Preparing Your Dog For Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and falls on a Saturday night this year making it a ripe opportunity for extended festivities and a chance to savor the treats collected by kids of all ages.

For your dog or puppy who has not yet experienced the novelty of a parade of costumed visitors, Halloween can be an overstimulating event (and that's not even because your dog got into the candy - which btw is a no no as chocolate and dogs do not mix!).

Management -- putting the dog in a quiet room away from the fray -- is one way to deal with it. If your dog gets too overstimulated and it's too much to deliver treats to trick'n'treaters and keep him calm, be proactive and set your dog up for success. If it helps to have a radio or tv on in the "quiet room", so be it.

Training -- I much prefer including your dog(s) in the festivities. There are several options. Perhaps you can think of more!

If you're into costumes, practice having your pooch wear them and reward. Start out with short sessions, and  build up, especially if the costumes are loose! Don't just slap it on the night of Halloween! Your dog doesn't get a trick OR treat, your dog gets a treat for a trick! Wearing a costume gracefully is a trick!

Fido could be a door greeter. Practice beforehand by having your dog do calm sits and hear doorbells or knocking or people come up to your door. Have a bowl of teeny tiny but high value treats so visitors to your door can reward your dog if they want. In years past I have had my dogs do high fives, roll over, wave or do pushups to impress the visitors. For some kids, especially the young ones, just seeing a dog sit calmly in the doorway is a treat!

Fido can go along for a walk with an adult taking kids door to door and have the social experience of seeing lots of people in the dark wearing weird things. If your dog is big enough, he can wear his own backpack and carry treats too!

Just remember to have fun and don't overdo it! Happy Almost Halloween!