Halloween is an exciting holiday- especially for those with children who are getting to go Trick or Treating. There are costumes to wear, masks and face painting, wigs and accessories to showcase. There are doorbells ringing, lights, noises and music playing as well as the plethora of yard decorations and fog machines which all add to the momentum of fun for humans. Not to mention the candy, everywhere. However, for those of us with pets at home, Halloween can be a bit more ’tricky.’ Some of our dogs enjoy strangers and people coming to visit us, some of our pets are frightened by new people and some of our four legged companions can feel that it’s their job to guard the home. Regardless of which animal personality you have as your companion, the best thing you can do for your pet this Halloween is to give them a safe and quiet area of the home in which they can relax, undisturbed, for the few hours in which Halloween shenanigans ensue. We all love our dogs- and we want them to be a part of our lives and activities, but a busy and interactive Holiday such as Halloween, is really made for our children to enjoy- and as such we need to be reminded that not all children are comfortable with strange animals trying to bark at them, jump on them or lick them. Dogs personalities are just as varied as humans, and as such there are different ways of preparing your pet and maintaining their safety as well as the safety of the people around your home. For dogs who love people and strangers, it is still not a time for them to be running up to every child or person coming to your front door for candy. Even the most personable of canines can have a great night by having a comfortable place within your home that they can claim as their own until the activities settle down. For those dogs that are more fearful or those that are anxious of strangers or loud noises, it is definitely recommended that you select a room in your home in which they can retreat safely and quietly to their dog bed or their crate, without having direct access or line of sight to the front door of your home. This will ease their nerves and yours- and make sure that they are comfortable and left mostly undisturbed. For those dogs that are excessively anxious, a crate with a favorite bone or Kong toy to keep them occupied is ideal. For dogs with natural guarding instincts or barrier aggression, they should also be kept in an area of the home in which they can stay calm and be at ease until the evenings events come to a finale. Ultimately, a few hours of ‘rest time’ during the high activity will allow your pup to be a dog without the human expectation of behaving impeccably during a time when we are all easily distracted by friends and children and candy dishes. Lastly, make sure that all candy, candy wrappers and holiday snacks are picked up so that your dog does not end up with an upset stomach or worse. Make sure candy bowls within the home are placed where your pup does not have access to them. Prevention is always the best safety mechanism. Even the best trained dogs can be lured into a piece of candy or chocolate dropped on the floor- so triple checking your home and yard during and after Trick or Treating is a good way to make sure there’s nothing to harm your four legged companion. —–
About the Author
JEFFREY SCOTT FRANKLIN
Franklin is owner of Cobra Canine and has worked with over 10,000 pet dogs and families. He gives dogs and their owners a new leash on life and turns pets with behavioral issues into family assets. His memoir by Matthew Duffy, Franklin: The Man Behind the United States Commando Dogs, offers an exhilarating look into his fascinating career as the pioneer behind Elite Working dogs trained for the United States Military. Connect with Jeff Franklin on Facebook @franklinjcanine, Twitter @CobraCanine, Instagram @franklincanine and visit www.cobracanine.com. Franklin has been see on MSNBC and The Pet Show.