The author's dog wearing a simple and safe Halloween costume. Patti Lawson
1. People love Halloween candy and so do dogs, but while candy is a great treat for us, dog owners need to make sure that it's not accessible to their animals. Most owners know that chocolate is poisonous for dogs, but so is almost everything else that you'd find in a trick-or-treat bag. Artificial sweeteners, raisins and other candy items can mean serious health hazards or even death for dogs. The wrappers can be ingested and cause choking. Keep healthy, natural-ingredient dog treats on hand for your dog and other dogs that might show up at your door.
2. Your dog potentially could be hit by eggs or other thrown objects if left out in the yard alone. It's better to be safe than sorry. Keep your dog safe from Halloween tricks by keeping it in the house and not alone in the backyard.
3. If you're having a party, make sure your dog is either at your side or in another room. The latter is the better option. Dogs are curious about strangers in the home, and even familiar people can cause confusion and stress when dressed strangely. Dogs may be frightened by unusual costumes, especially those with flashing lights or odd sounds such as a monster voice or high-pitched witch's screech. A party also presents additional food challenges. Make sure the human treats--especially alcoholic drinks--are not accessible to your dog.
4. Decorations and dogs are usually a bad pairing. New objects in the house are likely to arouse your dog's curiosity, and it could get tangled on light cords or accidentally knock over candles. Cornstalks and pumpkins look great outside, but could be tempting chewing material if within your dog's reach in your home. If your dog swallows any of these substances, it might suffer an upset stomach or more serious intestinal problems.
5. If your dog is OK with wearing a costume, make sure the costume is comfortable, not too warm, and doesn't have any parts that could be chewed, swallowed or tripped on. Have your dog try on the costume a few times before the big night, and if it seems uncomfortable, allergic, or frightened, don't force the issue. A Halloween bandana or an orange collar and leash are good alternatives for dogs who don't like costumes for elaborate costumes.
6. Loud noises can be alarming. Most dogs react to the doorbell anytime it rings, so the constant ringing of trick-or-treaters can grow unsettling. Dogs tend to be suspicious of any strangers at the door, and they won't make an exceptions for Halloween. Keep your dog in a different part of the house during trick-or-treat hours. Otherwise it can become aggressive or run out the door when it's opened.
Patti Lawson is an award-winning author and columnist who lives in Charleston, West Virginia. Her first book, "The Dog Diet, A Memoir," is the story of her adopted beloved canine companion, Sadie. She writes frequently for different publications on a variety of topics, and her column "Dogs... Diets... Dating" can be read on her website. Read her blog on Red Room.
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How about this tip, Halloween isn't for dogs. Put your dog in a comfortable room of the house and give him a bone. Enough said!
I like the pet stuff you can get from the SaveCreatively site.
tab.....a little harsh,but you are right..i always have a big party with lots of people..i make sure my pets are save and comfortable i supply them with food and water and their babies(toys)...check up on them as much as possible..even though party is outside they are inside still i worried about their safety....parents also protect your children...be safe and GOD BLESS..P.S.CHECK ALL CANDY FIRST BEFORE GIVING CHILDREN TO EAT:o)
I don't know, my dogs love Halloween. They are excited at all the activity and love the kids coming by.
All of this safety at Halloween for for Dogs should also apply to your Cats !!!!
Bottom line......good pet parents keep their dogs and cats inside and safe on Halloween and know better than to let them eat candy. Both dogs and cats can be harmed by evil people. If you are a truly responsible and caring Dog and/ or Cat parent you know all these warnings already and you will do all you can to keep them safe and calm. That is common sense for a good pet parent.
This is a very good article until you get to #6. Keeping your dog in another room when the doorbel is constantly ringing is an extremely bad idea. The dog is simply trying to protect it's owners and by putting him in another room you are stopping him from protecting you and the dog will get even more upset every time the door rings.
A better method is to barricade a section around the front door, or to barricade a section of the living room. The barricade will make it so that the dog can not get to the door, but it can still see who's there. Teach the dog to quiet down when you tell him he's barked enough. I taught mine that they are allowed to bark at te door until I open it and then say "enough", then they quiet down.
The dog needs to see that you are safe and there's no danger at the door.
Thank you - I was going to say exactly the same thing. One not only needs to protect the dog, one wants to protect the children at the door, who don't understand that not every animal wants to be petted by some stranger in strange clothing.
You are so right. The dog is just doing his job.
My dog used to just swallow the Snickers bar whole, wrapper and all.
*No ingesting chocolate
*No choking on the wrapper
*No problem!
My question would be how your dog had access to the candy in the first place? You are very lucky. Chocolate is lethal to animals. Maybe you need to watch your dog's activities more closely
You need to think more seriously about the real problem you are causing allowing your dog to do this.
I'm sure you love your dog. Why allow him to slowly kill himself? Keep any chocolate away from him.
My young niece loved her dog and wanted it to be happy, so, as she claimed with a smile, I only gave her a little!
All that meant was that the dog was going to die down the road, after several times of "ONLY A LITTLE".
Keep your dog safe, and you will be able to love it for a long time.
thermal54, have you EVER paid attention to any of the research or researched yourself on the proper care of animals? It doesn't sound like you have! Try doing some research. If you have a heart at all for your poor pets, you will be appalled at what you read and what you've been giving your dog!
The candy was in a 5 gal bucket on a chair. He knocked it over, had the Snickers bar in his mouth in about 2.5 s. I never let him get away with that again.
He was a rescue dog, had lived previously with a bunch of other dogs. Needless to say, he was pretty sneaky;)
The morning after is an accident waiting to happen, I have two "food-driven" Aussies and live in urban Atlanta. The day after, in my neighborhood is a mine field of candy wrappers and unwanted candy on the sidewalks and around them. Keep you dog on a short lead until the debris and unwanted candy has been cleaned up. Is having more thasn one child legal in the States? Dogs are much more interesting than children,
Nate, this is very important information. Everyone thinks of Halloween night, but most of us don't ever consider the ramifications of that night and what's left on the ground for the animals to find.
Thank you for pointing this out!
I stand outside and wait for trick or treaters. The constant knocking on the door drives my dogs bonkers and stresses them out. So by standing outside, they have no idea what is going on.
Rugbymom, That's the best idea yet!
Not to change the subject but what can one do for a dog who has jumped off the sofa and seems to have hurt his hind quarter and cries when he get up or walks. Any one please. This is a 14 yr. old poodle.
You should schedule an appointment with your vet. I had a 12-year old Sheltie that did the same thing a few years ago, and she had an ACL tear. It had to be repaired by having surgery. If this is the case with your dog, given its age, the vet may or may not recommend surgery, depending on its overall health. However, there may be other non-surgical options that can manage the pain.
as long as you know the hip or leg isn't broken, put a warm pack on the painfull area. I made a hot pack using flannel and field corn - you can also use rice. It takes very little sewing skills - trust me, and if you make extras they make great gifts, for humans and pets alike. just put the corn/rice bag in the microwave for 1 - 11/2 minutes and it'll stay warm for as long as your baby. I even sometimes gently massage it. My 10 yr old lab still thinks she's a puppy so I have to do this at least once a month. As my massage therapist says, (I have a chronically bad shoulder & that's the only relief I get short of drugs...) pets can pull muscles too. In fact, I find myself massaging pets by habit even when I'm visiting - oddly enough... I always have a welcoming committee anywhere I have massaged an animal previously. You HAVE to be gentle, though. They don't understand the benefits of deep-tissue massage. Again, make sure nothing's broken or you'll do more harm than good. Good luck.