Halloween Spoopy-Time Safety

Hello October!

The most wonderful time of the year (in my humble opinion) is here! Spoopy season! The air is cooler and crisper, the leaves are changing, the apple cider is in my mug, and the ghosts and ghoulies are among us. If you’re like me, you probably subject your dogs to wearing Halloween costumes (in exchange for a generous helping of cookies). If your dogs are like the Cerberus Crew, they probably love the new scents in the air and the milder walking weather.

This is the time of year when we need to take into account that some of the things that are delightfully frightful to us might be absolutely terrifying or downright dangerous to our dogs (and cats). Remember a few important points for the Halloween season:

1. Be sure your dog feels safe on walks. Some dogs enjoy investigating outdoor Halloween decorations. But some dogs are scared of them, and that’s ok. If your dog becomes stressed around holiday yard decor, simply avoid passing close-by. Allow your dog to keep space between himself and your neighbor’s 12′ tall  skeleton. Forcing dogs to approach these decorations or scolding them when they are afraid only increases their anxiety and chips away at their trust in their guardian. Be your dog’s hero and avoid vampires and zombies on your walks!
2. Keep the candy jar out of reach! Many candies can be harmful to dogs, whether they contain xylitol, chocolate or caffeine, or are wrapped in tempting foil.  
3. Consider using battery operated candles or lights inside your Jack-O-Lanterns to avoid accident/fires which can occur when our pets become overly interested in the pumpkins. Be sure your pup doesn’t try to ingest the little battery-operated lights, or you’ll have an unpleasant, un-fun scare on your hands.
4. On trick-or-treat night, create a safe, relaxing area for your dog to occupy herself in. Soft music or a white noise machine, stuffed Kongs, treats, toys, and a comfy bed are all great items to have ready for your pup. Be sure she can’t bolt through the door when you’re handing out candy. Consider closing inner doors or using baby gates to safely confine your dog during trick-or-treat hours.
5. It is my personal feeling that we should not walk our dogs during trick-or-treat hours. Costumes make people look not like people, which can be distressing to many dogs. Additionally, sidewalks crowded with excited children can be a lot to handle for most dogs, especially dogs who enjoy having some personal space. I recommend walking your dogs a few hours before festivities start.

As always – and this is very important – if you dress your dog up for Halloween, send me a picture! Email me at info@cerberusdogtraining.com, and I will share your best friend’s photos on Instagram 🙂