Going Trick or Treating With Your Dog
Going trick or treating on Halloween night is about having fun and building memories with those that you care about. What about your furry friend, should he be included in this family tradition? The truth is that it all depends on the temperament of your dog. Let’s take a moment to talk about celebrating with your canine on Halloween night.
To Bring, or Not to Bring?
Every dog has a different temperament, a personality of its own. Does your dog like children and doesn’t mind being around crowds of people? If your dog doesn’t seem bothered by new and exciting sights and sounds, then he or she may be an excellent candidate for trick or treating along with you.
Update ID Tags
Even if you feel pretty good about taking your dog trick or treating with you, always be prepared for the possibility that he could get scared and run away or become separated from you somehow. Having an updated ID tag will really up the chance that you will get reconnected with him if something like that happens.
Reward Your Dog
Obviously, your dog should be on a leash at all times while you are trick or treating. This is best for the safety of everyone involved. Don’t let your dog jump up on people, act aggressively, or bark excessively. Good behavior must be followed on Halloween since your dog will be surrounded by strangers and children. While trick or treating, be sure to reward your dog for good behavior by giving him his favorite dog treat. This should go without saying, but don’t reward him with candy.
Keep Candy Away From Your Dog
Most people are already aware that you can’t give chocolate to a dog. However, it is not just chocolate that you need to be wary of. Candies that are high in sugar such as candy corn can really make a dog sick to his stomach. Nuts found in candy can also cause your dog to have a stomachache. Raisins are toxic to dogs. Hard candy can make your dog choke and the xylitol found in sugar-free varieties are fatal to dogs. Pay attention to what your dog is doing when you are walking from house to house because he could be eating candy off of the ground that was accidentally dropped.
Keep Your Pet Comfortable
When shopping for the perfect costume for your pet, always keep their comfort in mind. Also, know that some pets will wear costumes without any struggle or effort, while others will let you know that they want nothing to do with it.
Should your dog begin to pant or pace, or begin to paw at the costume, it may be best to not force them into submission. Making them wear a costume that forces them to be uncomfortable only causes your dog to become stressed out.