Halloween Safety for Dogs
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Halloween
Decorations
Your dog is bound to
be curious about new objects around the house, and that includes Halloween
decorations. Be sure decorations are not in areas where your dog could ingest
them or bump into them. Power cords trip your dog or lead to electrical shock
if chewed. Be careful with the placement of jack-o-lanterns - have you ever
seen a dog eat a whole pumpkin? It is not pretty! Also, candles can be knocked
over, potentially burning your dog and/or starting a fire. Other decorations
can be eaten or broken, causing serious harm to your dog. Have fun and decorate
- just think about your dog first!
Trick-or-Treaters
and other Guests
Though many dogs love visitors, some can become fearful of
strangers. Many dogs will even be afraid of people they know if those people
are in costumes. Plus, constant ringing of the doorbell might get your dog
over-excited or very stressed out. Think about your dog's typical reaction to
visitors and take extra precautions for Halloween. Keep your dog at a distance
when greeting trick-or-treaters by putting up an baby gate or confining her to
another area of the home. When inviting guests into your home, introduce them
to your dog in a positive manner. If your dog seems afraid of guests in
costumes, remove her from the situation calmly. During parties and loud
gatherings, your dog might do best in another area of your home unless she is
used to these types of events and has done well in the past.
