. When the doors are answered you can hear loud exclamations of “Trick or Treat”!

I wonder what dogs think of all of this. It’s not like any other night of the year. By its very nature, it’s designed to be scary. And for some dogs it could their worst nightmare! When making plans for Halloween, include your dog in the planning. Here are some suggestions to ensure you and your children can enjoy the holiday while keeping your dog safe and satisfied, too.

Although some dogs may be okay making the rounds with their family, most dogs are not likely to be comfortable with all the chaos. Rather than putting your dog into a situation they can’t handle and setting them up to make a mistake, it would be better to leave them at home. If you host a Halloween party, these suggestions will also help your dog feel safe. Provide your dog a safe spot in a room where you can close the door to prevent them from escaping out the front door into the night. Close the blinds or curtains, turn on the TV or calming music, and give them a toy like a Woof Pupcicle. This is a long-lasting food toy dogs lick to get to the treat inside. You can make your own frozen treats or purchase their refills. They also have a calming version for dogs who could use a little extra help to relax. Check out this new toy in our Boutique. This may also be a good plan, too,

If you know your dog is comfortable with Halloween festivities and decide to take them with you, be careful about dropped candy and open flames that might be found in luminaries and jack-o-lanterns. If you dress your dog up, make sure your dog is comfortable in the costume, that they can’t trip on it, and it doesn’t block their eyes.

On the other hand, if you know your dog will struggle on Halloween, you might consider consulting with your veterinarian to see if there are any medications or supplements that can help your dog cope with the day of the dead.

If an accident occurs and your dog runs away, you’ll want to be sure they are wearing id, are microchipped and the contact information is up to date with the microchip company. Consider placing an Air Tag on your dog’s collar and pair it with your cell phone. This can be very helpful tracking your dog.

Halloween can be fun for everyone with just a little pre-planning and good execution. Share what you’ll be doing to help your dog this year.

© Laura Hills 2023 www.thedogsspot.com