Scary doggies. Are you the type of pet owner who searches high and low for the perfect Halloween costume for your dog? When you type “dog Halloween costumes” in an online search for inspiration, you can see a photographic testament to what poor pups will put up with—all for the love of their owner.
From vampires and witches to ghosts and pirates, never has a four-legged species been so sweetly humiliated. One wonders if dogs could dress us for Halloween, what they would come up with—giant dog cookie, fire hydrant or letter carrier? Unfortunately, they don’t get that option.
If your dog is small, odds are you’ll be very tempted to dress it up—since there are many costumes available for small dogs. The important thing, as with children, is to ensure their safety and comfort—with nothing sharp or restricting on the costume, so the dog can move comfortably in it. Just be sure to take lots of photos so you can enjoy the laughs for years to come.
Chocolate warning. Most dogs are severely allergic to chocolate, and ingesting it could be fatal. So be sure to keep the chocolate bars far out of Rover’s reach. Same thing with any sweets that could turn your pet’s stomach, otherwise you’ll be doing a fair amount of housecleaning due to vomiting or diarrhea.
Greeting goblins. Most kids enjoy greeting dogs at the door, and many will ask to pet your pup. So it’s important your dog is properly socialized to allow little hands to pet their head or back. One way to prepare your pet, is to stop and greet the children you meet on your daily walks. They often want to pet dogs, and if you reward your pet with a treat every time it sits patiently and allows itself to be fawned over, you will have created a positive association between kids and treats that will lodge in the dog’s brain, forever bonding child and dog.
If your dog is small, you may want to pick it up and hold it while the child pets it. For mid-sized or larger dogs, best to hold it by the collar or keep it on a leash at the door so that you’re not juggling candy and dog all at once.
If you’ve followed all the instructions, put the chocolate out of reach, trained your pet to be kid-friendly, and dressed yourself up for the occasion, you and Fido will be sure to have a frightfully good time.