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Halloween may be one of the best nights of the year for children, but it can be a daunting and scary night for your dog. Here are some tips to ensure that all family members – dogs included – enjoy a fun and safe Halloween.
Does the doorbell drive your dog wild?
Dogs can easily become over-excited, agitated or frightened when the doorbell rings, so the constant ringing from trick-or-treaters in strange clothes and masks may be a very stressful experience for your dog. It’s upsetting for some adults, too! Keep your dog confined to as large an area of the house as possible, that does not have access to the front door. This way, they can choose where they want to be and hide away if they need to. If you have a barker, keeping your dog away from the front door will also stop them from frightening children.
Many new smart doorbells allow you to turn off the chime for a period of time. If you know that your dog may find the experience stressful, consider muting your doorbell and leaving a sign asking trick-or-treaters not to knock.
Limit stress by planning ahead
It’s probably best to avoid walking your dog when the trick-or-treating is in full swing. As we said, costumes and masks can be very stressful for dogs. They are animals that are really good at reading human faces, so when those faces are covered or made up to look different, this can cause fear. It could also provoke unwanted and unusual behaviour, like barking and lunging.
Get your walk done earlier in the day or work your dog’s brain using indoor or garden enrichment activities, rather than taking them on a walk during peak Halloween hours. If you feed your dog a dry food, then consider placing their food around the garden or house, getting them to use their nose and their brain to hunt out their food. This type of enrichment can be very rewarding and, in a pinch, it may do well as a replacement for their regular evening walk.
If you do decide to walk your dog in the evening when trick-or-treaters roam the streets, be sure to use a sturdy collar, or a harness and lead, and be careful around unfamiliar children and adults. Try to steer clear of large groups of costumed children, and also away from busy roads where a scared and stressed dog may be at risk. A scared dog may try to bolt from – or even warn off – unfamiliar figures, so no matter how well you know your dog, be extra cautious.
Best practices for all seasonal events
Be sure your dog is wearing identification tags with your name and phone number on them in case you become separated or they escape from the house. Microchipping is the surest way to make sure your dog will be reunited with you if they escape. Do NOT dress your dog up at Halloween, or at any other time of year. It may be fun for us humans, but many animals find this stressful, restrictive or uncomfortable.
Lastly, keep all sweets and chocolate out of your dog's reach. Chocolate is highly toxic to dogs and consumption of even small amounts can cause seizures, muscle tremors, vomiting and, in larger doses, even death. The artificial sweetener, xylitol, is found in many sweets, and is also highly toxic to dogs. It causes low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), seizures and liver failure. Stick to dog treats and your dog will be just as happy.
Following these simple tips will help keep your dog safe, healthy and out of any scary trouble this Halloween.
Reviewed by Dr. Hein Meyer, DVM, PhD, Dipl-ECVIM-CA and Dr. Emma Milne BVSc FRCVS
