5 Tips for a Happy Halloween for You and Your Dog
I love halloween, but there may be some aspects of it that our dogs don’t appreciate. Here are some tips for a spooky but safe Halloween for you and your dog.
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WALK YOUR DOG BEFORE DARK
All the things that make Halloween such fun for us – weird face painting, freaky costumes, spooky lighting – can make it equally scary for a dog.
Even the calmest dog can be spooked by something otherworldly and out-of-the-ordinary. If you walk your pup before dark, you should be able to avoid any such encounters.
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
There are some really cute Halloween costume for dogs, but what if your dog hates being put in a costume?
I’m lucky, I could put my girl in anything and she wouldn’t have a problem with it. However, not all pups are like that. If your dog is uncomfortable in costumes, how about a more simple Halloween costume that won’t upset her?
There are lots of lovely bow ties for dogs that you can buy, or make your own dog bow tie. You could even make your pup a gorgeous, bat-shaped Halloween bowtie like the one below – no sewing required!
HALLOWEEN DOG FOOD
All festive occasions involve food – a delicious treat for us but potentially problematic for our pups.
If you’re having a Halloween party, make sure Fido can’t get at the kids’ sugary trick-or-treat bowl. Not only is the sugar really bad for dogs (or potentially even worse, the toxic sugar replacement, xylitol), but they could choke on a candy and its wrapper.
Just because some human food is bad for your dog though, doesn’t mean your fur baby has to go without.
You could have a bowl of treats that are just for your dog and make sure that any guests know they can only give your dog those treats.
Dehydrated dog treats like chicken jerky are great for parties – if any of the 2-legged guests accidentally eat them, they’ll probably not even realise they were for your dog! Here’s a tutorial for how to make chicken jerky for your dog.
Making celebration cakes for a dog is fantastic fun. Here’s a recipe for a Halloween cake for dogs.
One of the things I most enjoy about Halloween is pumpkins, and that’s something I can share with my dog. Pumpkin is super healthy for dogs and there are plenty of pumpkin treats for dogs you can make.
TRICK OR TREATERS AT THE DOOR
Where I live, the general rule of thumb if you’re participating in Halloween is to put a carved, lit pumpkin in the window, a sign to the local kids that there’s a bowl of yummy trick-or-treat candies waiting for them. Otherwise, close your curtains and you won’t be bothered by trick-or-treaters (these days there’s only treats, no tricks!)
Thankfully, my dog doesn’t get upset when people come to the door or ring the bell, but not all dogs are like that. If your pup does get upset with people coming to the house, make sure she has a safe space to snuggle up in, where she can get some distance from all the excitement at the front door.
Even dogs that don’t normally have problems with visitors can end up feeling overwhelmed by a constant stream of excited children in strange looking costumes. If you keep your dog in another room, both she and your visitors will stay safe and calm.
You could also put some calming music for dogs on in whatever room she’s in.
HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS
Sadly, most candles nowadays are bad for dogs. They’re made with potentially toxic things like synthetic fragrance oils and paraffin.
Dog-safe candles can be made from beeswax, coconut wax, natural soy or vegetable-based wax, with something like a cotton, lead-free wick. Since some essential oils are toxic to dogs, beware using scented candles. If you want to know more about essential oils for dogs, see this article.
So if your dog is in the same part of the house as your lit pumpkin, could you use a pet-friendly candle in it instead of a standard tea-light?
Another consideration is to make sure that Fido can’t jump up and knock any candles over. The last thing you want is to be putting out house fires!
With a little careful consideration, Halloween can be a hoot for you and your dog!