Jack the LionThe ghouls, goblins and tricksters are making their way to your front door soon! Many families enjoy opening that door to a chorus of little masked faces yelling, “Trick or Treat.”

Then there are the rest of us making plans to avoid all possible treaters or kids. Wishing the night passes, quickly, and without stressing yourself or your dog(s).

Evening Halloween goers do not need to ruin your evening or stress you out with a few DOs and DON’TsĀ  that may even make Halloween a regular ol’ night.

Do:

  1. Feed dinner in puzzle toys beginning around 5:30p when the tricksters begin. Don’t have any? Dig into the recycling bin and use paper rolls from paper towel or toilet paper and tuck in the kibble into the center. Continue putting parts of his meals (sprinkled with treats, if necessary) in these puzzle toys through the evening.
  2. Keep a leash on your dog if you know masked ghouls and fairy costumes may worry them. Not sure? Let them drag a leash.
  3. Drown out outdoor noises with a noise machine or radio.
  4. Use a baby-gate to prevent the dog from being right at the door when opening it for the treaters. Even better? Keep them in a different room.

Don’t:

  1. Walk your dog with your kids or allow the kids to bring the dog. The requirement and pressure you are placing on your dog to handle a night of inhuman shapes and interaction is too much for many dogs.
  2. Assume everyone likes a dog or a dog, dressed-up.
  3. Go to a home where it appears someone answers the door WITH their dog while it is barking or reacting poorly to treaters.

Spookydogs

Enjoy the fun for your children and free up your focus by leaving the dog at home for Trunk or Treats or other seasonal festivals. When dogs are out and about, especially at festivals, they will need a dedicated handler that is worrying about nothing else but the dog. Check out our next blog on our thoughts on heading to the farmer’s market or other dog-friendly, outdoor event.