Halloween Frights

Whilst we love Halloween, there's no denying that our dogs aren't always so keen. Here are some things to think about this Halloween.

Door Knocking

Many dog owners have a rough time of it when someone knocks on the door or rings the bell. Dogs that bark or lunge at the door when they hear it can be hard to calm back down. Add to that the surreal experience of several small costumed beings appearing when the door is opened instead of the usual visitors and your dog might be completely freaked out.

• Try giving your dog a safe space away from the door that is comfortable, whether that's a bed, a piled of blankets or a crate depending on your dog's preference. Add some favourite comforting toys and have some enrichment activities like a loaded lickmat or puzzle toy, or a stuffed kong, ready to go and put it into the safe space before you go to answer the door. A babygate or closed door between dog and front door is essential for this to work.

• Teach your dog to run to a particular place when they hear the doorbell or when someone knocks by practising without visitors. Record the sound of someone knocking or use your doorbell app for the sound, and play it on a bluetooth speaker in the hall then put treats into your chosen spot - bed, crate, mat or room - and encourage your dog to go find them. Repeat over multiple sessions until your dog runs to their spot unassisted when they hear the sound. The sound is now a cue.

• If the problem is too big and your dog is just too anxious to cope with repeated knocking, put a large sign on your door asking people not to knock or ring on Halloween to keep your dog safe. If you still want to hand out goodies, try putting a bowl outside for children to help themselves in thanks for not knocking.

Decorations and Dogs

Halloween decorations can be fun for adults and children alike, but not all dogs cope well with the sudden appearance of strange objects. Some dogs will want to investigate, then will disregard, but others will want to eat, chew, fight or run away from them. If your dog is the nervous type, consider how you add decorations. If they're excitable and will want to interact, practise a 'leave it' cue.

• Never force a dog to approach something they are afraid of. Give them space and opportunity to investigate at their own pace. Never use food to lure them closer, instead reward AWAY from the object for any investigation at all, whether they look, sniff or move closer.

• For excitable dogs, use a lead to introduce them to new decorations that they might want to interact with. Stand at a distance to the interesting thing and let your dog look, then say 'leave it' in a positive tone and reward your dog when they turn back to you (and away from the item). Repeat over several sessions for best results.

• Manage your dogs environment so that they can't access decorations that might be dangerous or overly tempting. Close doors, place things out of reach or use babygates.

Toxic Snacks

Halloween brings with it some edible risks too, from decorations to party foods.

• Many sweets have sugar substitutes that are toxic to dogs such as xylitol. This is particularly common in chewing gum. Chocolate is toxic to dogs in relatively small amounts and as many treats are high fat, there is a risk of your dog developing pancreatitis.

• Pumpkin is great for dogs when cooked, but raw pumpkin can cause severe stomach pains and diarrhoea and sickness. Sadly, most dogs love the smell and are very likely to try to eat. Don't allow your dog access to carved pumpkins to avoid upset tummies and the upset of wonderful artwork being destroyed. Try our pumpkin dog treat recipe instead!

• Halloween decorations come in such a wide range of shapes and sizes and styles, but some things to beware of include loose threads and fake web, which can cause damage to intestines and choking, small plastic pieces and batteries, which can cause intestinal blockages or choking, and moving items that might encourage chasing and attacking behaviours.

Costumes for Dogs

It's tempting to dress up your dog, but check that they actually like it first. Dogs can often be taught to wear costumes and dress up items, but look out for signs that they are uncomfortable

• Flattened ears, whites of the eyes being shown, head lowering and crouching are all good signs that your dog is uncomfortable. They might also yawn, lick their lips or turn their heads away.

• Look for soft eyes and relaxed body language to indicate that they are happy wearing the costume.

• If you'd like to avoid creating discomfort, try gently introducing wearable items to your dog. It can be a useful skill for some dogs to learn ready for wearing weather protective clothing in winter. Start by putting the item on the ground and reward your dog with tasty treats for investigating it. Then lift it up and repeat the process, then touch your dog's side with it and continue rewarding. Build this up over multiple sessions until your dog is excited to see the item. If there is a need to put their head through a part of the item, hold it open and offer some treats through it, slowly encouraging them to poke their snout/head through. When you can put the item on fully, do it only for a few seconds to begin with and reward heavily. Take it off and stop feeding. Repeat, slowly increasing the time it is worn for. Don't push too hard.

• Even if your dog is happy putting a costume on, watch for signs that they are ready to take it off, such as excessive scratching, pulling at it, trying to get out of it or rubbing themselves against legs and walls. If going to an event, put the costume on when you arrive and take it off as soon as possible to minimise discomfort for your dog.

• If your dog is happy wearing a coat or jumper, look for a costume that is a similar style for an easier way to dress up.

• Check for flashing lights, noises or other things that might make the experience too much for your dog.

Need help training any of these things? Get in touch!