Although many of us are not quite ready for it, the holiday season is fast approaching! First in line is… Halloween!
While many of us may love the creepy decorations, or handing out candies to all those costumed little kids, some of our dogs may not enjoy it. When deciding what to do this Halloween, make sure you make a plan for your pets!
Scary Decorations?
Some dogs are nervous around scary halloween decorations. I’m sure we have all laughed when our dog jumps when they notice the skeleton dog in front of the neighbor’s house, but if your dog is barking, growling, or hiding from these decorations it’s time to take action.
Scary Costumes?
While some dogs do not care about costumes, other dogs become terrified when seeing people who do not look quite like a person. Pay attention to what your dog is telling you. Is your dog scared? Slightly concerned? Fearful to the point of aggression? Watch your dog for changes in behavior to indicate if they are uncomfortable or not.
Scary Candy?
One of the scariest things for us as humans at Halloween is the worry that our dogs might accidentally ingest some dangerous candy. The wrong treats in the wrong quantities can be fatal, so knowing what’s around is vital. You should also know the phone numbers for you veterinarian and the emergency vet clinic of your choice.
What can you do?
1. Work with your dog doing confidence building exercises! Get them used to new and novel items and new environments. Reward them heavily for choosing to be brave! If your dog is really afraid of the decorations, avoid walking by any and use smaller, less scary decorations at home to practice being brave. Halloween can be a great opportunity for training your dog to be comfortable around new things!
2. If your dog is fearful of costumes, start wearing “interesting” outfits when hanging out at home. Don’t wear anything scary, just something that gets your dog interested, and reward them for being around you while you look “weird”. Do mini training sessions with easy things (like sit) while wearing your new style.
3. Keep your dog safe and calm, even if it means excluding them. Having a party, or expecting trick-or-treaters, but know this will make your dog uncomfortable? Put your dog away in a safe room with a nice bone or food toy to entertain them, while you enjoy your company. This will keep your dog from having a bad experience, and leave you free to enjoy your night.
4. Train your dog to be less reactive to door knocking or door bells. If you’re short on time, put up a sign asking people not to knock/ring the bell.
5. Know what candy is in the home, and know where it is. If you have kids, take charge of the candy and the rules around it! I remember hiding my halloween candy under my bed growing up… I shudder to think what would have happened if my dog found my stash.
6. Learn to speak Dog! Our dogs tell us a LOT with their body language. Learn to watch your dog’s eyes, tail and posture to better understand how they’re feeling. Yawning, turning away, or licking their lips could be signs of stress.
How does your dog feel about Halloween? Share in the comments!