How To Safely Take Your Dog Trick-or-Treating

Halloween is almost here, and with that comes a host of activities your dog may not be used to. Your kids are excited, and your dog might be, too, even though he may not know what all the excitement is actually about. It’s a good idea to get your dog involved during Halloween, but it’s important you take some safety precautions to keep old Fido safe. If you’re planning to take your dog trick-or-treating, that’s fine, but you need to be prepared with some safety tips. Check it out!

Coming Up With a Clever Costume

If your kids have costumes that need a sidekick, it can be fun to coordinate and come up with a clever costume for the dog. Your daughter could be Sleeping Beauty and the dog could be Maleficent . Your son could be a famous football player and your dog the cheerleader . The important part is ensuring your dog is comfortable in a costume. If Fido doesn’t regularly wear clothes, he may not be too keen on wearing a costume all night. This could lead to him chewing on it or pawing at it, which could be a safety hazard.

In the weeks leading up to Halloween, you and your dog can practice wearing the costume. Keep it on for just a short amount of time at home, and work your way up to the dog wearing clothes for a few hours while on a walk. This will get your pup used to having something on so it’s not a shock on Halloween night.

Including Glowing or Reflective Features

As you come up with costumes for your children, they might naturally include glow-in-the-dark fabric, reflective strips or carrying along a flashlight, but your dog’s costume may not have those things. Take some extra time to be sure your dog can be seen in the dark. You could hang a pet blinker on his collar or use a reflective dog leash . There are also reflective vests for dogs , or you could paint portions of his costume with glow-in-the-dark paint.

It’s also important you pay extra attention to your dog in the dark. It could be hard to notice if your dog is choking on a trinket or a candy wrapper when it’s dark. Another child or parent could trip over your pup if they aren’t paying attention to where they’re going. If there are other pets out, or if there are dogs at a house you stop at, those animals could attack your pup. Take a few extra seconds at every stop to ensure your dog is OK before continuing on with your trick-or-treating route.

Carrying Safe Dog Treats

When your furry family member sees your children collecting and eating treats as they travel the neighborhood, he could start to desire a treat as well. The problem with this is many human treats are toxic to dogs. Chocolate is one of the most dangerous treats, and your kids are likely to collect a bit of that. Other treats, as well as candy wrappers, glow sticks, candles and pieces of costumes could also look good to your dog, but could be detrimental to his health if ingested.

Take along some safe dog treats to prevent the dog from trying to steal an unsafe treat from your child. You could try something new he hasn’t had before, or you could bring along some treats you know he’ll go crazy for. Something like the Jones Gourmet Rib Bone or a handful of K9 Granola Factory Banana Chips could do the trick just fine.

Paying Attention to Your Dog’s Temperament

Some dogs just get anxious when they’re out and about, especially if the outing is something they’re not used to. If you regularly take your dog for a walk at night, he may not be too worried about walking in the dark, but with a lot of other trick-or-treaters around, it could make him begin to stress. Pay attention to how your dog is acting while you’re trick-or-treating. If he seems to retreat or act sheepish, he may be experiencing anxiety. If he gets aggressive, he might not know what to do around so many people who may be dressed up in threatening-looking costumes.

If you are worried about your dog getting anxious while you’re out trick-or-treating, there are some products made specifically for such a situation. You could use an aromatherapy collar like the Sentry Calming Dog Collar . You could dress your pup in a compression suit underneath his costume to give him that added comfort. If all else fails, you may just want to call it a night and head home so your furry friend doesn’t have to suffer any longer.

Taking Along Poop Bags

While you’re out and about the neighborhood, little Fido may need to use the facilities. While a neighboring tree might do the trick, you don’t want to leave the mess for someone else to slip on while running from house to house. Taking along some poop bags is an essential part of a safe trick-or-treating trip. This may be more a safety issue for your human friends than your dog, but it’s also considerate for every creature involved. There are various types of poop bags out there, with one that’s sure to work for you and your dog.

Have a Happy Halloween

You don’t have to leave your dog out when you’re celebrating a holiday. Halloween is fun for everyone, including the dog. As you’re planning your night of trick-or-treating, be sure to consider your dog and what it requires to keep him safe. Happy Halloween!