1) Keep those treats away from Fido. Make sure those candy treats are stored safely away… in a cupboard. Often times a bowl on the counter doesn’t cut it. I know it is unthinkable, but when you are not looking your pooch might jump up and help himself. As we know chocolate, xylitol (a sugar substitute), and other ingredients commonly in candy are poisonous to dogs.
2) Pet proof the decorations - To dogs and puppies, Halloween decorations are easily confused as a new chew toy. Make sure that your dog doesn’t have access to jack-o-lanterns and other decorations that if digested could end up in a trip to the emergency room.
3) Dressed for Success (and Safety) Doggy Halloween costumes may be cute, but make sure they are also safe and comfortable. Also never leave your dog in a costume unsupervised as the costume may snag or tangle your pooch up.
4) Greeting trick or treaters – On Halloween you will probably
open your door at least a couple dozen times. This is a prime time for
your dog to escape. Make sure you keep this in mind and take the
necessary precautions to keep your dog secure. **Take advantage of the unique training opportunity Halloween provides. The constant wave of visitors provides an optimal training environment for reinforcing how your pup should greet strangers at the door. Make sure you are prepared and have your training tools ready (i.e. dog treats, training collar, maybe even a squirt bottle of water). Remember you want to anticipate and stop/refocus bad behavior at the first indication. For additional information about training methods used to get your dog to calm down at the door, please see my post regarding “Front Door Training Tips”.
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