Halloween is a holiday full of costumes, candy, socialization, laughter and fun. Unfortunately, as much fun as it is for us as humans, it can be quite overwhelming for our four-legged friends. As you plan for the spookiest time of the year, here are some Halloween safety tips for pets:
Keep Your Dog at Home
Halloween usually means lots of people traveling from door to door or being out and about in the neighborhood. Oftentimes it is dark and these people are in costumes. The costumes themselves can make your dog anxious, as our pets do not understand the concept of masks (especially masks that are meant to scare people).
Dogs can have unexpected reactions to people in costume, so be careful with younger children to avoid any nips or jumping behavior. It is best to keep your dog at home where there is familiarity and comfort. Offer a treat-filled toy, calming treat or plug in a calming diffuser before you leave the house help keep an anxious pet calm or distracted from the doorbell ringing frequently.
It can be tempting to put a Halloween costume on your dog and bring him with you to show off to friends and family. If your dog tolerates wearing clothes or costumes, take pictures of him in his attire before you leave the home, then take the costume off your dog and leave him behind. You can show him off in photos while you’re out and about.
Give Your Dog a Safe Space
This is where crate training comes in handy. Set your dog’s crate in a place that is out of the way, give your dog a treat-filled toy for enrichment and let him relax. If you don’t have a crate, set up a spot in a room, such as a bathroom or laundry room, that your dog can safely be alone in. Keeping your dog in their own space will also keep them away from potentially-toxic candy, like treats with chocolate or xylitol.
If your dog is particularly anxious, discuss additional relaxation and calming options with your veterinarian, which range from holistic calming sprays, diffusers and treats to prescribed anti-anxiety medications for dogs. Your dog doesn’t need to participate in all (or any) of the events of Halloween night, and they’ll be much safer in the comfort of their own hideaway..
Keep Your Dog Away from the Door
It is important to keep your dog away from the door, both for their comfort and for the safety of the trick-or-treaters. Not everyone enjoys coming to someone’s door just to be greeted with an over-enthusiastic dog. It can be quite frightening for kids and dangerous if they topple over. Also, there is a high risk that your dog can escape and run away if the door continues to be opened. It is best to keep your dog away from the door to avoid having to send out a search party for your beloved family member, especially on a night that you are supposed to be enjoying.
Understand What Your Dog Can Handle
As with all holidays and schedule-disrupting occurrences, it’s important to understand what your dog can and can’t handle and prepare accordingly. If you have a noise-sensitive dog that reacts to the doorbell, it’s best to put him in a room far away from the commotion.
Create that safe space (or put their crate) far from the front door, turn on some white noise or relaxing music to drown out the noise and give them something yummy to chew on or a puzzle toy to figure out. Another option is putting a sign on the door that asks trick-or-treaters to lightly knock instead of ringing the bell to avoid getting your dog overly excited.
Remember, Halloween is supposed to be a fun night for all, but safety is key. If you try to understand and eliminate the possible stressors of the evening from your pet’s viewpoint, it will make for a calmer, happier experience for everyone.