7 Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe on Halloween

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With ghosts, goblins, and zombies out in full force for Halloween a week next week, it is easy to be so caught up in candy buying and costume making that you forget about getting your dog ready for the trick or treaters that will be knocking at your door.

Image from the odysseyonline.com.

Don’t make that mistake.

Halloween poses a myriad of potential dangers to dogs, some of which can be lethal, but with a little preparation you can ensure your dog will be safe.

Halloween Safety Tips for Dogs

1. Keep the candy bowl out of reach

Chocolate (especially dark chocolate), candy, raisins, grapes, nuts (especially macadamia nuts), and anything that contains the article sweetener xylitol can sicken or kill dogs. Most of us keep a bowl full of these treats near the dog to hand out to trick-or-treaters. You dog could easily snatch some candy when you’re distracted, so be sure to keep it in a place your dog can’t reach.

2. Educate your Kids about keeping candy from dogs

Most kids don’t realize that candy and other treats they collect on Halloween are dangerous to dogs. Talk to your kids about the importance of keeping them away from dogs, make sure they don’t leave any treats laying around the house, and tell them to store any uneaten candy in a place the family dog can’t reach.

3. Keep you dog confined and away from the front door

You can’t always predict how your dog will react to dozens of kids dressed in scary costumes knocking on your front door and screaming “trick-or-treat!”. To ensure your dog won’t freak out and bolt outside or attack the monsters at the door you should put it in a secure room away from the front door.

Some people have had luck with Rescue Remedy a natural stress reliever. Others use essential oils.

For our dogs, CBD oil, (a derivitive of marijuana that doesn’t get dogs high) is the best product we’ve used for reducing stress.

Over the last couple of years the number of CBD oil brands on the market has exploded, and you may have difficulty figuring out which one to buy.

This post from YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner.com is the best I’ve seen for tips on how to navigate this quickly growing market and figuring out the best CBD oil for your dog.

As always, consult with your vet before giving your dog any over-the-counter medications to your dog.

Image from Freehd-images.com.

4. Leave your dog home when you trick-or-treat

As I said in #3, you don’t know how your dog is going to react to stranger’s in costumes, especially if one of the little ghouls sneaks up behind your dog to scare it. On top of that, most of you attention will be on your own kids. Your dog will be much safer if you leave it at home.

5. Make Sure Your Dog’s ID is Up-to-Date

If your dog has a microchip, make sure your contact information is current, and if your dog has an ID tag and/or license tag on its collar, be sure the he/she is wearing it so if it does bolt outside it will be easier for people to return it to you.

6. Keep electrical wires and chords out of reach

If you’re one of the people who loves to put out Halloween lights and decorations, be sure your dog can’t chew the electrical wires/chords. An electrical shock can kill or severely injure your dog.

7. Try costumes on your dog the night before Halloween

If you plan on dressing your dog in a costume put it on the night before to see if it fits and how your dog will react to it. This is particularly relevant if your dog hasn’t worn a costume before. If your dog is in a costume that is too tight or restricts breathing, or if it just doesn’t like being dressed up, it could get stressed and exhibit unexpected behavior like aggression or biting. 

Have a happy, safe Halloween!

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