October has arrived, and that means in no time everyone will be carving pumpkins, picking out scary costumes and stocking their shelves with trick or treat sweets.
Halloween is an event much enjoyed by children, parents and adults alike – after all, who doesn’t love an excuse to have a party and get dressed up as something scary! However, if you’re a dog owner, you need remember that this event can be anything but fun for your dog.
It’s important that you take every step necessary to keep your dog happy and safe during holidays like these – so check out our top 10 safety tips below to ensuring your dog stays secure during Halloween this year.
1) Keep Them Inside
Halloween is a time of year when tricks and pranks are pulled more than any other time of year – and unfortunately these pranks can be particularly vicious should the wrong people get their hands on your beloved pet. The best way to keep your dog safe is to keep them indoors during Halloween and only walking them on a lead when you do take them out. It’s unfortunate that these types of things can happen – but they do, so protecting your pet first is essential.
2) Put All Chocolate and Sweets Out of Reach!
Halloween and sweets go hand in hand, but should your dog find their way into the trick or treat bag, that’s a sure-fire way to a seriously upset stomach! Make sure all chocolates and sweets are kept well out of reach of your dog and that others in the home know not to feed them.
3) Don’t Play Dress Up
Some dogs don’t mind being dressed in costumes, and there can be nothing cuter than seeing your pooch dressed up as a spooky creature! However, many dogs simply do not like being dressed in costumes, and will be extremely uncomfortable and unhappy if you force them to wear a costume all night. If you know that your dog is not comfortable in costumes, do not attempt to dress them up in any way – a fun bandana is a great alternative to keep both parties happy.
4) Safe Costumes
If you know your dog loves being dressed up, then be sure that your costume is safe and secure for them. Make sure it fits them well and is not too tight or digging in anywhere. You should also double check the costume will not snag on anything around your house, and that you are on-hand to supervise the entire time they are dressed up – the last thing you want is your dog getting trapped in his costume with you unable to rescue them!
5) Protect Your Pumpkin!
While traditional Halloween vegetables such as pumpkin and corn are relatively harmless to dogs, ingesting a lot of these foods could lead to some gastrointestinal upset. To prevent this, simply keep your pumpkin out of reach from your dog and store it somewhere safe – this is even more important if you have jack-o-lanterns decorating your home!
6) Avoid Trick or Treaters
If you know you will be getting a lot of trick or treaters to your house, keep your dog in a separate room where they will not be constantly faced with strangers dressed up in scary costumes. This type of scenario could make your dog very anxious and cause them to growl or bark at your visitors – so keep them confined to another room. This will also ensure they stay safe and don’t dart out of the open door.
7) Get ID Ready
Keeping your dog in a confined area of your home is the best way to avoid them running out an open door and getting lost, but it’s still best to prepare for situations like these just in case. Make sure your dog has identification on their collar so anyone who finds them knows who they belongs to. Your dog should also be micro-chipped in case they ever gets lost.
8) Use a Lead
If you need to walk your dog during Halloween, walking them on a lead is the best way to ensure they don’t get spooked and run off – or act aggressively towards innocent trick or treaters! Remember that seeing people dressed up can be fun for us, but for dogs it can be extremely confusing and make them more territorial than ever. Keeping your dog on a lead will give them an extra element of security, and will also keep others safe should he get spooked.
9) Feed Your Dog Early
Deter your dog from scavenging for Halloween treats by feeding them early and before all the festivities begin. Once your dog has been fed, transfer them to a quiet and confined area in the house and with any luck they won’t even notice what’s happening around them!
10) Keep Decorations and Electrics Secure
Finally, keep any Halloween decorations and electronics secure and out of your dog’s reach. Chewed electric cables can result in a nasty shock, whilst chewed up decorations could harm your dog’s mouth (not to mention make a mess all over your home!) – so stick wires down with safe electrical tape and hang decorations instead of letting them sit on the floor.
Keeping your dog safe during Halloween is mostly common sense – just make sure you’re thinking of your dog’s safety as much as you are of your families fun and you should all have a great time!
Happy Halloween!
