Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips for Dog
As Halloween festivities begin to pick up, it’s time to decide if your dog will be attending these festivities too. Should you bring your dog along on Halloween trick or treating? Should your dog take part in answering the ringing doorbell for monster and goblin trick or treaters? Let’s discuss simple Halloween safety tips for dogs.
It’s best to keep dogs at home. Dogs can react to small children wearing odd costumes and masks or children and adults stumbling around in the darkness. If your dog is fearful and has any type of anxiety, it’s best to leave him at home. If you’re leaving your dog alone at home, I recommend reading this article. If you do decide to bring your dog along, take a few precautions.
Dog wears a collar with a current ID tag
I know you’ve heard this before, but make sure your dog is wearing a flat buckle collar with a current ID tag attached to the collar. You never know what can happen. If your dog is frightened, his ID tag will identify him when found.
Always leashed, and a parent is holding the leash
Keep your dog leashed at all times, and a parent should hold the other end of the leash not a child. This will prevent your dog from bolting if he becomes afraid, such as when children walk up really fast in strange costumes.
Keep a safe distance
When trick or treaters knock on neighbors’ doors, keep a safe distance with your dog. Sometimes, the door will open with several loud people wearing costumes or your neighbor will try to scare the children. Other times, neighbors will open the door and their pets may not be friendly. When in doubt, keep your leashed dog about 6 feet from the front door.
Simple is best for costumes
Dogs have a difficult time walking in many costumes, either store bought or homemade. If you insist on dressing up your dog, keep it simple, such as a festive Halloween bandana with reflective tape (a black dog is hard to see at night). They want to have fun too so keep the lavish Halloween costumes for you and the children. 🙂
Happy Halloween!
