Ensure a Safe Halloween for Your Dog

No matter how much you like to include your dog in family activities, Halloween night is a time when the family dog should be kept safely inside your home and excluded from family fun. To prevent the possibility of a frightened dog biting someone, and also from running out an open door, let your dog spend the evening in his dog crate or confined to another room, away from your front door. Help him make it through the evening with a favorite dog toy or blanket, and a few tasty dog treats.

If your dog has the run of the house on Halloween night, be sure to place lighted candles and Jack-O-Lanterns where they can't be knocked over by pets. Be especially careful around dogs with large tails and curious pups. Not only is there the danger of fire, but spilled hot wax can burn skin.

Dogs that are very excitable and wary of strangers should definitely be confined on Halloween night. A barking dog could scare young children, and don't count any dog remaining calm and friendly on Halloween night. Costumed trick-or-treaters, even someone your dog knows, may frighten your usually calm dog. Any pet might become nervous and upset by the doorbell ringing constantly, doors opening and closing, and the commotion of a constant stream of strange looking visitors.

Candy, especially chocolate, must be kept out of reach of all dogs. Make sure everyone in the family, especially young children, understand that they cannot share their chocolate Halloween treats with the family dog. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting, severe diarrhea, a rapid heart beat, seizures and even death. Make sure your tired little ghosts and goblins don't come home after a busy night and leave their Halloween goody bags anyplace where the dog can get into them.

Don't leave your pet outside alone on Halloween, even in a fenced yard. A dog might be upset by the masked strangers walking by your yard. If your dog absolutely must be tied up outdoors on Halloween, check the length of its chain to make sure the dog cannot reach areas where children might cut across your yard. Remember though, not only are the flashes and bangs of fireworks is very upsetting to most dogs, but every Halloween pets are stolen, tormented, tortured, injured, or worse in malicious Halloween pranks. Let’s face it, Halloween night is a time when the family dog should be kept safely inside your home and excluded from family fun. It's the loving thing to do.