For many, Halloween is considered the spookiest night of the year, but this shouldn’t be the case for your dog. Unexpected knocks on the front door, people dressed up in puzzling costumes, and fireworks can be confusing and frightening for your furry friend. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to ensure your dog has a howling spooky season with you.
Who’s at the front door?
Frequent doorbell ringing or knocking may easily confuse your dog. After all, when did your house become so popular? Think about how your dog usually reacts to the doorbell and take extra precaution with this. If it makes them feel uneasy, you can put a sign up asking trick-or-treaters to knock quietly, or even avoid your home, to ease the fright for your dog.
If you can, confine your dog to as large an area of your house as possible that does not have access to your front door. With this space, they can decide where they are most comfortable, and if they feel the need to hide away, they can do so without confrontation. If you have a barker, you won’t run the risk of spooking trick-or-treaters too!
Plan in advance to keep your pup entertained too, like with our long-lasting chew sticks or lickimats.
Is it time for walkies already?
Instead of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of strangers in scary costumes, walk your dog before it gets dark out. Even the most well-socialised dogs can find these environments scary, and scared dogs react unpredictably. This risk isn’t worth taking, especially around young children. Avoid taking your dog trick or treating with you too, as this opens up a whole other possibility of risks.
Ensuring you tire your dog out early in the day will make sure they are relaxed and conked out when the evening rolls around, so try and get as much playtime in as possible. You should also feed them earlier too, as stressed out dogs are less likely to eat.
Are those treats for me?
Halloween treats for humans can easily trick your dog. Ensure you keep all treats out of paws reach so your dog doesn’t creep up on them, and if they feel like they are missing out, check out our treat bag, so they can join in on the fun whilst staying healthy!
Other things to be cautious of this season are glowsticks, lit candles, and other choking hazards. Watch over your dog and keep these out of the way.
What’s that noise?
The week of Halloween leads up to Bonfire Night, so expect to hear some fireworks during this time. If you know your dog is afraid of them, planning ahead can ease a lot of anxiety. Close all windows and blinds to muffle noise and block out flashing lights. You can also play calming background noise (or even classical music) to mask the outside noise. Above all, prepare to be your furry friend’s emotional support human for the night.
Try creating a safety den by covering a crate or crevice with blankets. Fill it with their favourite toys and bedding to ease anxiety. Consider providing soothing herbs such as valerian, or calming supplements if your dog is especially nervous.
A relaxed dog is a happy dog
A little care goes a long way. Put yourself in your pup’s shoes and Halloween seems a lot scarier than to us humans. By preparing ahead, you can ensure your dog is as relaxed as they can be during this spooky season.
Why not check out our calming herbs and go that extra mile for your furry friend?
