Cheryl Warner, KPA CTP
Training and Behavior Consultant

For us, Halloween is an imaginative, sweets-filled holiday. For our pets, Halloween can be much spookier. Unpredictable yard decorations, scary costumes and delicious but toxic candy can all put our pets at risk. Prepare your pets for Halloween by following these tricks, and be sure to use plenty of treats!

Take care with costumes:

• If you, or your family and friends, are planning to wear elaborate costumes, help your pet become accustomed to them ahead of time. Show your pet the various costume elements, such as masks, hats and capes, and follow the sight of each of those items with treats. Put the costume elements on one at a time briefly, give your pet some treats, and then take the costume piece back off so your pet can get comfortable with you wearing the costume. Let your pet investigate any costume elements they show interest in, and reward them for their bravery!
• If you want to dress your pet up in a costume, consider first whether they’ll find this fun. If your pet usually avoids harnesses or things on their body, then they likely won’t appreciate wearing a costume. If they have shown comfort with costumes or pet clothing in the past, then pick a costume that doesn’t restrict their movement and will be easy to take on and off.
• Help your pet get comfortable with the costume over several days. Show them the costume, let them smell it, and pair the sight of the costume with really yummy treats. When you put it on, let your pet move toward it on their own and continue to provide treats when they show interest in the costume, just like you would when getting them comfortable with a harness. Go slow and always let them say “no” to wearing the costume, which might look like them backing away, yawning, panting, or showing any other signs of stress and discomfort.
• Consider a cute bandana as an alternative to an elaborate pet costume. Bandanas are festive and adorable, and they can cut down on potential distress for your pet.

Don’t let decorations cause distress for your dog:

• Similar to costumes, spooky yard and house decorations can be scary for pets, especially if the decorations are large or include noises and lights. If you have any potentially scary decorations in your yard or neighborhood, watch your dog’s body language as you approach. If they seem worried (e.g., eyes wide, ears back, low-to-the-ground body movement, staring, etc.), then go a different route.
• Carry treats with you and reward your dog for looking at, or choosing to interact with, the decoration! Always let your dog move at their own pace when it comes to investigating novelty.

Prevent trick-or-treating torment:

• We all know that the sounds of knocking and doorbells can be the arch nemesis of many dogs. On Halloween night, if you live in an area with trick-or-treaters, these noises can be frequent occurrences. For dogs, provide them a safe space away from the door, such as in a bedroom. Turn on background noise (e.g., fans, white noise machines, radios or televisions), and provide them with a puzzle toy such as a Kong or lick mat to give them something to focus on. To keep everyone safe and comfortable, close the bedroom door or put up a baby gate or pet fence to prevent your dog from running up to the trick-or-treaters.
• For cats or other small animals, make sure they are also behind a closed door for trick-or-treating to ensure they can’t slip out the door.

Contain your candy:

• Many Halloween candies can be toxic to dogs due to them containing chocolate, and even those ingredients that aren’t toxic can make your pets sick. Stash any candy in a cabinet with a door that your pets can’t open, and make sure that all family members know that candy can be toxic for pets.
• In the days following Halloween, keep an eye out for pieces of candy that might be laying on the ground in your neighborhood to ensure your pet does not eat them.

With these tips in mind, we wish you and your pets a safe and fun Halloween!