Halloween is meant to be scary fun. But for some dogs, it’s just plain scary. Just think about it – strangers come knocking on their door, your apartment’s covered in cobwebs, and familiar faces are suddenly masked in costume. It can all be a bit confusing for a dog…
If you’re looking for ways to keep your dog happy and safe on Halloween, look no further. With a little precaution, dogs and Halloween don’t have to be a spooky combination. To help, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help ensure Halloween safety for dogs. Keep reading to learn more!
Consider Crating To Keep Them Calm
Costumes, candy, and a proper spooky atmosphere make Halloween a great holiday for humans. But for pets, all that activity and commotion is probably more stressful than exciting.
Again, constant doorbells ringing and knocks on the door are going to be very stimulating for most pups. They may also be frightened or uncomfortable with people that are wearing masks or elaborate costumes.
That’s why our top tip to ensure Halloween safety for dogs is to consider crating your pup – at least until all the ghosts and goblins go home. Your dog will likely be more comfortable in a secure space that’s away from all the festivities.
Plus, you can keep them occupied with a toy, or a special snack of their very own! While you hand out candy, your dog can chow down on a special treat. Our all-natural Chicken Breast & Sweet Potato Fillets, are made with human-grade chicken, and make an excellent reat for a good boy or girl.
Keep Costumed Kids From Knocking
If you don’t want to crate your pup, or just want to minimize their stress, it’s best to minimize noise. The constant shuffle of kids ringing the doorbell can be overwhelming for a lot of dogs. After all, Halloween tends to bring with it a lot of visitors. Fortunately, there are two great solutions to keep things quiet. And also to help ensure that Halloween safety for dogs is a top priority.
Set Up A Candy Station
One option is to just put a bowl of candy outside and let trick-or-treaters help themselves. Of course, this will rely heavily on the honor system. Chances are someone will take more than their fair share of treats. However, the peace of mind that this set up can give, may be well worth it. Even if you have to refill the candy bowl a few times your dog’s stress levels will likely be minimized.
Can dogs eat watermelon? Find out here!
Enjoy Your Front Porch
Alternatively, you can sit outside and hand candy out yourself. If you leave your dog inside, and meet trick-or-treaters before they knock on the door, the noise level will be significantly reduced. Plus you’ll get to see all the cute costumes! Win-win.
If the occasional knock or bell ring breaks through, try keeping your pup occupied with a treat of their own. Our Peanut Butter Coated Sweet Potato Stix are made with natural ingredients, and can help delight and distract most dogs.
Don’t Take Dogs Trick-Or-Treating
It may be tempting to take your dog with you and your family as you trick-or-treat. But to ensure Halloween safety for dogs, this probably isn’t the best idea for most pups. Why? Because the environment is too unpredictable…
If your dog becomes frightened by spooky noises or spooky costumes, they may try to run away. Or in some cases, they may feel they need to defend themselves or their family. This isn’t a good situation.
In addition, you’ll be visiting other people’s homes. This means you’ll likely encounter other dogs and chances are, they may be on edge too. Dogs tend to not like unfamiliar pets entering their territory. And not only that, but if you have kiddos your attention is divided. It can be hard to focus on your child and your pet. When combined, all of these factors can create potentially dangerous situations.
Put The Treats Away (Unless They’re Dog-Friendly!)
There’s a lot to love about Halloween. For humans, the treats are often the best part! Delicious lollipops, chocolates, candy corn, and more are something that most look forward to. Yum!
However, those sugary sweets we crave can be dangerous for our dogs. Thankfully many people know and understand that chocolate is a big no-no for dogs. But even sugar-free varieties can be extremely dangerous. Specifically those that contain xylitol, which is toxic for dogs. So a major piece of advice when it comes to Halloween safety for dogs is to keep the candy away. Far far away.
Fortunately, dogs and Halloween can still mix. Most dogs can have treats, so long as they’re made for canines. Even better, if they’re made with wholesome ingredients. Speaking of dog treats, our Sweet Potato Bones are free of grain and icky fillers, but full of taste!
Halloween safety for dogs is a major concern, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time together. Once the trick-or-treaters are gone, cuddle up for a fun movie or enjoy another low-key activity. While you enjoy your bag of goodies, your dog can enjoy their own treats too!
