Halloween is quickly approaching. As a dog trainer, I’m a big fan of involving dogs in most holiday activities and traditions, but neighborhood trick-or-treating usually isn’t a good fit. Most dogs don't enjoy the scary costumes, loud and strange sounds, and flashing lights associated with Halloween decorations and activities. However, if you have an extremely calm, social dog, Halloween events can be enjoyable for everyone.
Keep sensitive dogs away from the door
Before including your dog in Halloween activities, honestly assess how your dog handles new situations at home or in the neighborhood. “I think people underestimate how overstimulating Halloween can be for dogs,” says veterinarian Dr. Jolee Stegemoller, D.V.M. “Not only are many strangers coming to people’s houses, but they are dressed up! That can be extremely scary.”
If you know your dog struggles with the sound of the doorbell and you’ll be home greeting trick-or-treaters on Halloween night, it’s best not to put your dog in a stressful situation near the front door. Barriers like crates, doors, and baby gates help keep dogs from getting scared by trick-or-treaters, which could lead them to bolt out a door and get hurt or lost.
“If you are having trick-or-treaters, I recommend a barrier gate for really friendly dogs so they don’t accidentally escape, or putting them in a crate in a separate room with background noise for fearful dogs,” Dr. Stegemoller recommends.
Pre-Halloween training
As a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, I recommend that most dogs be left home when the family goes out trick-or-treating. Costumes, lights, sounds, and decorations can be unsettling or frightening for even the friendliest pups.
However, if you have a well-trained, confident dog you really want to bring out on Halloween, I suggest planning pre-Halloween training outings to gauge your dog’s comfort. If your neighbors have decorated for Halloween, walk your dog near the inflatables, giant skeletons, and any other moving decorations you can find.
Dog-friendly hardware stores are another great place for exposure training. Walk your dog through the outdoor Halloween decorations section and pay attention to how your dog responds, making sure to praise your dog. If your dog shows any signs of fear or distress, like barking, lunging, or pulling away from the decorations, that is a good sign Halloween will be overwhelming for your dog. In this case, I recommend leaving your dog home for trick-or-treating, as Halloween night itself is likely to be more frightening than your training outing.
If trick-or-treating with dogs is the norm in your neighborhood, I recommend having dog-specific goodie bags or wrapped treats to hand out to people walking dogs on Halloween. I have a sidewalk dog-treat dispenser in my front yard and have been giving out Halloween-themed treats all month to neighborhood dog walkers and their dogs.
Safety precautions
If you're taking your dog out on Halloween, visibility during the dark, spooky night is important. Stick to sidewalks, and have your dog wear a light-up harness to help ensure you’re visible to drivers and other people who are out walking.
Because dogs can easily get startled on Halloween, this is also a good time to make sure your dog is wearing a collar with up-to-date identification tags. Dr. Stegemoller also reminds us that Halloween is “a good time to remember to update microchip information in the event your dog would sneak out of the house.”
She also recommends that dog owners be thoughtful about where they keep Halloween candy and stay cautious about dogs stealing it, which can cause GI upset and can be toxic if enough is consumed.
If you are dressing your dog up in a costume on Halloween, Dr. Stegemoller recommends that dog owners “make sure it doesn’t interfere with their movement so as not to restrict gait or be something they could become strangled or caught in.” As a trainer, I recommend getting your dog used to the costume early so it doesn’t add stress on Halloween.
The bottom line
Instead of taking your dog trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, consider a dog-specific outing. Taking your dog to a dog-friendly pumpkin patch, corn maze, or other festive fall market is a great way to celebrate the season without the scary parts of trick-or-treating.
Many pet supply stores host pet costume contests and dog-specific trick-or-treat opportunities leading up to the holiday. These are enjoyable ways to include your dog in the Halloween fun in a dog-friendly setting, with fewer frights than being out in your neighborhood on Halloween night.
