What You Need To Know About Preparing Your Pup For Halloween

October is arguably one of the best months of the year. Sweaters come out, weather gets cooler, thanksgiving rolls around and then of course, Halloween fastly approaches. Young or old, Halloween is for everyone and by everyone I mean your pup too.

Dogs love Halloween and as pet owners it’s important to slowly prepare them for the big day. During the pandemic we saw a major pet boom and experts at Dogtopia want pet owners to keep these 5 things in mind for their furry friends this Halloween.

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5 Things To Remember With Your Dog During This Halloween

1. Walk Your Dog Before The Days Festivities Begin

When the night begins many families and pet parents stay inside for the night to accommodate the trick-or-treaters coming to the front door. This means your pet can get cooped up, and if they didn’t get their daily walk earlier, their exercise routine will get thrown off. To avoid your dog getting bored and fidgety, that can sometimes lead to bad behaviour, dedicate some time to take them out before all the Halloween frenzy ensues.

2. Does the doorbell get your pup riled up? 

Many dogs get excited at the sound of a knock at the door, or the doorbell ringing. It means visitors and friends are here! However, on All Hallow’s Eve, when the doorbell is constantly ringing, you might want to put them in a different area of the house that’s more secluded. Keep in mind that not all children are comfortable with dogs, and the sight of them barking or coming to the door can frighten kids even more than the scariest costume.

3. Beware of treats

If your dog loves to nibble on anything they find lying around, be extra cautious of where you keep your Halloween treats in the house. You want to make sure they’re in a place your dog can’t access. Fall foods like chocolate, pumpkins, gourds, and corn are toxic and harmful for dogs.

4. Costumes aren’t always appreciated by your pup…

Although pet customers are adorable, in some pets wearing costumes or clothes can cause stress and anxiety if they are restrictive and hinder their ability of movement, sight, breathing and/or barking. Costumes should be checked for comfort and how they make your pet feel before Halloween to maximize their safety and wellbeing.

5. Are you bringing your pet with you door-to-door? 

You know your dog best, so if you know they are easily spooked and wouldn’t do well among the busy streets filled with crowds, scary sounds, and horror houses, make alternate arrangements for them to stay at home with someone else in the family. If you do want to bring your dog along for trick-or-treating fun on Halloween night, just make sure you’re being as safe and thoughtful as possible for everyone involved. Invest in a reflective tag or glow-in-the-dark collar to make your pup as visible as possible. Bring along some dog treats so you can reward them for being such a good-behaved pup on a busy night, and don’t forget to pack some baggies in case they end up having to do their business.

Feature Image: petlandflorida