It’s Halloween month and while we love the excitement around it and run events like Tricks for Treats and Halloween Tricks Training we also want our dogs to be safe and happy around the festivities!
We have put together some tips on helping our dogs around Halloween and also further down is a link to our advice in the latest article for Kinship on preparing dogs and puppies for Halloween too.
Top Tips to keep your dog safe and happy around Halloween:
🎃 If you have decorations please keep them out of reach of your dog – ensure they cannot jump up to reach off kitchen surfaces, shelving, or anything hanging on the wall!! Some ornamental decorations are made from plastics which can be very harmful to dogs and puppies if they ingest them.
👻 Be aware of people out Trick or Treating when you are due to walk your dog – new groups of people may be daunting on their own plus add costumes and excitement, talking, laughing etc! Aim for places with less chance of Trick or Treating if your dog can be worried by something unusual, new people or sounds or walk while it’s daylight if that is possible. Remember dogs can do other things with you at home for exercise and stimulation other than walks, unless they need to go out to ensure they toilet.
🎃 If you are having people round for a Halloween gathering, whether day or night, ensure your dog has access to a nice quiet area that they can go to if they wish and everyone in the house knows to leave them alone while in that area / room. This might be a crate or puppy pen, another room with a baby gate or door closed. Do check on your dog a couple of times then leave them to it a little while if they have settled.
👻 Are you dressing up for Halloween? Maybe for work or fun? Let your dog see you with the costume before adding any masks or hats so they know it’s you, and let your dog see you put your mask or hat on! The costumes themselves can have new scent, props may make sounds and everything will look different so giving your dog a chance to investigate (without trying to eat it!) and see you putting the costume etc on will really help them accept the changes. If you are having people round who will be dressing up ask the first few people your dog sees to put their mask etc on after they have greeted your dog (if your dog is part of the event) so they can see the costumes are nothing to worry about.
🎃 Consider if inviting people to Trick or Treat at your door will be stressful for your dog! People knocking at the dog on and off for potentially a few hours, people talking at the front door, interruptions as your dog is settling down … some dogs love the social side but some become very stressed. If you don’t want Trick or Treaters try to not have decorations at the front of the house, remove doorbells or put up a sign asking to not be included. A lot of communities use a pumpkin with candle inside at the end of the driveway to indicate the homeowners are partaking in trick or treat so as much as I love a Jack-O-Lantern I don’t put them out the front as I want my dogs to remain undisturbed.
👻 If you have a Halloween costume for your dog check for stress signs before, during and after putting the costume on them; some dogs are very happy to wear clothes while others find it very stressful or uncomfortable. If they move away, lip lick, yawn a lot then these can be signs to not pressure your dog into wearing something. A themed bandana, collar or harness can be more comfortable for Halloween. You can also prepare your dog by trying the costume on them before the actual day it’s being used. Try parts if there are more than one. Put it on your dog using treats and training (Hide the Face Trick is perfect for outfits going over the dog’s head!) and take it off after a moment, or invite your dog to play a game with you if they don’t try and take it off instantly. This way by the time Halloween arrives your dog will be used to the outfit and much more comfortable.
🎃 Store your costume and decorations safely:
Halloween has some of the best themed props of any holiday and this includes decorations for house and the garden as well as costumes. We’ve mentioned decorations already but do be aware your dog may try nibbling on a rubber bat prop in the garden or try and lick the scary make up used to complete your costume off your face. Just ensuring your dog doesn’t have unsupervised access to anything in the home for the spooky season can make Halloween safer!
👻 Trick or Treat!
Whether you take part in handing out treats, buy Halloween sweets for yourself or are going trick or treating do be careful that your dog cannot reach any candy or chocolate! Storing in a tin with a lid, in a cupboard or up high can help! Often sweets go into a large bowl near the door so we can hand it out quickly but ensure that bowl cannot be reached by your dog or knocked off easily by people! Also be aware of sweet wrapped, lolly sticks etc the next day when taking your dog out. They may be dropped on your driveway or front garden, or be on the path as your start your walk.
We also have advice for you if your dog is likely to bark when they hear Trick or Treaters passing your house at the end of the month. Many dogs are not bothered by people passing the home but there are dogs who hear noise and respond, dogs who try to protect their home and dogs who like to try and find out who is outside and what their intentions are by woofing!
If your dog already barks when people pass your home or garden then it will be handy to start some training before Halloween so they don’t have an extra busy few nights patrolling the front window! If you’re not expecting barking but there’s always a possibility then you could add in a few methods over the next couple of weeks to help your dog not start a new trend!
The article is for Kinship and we were asked to contribute our advice on Dogs barking at Tricks or Treaters. The link to have a read for free is HERE
Enjoy your Halloween and if you’d like to find out more ways to celebrate the Halloween season with fun themed tricks take a look at our Online Monthly Tricks Club which has 7 days trial completely free! We will be adding Halloween Tricks very soon for everyone to have a go at! The Tricks Club is run by Certified Dog Tricks Instructor Joe Nutkins who has 4 Norwich Terriers reach Trick Dog Champion, her little Rescue Dog about to be assessed for her Trick Dog Champion and the world’s first official Trick Duck, Echo!
If you like Themed Tricks you’ll love the club!
Online Monthly Tricks Club Info
Have a fantastic Halloween Month and enjoy time with your dogs, safely!
Written by Joe Nutkins
Dog Training for Essex & Suffolk
