Halloween Safety Tips for your Dog. Keep Your Furry Friend, Calm, Safe and Happy during the Spooky Season
I’d like to preface this blog post with my very personal opinion about how to celebrate Halloween with dogs: Just Don’t! Halloween is…well spooky. This can be stressful for many dogs: Trick or Treaters, scary Yard decorations on your evening walks, candy and candy wrappers. All things I would normally ask people to avoid with their pups. However, many of us can’t avoid Halloween and some really don’t want to give up spooky season for their dogs. That’s ok, so here are some tips how to make it easier for yourself as well as for your dog.
Halloween is a time of fun, frights, and festive celebrations. While we humans enjoy the costumes, candy, and spooky decorations, Halloween can be a bit overwhelming—or even dangerous—for our furry friends. From the constant doorbell rings to the tempting treats that are off-limits, it’s important to take extra precautions to keep our dogs safe and comfortable during the holiday. Here are some essential Halloween safety tips to ensure your dog enjoys a stress-free Halloween!
Trick-or-Treating Safety
Avoiding the Doorbell Chaos with a barking Dog on Spooky night
The constant ringing of the doorbell on Halloween night can be a major source of anxiety to many dogs. Strangers in costumes can make it even more unsettling. To keep your dog calm during trick-or-treating times, consider setting up a quiet, comfortable space away from the front door. A cozy room with their favorite bed, toys, and maybe even a white noise machine or calming music can help drown out the commotion. This way, your dog can relax while you handle the trick-or-treaters.
If you want to go a step further: start a couple of weeks ahead of time and practice staying calm during doorbells with your dog during the day, either yourself or with a trainer.
Otherwise, what I did: I used Spotify’s “doorbell” playlists if you want to train alone. I’ve used this once with a friend’s dog who would start barking even at the sounds the TV made when Jeopardy was on and it worked within a day! Might not be fool proof, but did the job to let me at least watch Jeopardy in peace :-)
If in doubt, and if possible, maybe just leave the Candy in a bucket outside for children to serve themselves or just don’t do it…we’re in 2024, do kids still egg your house if you don’t have candy?
Leash and Collar Check on Halloween Night
Yard Decorations for Halloween are getting wilder by the year. I personally can’t wait to see how the neighborhood is trying to win this year’s claim to fame when Home depot’s mega skeleton was sold out already in August and Costco has howling werewolf’s on display right now. While this is all pretty cool to watch, this can be extremely unsettling for our dogs. Already in the weeks leading up to Halloween, be aware of scary looking or loud Halloween decoration in front yards and either try to avoid them on your walking route or make sure you approach them with confidence with your dog.
Especially If you plan to involve your dog in the Halloween fun by taking them trick-or-treating the night of, be aware that small little goblins running around (aka children), might be another stress factor for your pup.
So either way make sure their collar fits well and has up-to-date ID tags. Even the most well-behaved dogs can get spooked and bolt if something scares them. Using a reflective leash and collar can also improve visibility during nighttime walks, keeping both you and your dog safe.
Missy and I have glow in the dark harnesses (matching if I may say). Especially in the dark, you want your dog to be visible for cars, too.
Costume Comfort for your pet
Dressing up your dog can be adorable, but it’s crucial to prioritize their comfort. Ensure the costume doesn’t restrict their movement, breathing, or vision. Test the costume on your dog before Halloween night to see how they react. If they seem uncomfortable or stressed, it might be better to stick with a simple bandana or festive collar instead.
There are some really cool Halloween costume ideas out there. Check out the Wear Wag Repeat Blog for cool ideas, or visit the Pretty Mutt’s Pinterest board for more ideas,
Missy and me as a German couple - she even had a dog toy in shape of a pretzel!
Keep Halloween Candy Out of Reach of Dogs
Halloween candy might be a treat for us, but it can be dangerous for dogs. Chocolate, xylitol (a common sugar substitute), and raisins are particularly toxic to dogs. Keep candy bowls and trick-or-treat bags high up and out of your dog’s reach.
Make sure Plastic bags are cut up before discarded, food bags like Chip bags, candy bags and other plastic containers are a huge suffocation risk or dogs and about 47% of pet suffocations happen by Chip bags that dogs found unattended around the house. (source: Prevent Pet Suffocation)
If your dog does manage to sneak some candy, contact your vet or an emergency animal clinic immediately.
Dog-Friendly Halloween Treats
Healthy Homemade Treats
Instead of giving your dog human treats, why not make them something special of their own? Pumpkin dog biscuits or apple and peanut butter bites are easy to make and packed with nutrients. Here’s a simple recipe for Pumpkin Spice Dog Latte from our friends at Simply Sharon and Teddy. see the cute design they made in their matching reel! Halloween-themed Dog Make sure you follow them with all their other cool Dog recipes!
Store-Bought Options
If you’re short on time, there are plenty of dog-friendly Halloween treats available at pet stores. Look for options made with natural ingredients and avoid those with artificial additives or preservatives. Always check the ingredient list to ensure there are no harmful substances.
We know the best Halloween Treats will be at Layla’s Barkery, so make sure to snag them in time for Halloween!
Avoiding Human Treats
It can be tempting to share your Halloween goodies with your dog, but it’s best to stick with treats made specifically for them. Chocolate, candy, and other sugary snacks can cause serious health issues. If your dog is eyeing your treat, have a dog-safe alternative ready to offer and don’t be afraid to say the magic word to your dog: No!
Safe Halloween Decorating with your Dog
Avoiding Toxic Decorations
Halloween decorations are a big part of the fun, but some can pose a risk to dogs. Certain plants like pumpkins and gourds, while festive, can be toxic if ingested.
Not every pumpkin is a food pumpkin! If you have a chew-bacca dog, that sinks his teeth into anything, be aware of that an either keep those things out of reach or replace with safe alternatives for your dog.
Similarly, some scented candles or essential oils used in diffusers can be harmful to pets. Opt for dog-safe decorations, such as plastic pumpkins and LED candles, to keep your home spooky and safe.
Keeping Dogs Away from Fire Hazards
Candles add a great eerie glow to your Halloween setup, but they can also be a fire hazard, especially if your dog gets curious and knocks one over. while all you were trying is to set the right mood for watching Beetlejuice, in comes Rover with his evening zoomies and tosses the candle around!
Battery-operated candles are a safer alternative that still creates the perfect Halloween atmosphere. If you do use real candles, make sure they are placed well out of your dog’s reach.
Managing Wires and Cords in your Halloween Decorations
Halloween lights and animated decorations often come with lots of cords, which can be tempting for dogs to chew on. This not only risks electrocution but can also damage your decorations. Use cord covers or secure the wires out of your dog’s reach to avoid any accidents.
Halloween is a time for fun and festivities, but it’s also a time to be extra mindful of your dog’s safety and personal needs and boundaries not to overstep. By following these tips, you can ensure your furry friend has a safe, stress-free, and enjoyable Halloween. This is a guideline only, every dog is different, listen to your gut if you are unsure about anything and do thorough research or speak to your vet.
Remember to keep the treats dog-friendly, the costumes comfortable, and the decorations safe. With a little extra care, both you and your dog can have a happy Halloween! And if ever in doubt: Just don’t do it, save yourself the heart-ache and skip Halloween with your cuddle Buddy on the sofa.
Do you have any Halloween safety tips for dogs? Share them in the comments below, and let’s keep all our furry friends safe this spooky season!
If you are a responsible dog parent or are trying to be one these other blogposts might be interesting to you too:
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