A Safe and Sound Halloween for Dogs

On Halloween night...

If you positively must take your dog along to Gramma's house for Halloween pictures or to see a few friends on Halloween, be sure the dog is wearing a legible ID tag and is on on a leash. Use a glow-in-the-dark type ID tag or collar, and go as early as possible so you're back home before the annual crowd of trick or treaters begin.

Dogs that are very excitable and wary of strangers should be confined on Halloween night. A loud barking dog, friendly or not, will scare young children. Don't count on even friendliest dog remaining calm and friendly on Trick or Treat night. Costumed trick or treaters, big and small, even someone a dog is used to and normally likes, may frighten even a usually calm dog. If you get lots of Trick or Treaters, your dog might become nervous and upset by a non-stop ringing doorbell, doors opening and closing, and the commotion of a constant stream of strange looking visitors.

To prevent the possibility of a frightened dog biting someone, and also from running out an open door, let your dog spend the evening in his crate or confined to another room, away from your front door. Help her make it through an evening of being banned from the rest of the world with a favorite toy or blanket and a tasty new chew toy.

If you're 100% sure your dog will be totally relaxed and no amount of noise or comings and goings will affect her sweet and loving attitude, be careful when opening the door. Even a super friendly dog might run out the door when trick or treaters with the smell of candy bars and snacks are just outside. Restrain your dog while someone is holding the door open to hand out treats.

Candy, especially chocolate must be kept out of a dog's reach. Make sure everyone in the family, even young children, understand that they cannot share chocolate Halloween treats with the dog. Chocolate is toxic to dogs. It can cause restlessness and hyperactivity, vomiting, severe diarrhea, a rapid heart beat or arrhythmia, seizures and even death. See Hide Those Easter Baskets for more about dogs and chocolate. Make sure your tired little ghosts and goblins don't come home after a busy night and leave their Halloween goody bags on the floor or any where a dog can get into them.

Place lighted candles and Jack O'Lanterns where they can't be knocked over by pets. Be especially careful around dogs with large happy tails and curious pups. Besides the obvious fire danger, spilled hot wax can burn skin.

Don't leave your pet outside alone on Halloween, even in a fenced yard. A dog might be upset by the masked strangers walking by your yard, just as in your living room, or even more. If, for any reason, your dog must be tied outdoors on Halloween for even a short time, check the length of it's chain to make sure the dog cannot reach areas where children might cut across your yard.

Every Halloween pets are also stolen, tormented, tortured, injured, or worse in malicious Halloween pranks. Halloween night is a time when the family dog should be kept safely inside your home. It's the loving thing to do.

Although Halloween night is a time to keep your dogs at home, safe and sound, that doesn´t mean they must be completely left out of Halloween fun. See Halloween Costumes and Contests for Dogs for dog friendly Halloween happenings.