Happy "Howl"-o-ween! Keep your pooch safe!

Halloween is a fun, time honored tradition for many families. We as humans love the sweet treats, the spooky costumes, and a good scare from time to time! Our dogs, however, may not be quite as open to these things! Halloween can be a really scary time for our dogs, from people looking weird in their costumes to decorations blowing in the wind and staring your dog down, it's critical that we make sure our dogs are having a good time too! Read these tips for some ideas on how to keep Fido feeling safe!

1) Careful with your candy!

First and foremost you want to make sure that your dog doesn't have access to Halloween candy! At best getting their paws on a large amount of candy will create tummy troubles, and at worst you could end up with your dog at the emergency vet to have their stomach pumped! Beware candies that contain chocolate (obviously) and other lesser known ingredients like xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs! If you have kids and they like to count out their candy at the end of the night (I know my best friends and I always poured our bags out and traded when we got home!) have the kids do that at a high table your dog can't reach, or in a room with the dog gated out of it. And remember, crates are your friend, so if needed crate your dog until you're sure he won't be getting into anything!

2) Is your dog really having fun in that costume?

Yes, we all love to see boxers running around as pirates and labradors pretending to be giant hot dogs, but what's most important is how your dog feels about that costume! Especially if your dog is already stressed by the events of the day, adding a weird costume to the mix could make things even worse and you run the risk of trigger stacking! Signs that your dog is uncomfortable in their costume include: running away from you when they see you approaching with the costume, freezing and refusing to move once it's on, rolling on the ground to try to get it off, walking slowly or hesitantly, and any other stress signs (yawning out of context, ears pinned back, excessive panting, etc.). If your dog isn't comfortable in a full costume but you'd like to try getting them into the halloween spirit, you can try a fancy halloween collar cover, a Halloween bandana, or some dogs may even tolerate a small piece of a costume (i.e. a cape or hat may not bother your dog as much as a full body costume would).

3) Leave Fido at home!

Every once in a while I see dogs out trick or treating and I can honestly say I've never seen a dog who looked relaxed or happy to be there. I totally understand the desire to involve your dog in your activities; I jokingly wear a shirt that says "If my dog can't come I'm not going"! But truthfully many dogs are SO much happier at home left with a stuffed kong to keep them busy!

4) ID is important!