How to Keep Your Doggie Safe on Halloween

If your whole family enjoys Halloween, why leave your dog out of the festivities??
My belief, (after several years of trick-or-treaters with my golden retriever)is that Halloween isn't all that much fun--or safe for our beloved pets.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A love for your dog

1. If you want to accompany your kids--while walking your costumed dog, you face:
   1.Pets that feel uncomfortable and panicked in the strangeness of clothes
   2.Teens raising mischief and egging your dog(and your house)
   3. Teens tossing stones or sticks at your dog--or sneaking your dog an unhealthy "treat".
   4. The pet distracts you from your important job of watching your kids, parade down the street and up to someone's house in the dark!

2. If you keep your dog home, the constant bell ringing or door knocking may cause your dog to bark relentlessly, defending his turf.
   The possibility of your dog accessing your chocolate treats is a serious health hazard. Make sure the basket of treats is keep in an inaccessible place.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   While the pathetic begging look that goes across the face of a dog
   wanting chocolate can weaken the most stoic dog owner, stay firm. Do not give in, ever. Seizures are precipitated

3. While the pathetic begging look that goes across the face of a dog, ( who has had a bit of chocolate),is hard to resist, it's important to realize that dogs who have eaten chocolate, begin craving chocolate--much like an addiction. While a dog can tolerate a square of a Hershey bar, he'll want more and more and if able, he will jump a counter top to eat a whole chocolate cake--which will kill him.

Tips & Warnings

• Halloween is not a happy, safe holiday for many dogs.
• Avoid strangers, stress, access to chocolate, in order to keep your pet healthy. My own neighborhood is so busy,(with about 100 costumed kids@ the door each year) that I'm going to kennel my dog for the night, to prevent her from being scared, stressed, or possibly sick.

[writinghigh]

on 10/31/2009 It's smart to keep candy away from dogs. They have trouble digesting that stuff. I used to take my dog, Keli, trick-or-treating with my kids. Keli didn't like wearing a costume, so we never forced it on her. We all had a wonderful time when she came with us.

[godfather25]

on 10/31/2009 Great article on keeping your doggie safe on halloween.