Halloween is right around the corner! While it is easily one of the most exciting and fun holidays of the year, it can be pretty stressful for dogs. In fact, it is often seen as the most dangerous and frightening holiday for dogs (even more so than the 4th of July). While there are many different ways we can keep our dogs involved in celebration, it is important to keep in mind what NOT to do this Halloween!

Don’t…

…Leave your dog unattended outside in the yard.

If you are going to a party, or are celebrating at home, make sure that you do not leave your dog unattended outside. Instead, keep him in a safe place inside or drop him off at a doggy daycare for the night. Dogs can become pretty spooked by all the extra noises and could try to run away from the noise. While dogs do their best to come back home, they often times get lost. Skip this stressor all together and keep them inside.

…Allow your dog near the door when trick-or-treaters come by.

While keeping your dog inside this Halloween, make sure that you do not allow them near the door when trick-or-treaters come to visit. Dogs go crazy when the doorbell rings, so imagine that on a much larger scale. Strangers constantly at the door can be stressful for dogs. Dogs may act out by running outside or possibly attacking a trick-or-treater. Make sure your dog is kept away from the door.

…Leave pumpkins and candy within your dog’s reach.

Decorations can be another issue for dogs on Halloween night, especially pumpkins. These are likely left out for at least a few days after carving. Eating a potentially moldy pumpkin can be harmful to pets and cause gastrointestinal issues. And as we all know, chocolate is no good for dogs so make sure all of this is up and out of your dog’s reach. A great tip is to make sure that your dog has been well-fed so that he’s not looking to eat so much during all the celebrations, and give him extra treats to make him feel part of the celebration.

…Take your dog trick-or-treating.

Unlike humans, dogs believe what they see and cannot recognize when it’s a costume or the real deal. As you can imagine, this can be very scary for dogs on Halloween as they will be constantly seeing scary, bloody, and masked creatures walking around and trying to pet them. Even if your dog is savvy and understands it’s all pretend, most trick or treaters are children who can be scary to dogs in their own right!

…Force your dog to wear a costume.

If you dress up your dog for our #FitdogHowlOWeen18 Instagram contest (see rules here) and want them to wear a costume for Halloween, make sure your dog doesn’t mind it. If he is uncomfortable and resisting, don’t force your dog to wear it. Many dogs have issues with costumes that cover their head, are bulky or lopsided, or have pants.  As cute and fun as your dog’s costume might be, it’s important to respect your dog’s boundaries.

Let us know!

Are you bringing your dog to a doggy day care this Halloween? What are your plans? Don’t forget to post photos of your dog in costume and tag @fitdogclubs and #FitdogHowlOWeen18 for a chance to win $250 in doggie goodies! Have a happy and safe Halloween!