Even though Halloween is great fun for humans, unexpected knocks at the door, loud bangers and people dressed in costumes can be a weird and unsettling experience for dogs. Here is my advice about how to prepare your dog for Halloween.
Is Halloween a trick or treat for dogs?
Halloween can be a “scary” time not just for those out trick or treating, but also for your doggo Even though Halloween celebrations and traditions are great fun for humans, unexpected knocks at the door, loud bangers and people dressed in costumes can be a weird and unsettling experience for many dogs. Even if they are usually quite confident.
Not only can Halloween be frightening for dogs, but it can also be dangerous. Many lollies are toxic for dogs, pet costumes can range from uncomfortable to unsafe, and decorations might tempt your dog and expose them to something harmful. It is also common for dogs to be traumatised by the loud booms caused by bangers and fireworks.
A little extra planning and precaution is often needed to make sure the humans in your life have fun at Halloween while also setting your dog up for success.
Plan ahead
If you know your dog will struggle at Halloween, make sure you plan to get their walk done early in the day to avoid much of the festivities. Try to make time for an extra long sniffy walk that day to tire your dog out before the evening’s festivities. Plan to stay home at least Halloween night if you know that Halloween will be a challenging experience for your dog. Or make sure your dog has adult supervision if you can’t be there.
If your dog is frightened by door knockers or bangers do not leave them on their own at home. Make sure they are supervised and supported through the experience. Be especially careful not to leave your dog unattended outside on Halloween, even if they’re behind a fence. Halloween antics can cause dogs to panic and jump fences even when they usually wouldn’t do it.
Just in case they do escape (never say never), make sure that all your pets are wearing tags with current IDs and that their microchip is registered with your most up-to-date information.
Noise phobic dogs
Many dogs are scared of loud noises. This is known as “noise phobia” and it can be a very challenging behaviour issue for some dogs and their owners. It is common for a dog to have a phobia about gunshots, thunderstorms, fireworks and bangers and of course Halloween in NZ is a popular time for letting off bangers and fireworks.
Symptoms
If your pup is experiencing noise phobia, they may exhibit some or all of the following symptoms:
- Trembling, shaking, or cowering.
- Excessive panting or drooling.
- Hiding in enclosed spaces.
- Barking or howling.
- Increased anxiety or agitation.
- Destructive behaviours such as digging or scratching.
- Trying to escape from the house.
- Urinating or defecating in the home.
Prevention is better than cure
Desensitisation to loud noises should start in puppyhood. Pups that are safely and gradually exposed to different experiences, including loud noises, during their essential socialisation period of three to 16 weeks of age, are often able to cope more effectively with loud, frightening sounds like fireworks or thunderstorms. However even pups that were exposed to loud noises while young can still develop noise phobia from a traumatic experience later in life.
Desensitisation
If your dog is afraid of loud noises, desensitisation training can be an effective way to help your dog learn that loud noises aren’t something to fear. It involves exposing your dog to the sounds in a controlled environment and gradually increasing the volume over time. You can do this by playing recordings of the sounds that trigger your dog’s noise phobia and rewarding them with treats or praise for remaining calm.
This behaviour issue can be tricky to address, so I recommend that you work with a trained professional to guide you through the training if your dog needs help with this.
If this is not an option for you, there is some good guidance and recordings available online from Dogs Trust UK. Check it out here: Sound Therapy for Pets .
If your dog is frightened by door knockers or bangers do not leave them on their own at home at Halloween. Make sure they are supervised and supported through the experience. Be especially careful not to leave your dog unattended outside, even if they’re behind a fence. Halloween antics can cause dogs to panic and jump fences when they usually wouldn’t.
Safe Space
A helpful strategy for managing noise phobia is to create a safe space for your dog to retreat to during loud noises. This can be a crate or a designated room where your dog feels safe and secure. Close the doors and windows to block out as much noise as possible, and provide them with comforting items such as a favourite toy or blanket. Stay with your dog and be gentle and supportive. Don’t fuss over them but stay present, calm and reassuring.
Distract
Put the radio or TV on to help drown out the noises outside. Have a bag of high value treats on hand to try to distract your dog if they are not coping. Pre prepare a variety of puzzle toys stuffed full of yummy fillers like tasty treats, peanut butter, dog meat etc. Get some safe items for your dog to chew on like deer antlers or pigs ears; many dogs find chewing to be a very soothing activity.
Veterinary intervention
If you think your dog will really struggle then it might be a good idea to chat with your vet about some anti-anxiety medication that can help them through. Anti-anxiety medication can help your dog cope in the short-term and prevent their behaviour issue from becoming aggravated by further traumatic experiences. Just keep in mind that anti-anxiety medication should only be used as part of a wider training plan that has been recommended by a dog behaviour expert.
Helpful products
Other products you might find helpful for noise phobia or anxious pets are:
- Thundershirts
- Adaptil (IMO really just for pups and adolescents
- Calmex for dogs
There is limited research available about the effectiveness of these products on dogs but many owners have reported to me how they have helped their pets. If you have any feedback about using these products, I would love to hear from you so I can share your experience with others.
Door knockers
Multiple people calling to your door in one evening can be a big experience for many dogs. Know your dog and keep a close eye on them to decide if they’re best tucked away in a crate or a quiet room as opposed to greeting the costumed neighbours.
Remember that masks and costumes change how people look and smell to a dog, so even familiar people may become frightening.
If you think your dog will struggle, before the trick-or-treating starts, put them in a quiet room where they will be safe from all the Halloween activity. If your dog is likely to freak out every time someone arrives at the door, consider minimising noise by sitting outside your door to keep trick-or-treaters from knocking on the door or ringing the bell. Especially for the busiest time of the evening in terms of foot traffic.
If you are keeping your dog around, take extra precautions to prevent them from running out the door as you open it up for trick-or-treaters. If your dog is confident and you have been practicing your manners training for a while, Halloween can be a really great opportunity to practise your training around some pretty challenging distractions. Just be fair to your dog and don’t expect too much… and use extra special treats to stay in control.
If you are taking the kids out trick-or-treating, do your dog a favour and leave them at home with a tasty chew or puzzle toy. Dogs can be easily overwhelmed by the Halloween commotion. A nervous nip or a lost dog will quickly end the evening’s fun.
Costume
Dressing up our pets is becoming more popular and I will say that a small amount of dogs do seem to enjoy it. For example, my dog Sprocket really loves to dress up. He loves touch and he loves all the attention. However I would say that many dogs don’t love the experience.
I’ve already seen a lot of content online of dogs dressed up for Halloween who are clearly uncomfortable. If your dog doesn’t like it, it’s not worth the cute photos or videos.
Dogs can’t tell us what is bothering them about a costume and they may simply react by wanting it off. In the process, they may chew off and ingest a portion of the costume that can cause intestinal obstructions or choking hazards. Be sure to remove any chewable parts or objects that could come off.
If you do choose a costume for your pet, consider your pet’s personality and what type of costume they may tolerate and for how long. Masks and hats that fit around the face, for example, may be OK for the length of time it takes to snap a quick pic, but they can pose dangers and make your pet feel uncomfortable. It is best to keep pet costumes minimal.
Keep an eye on your pet to make sure the costume is comfortable and allows your pet to move freely. Make sure it fits properly, and then supervise your dog the entire time they wear the costume. Leave it on for a short period of time (taking some cute photos to share with friends and family), then remove the costume before it makes your dog too uncomfortable.
The bottom line is if your dog doesn’t like dressing up… keep the costumes and dressing up for humans only.
Lollies, Chocolate & Raisins
Lots of halloween goodies such as chocolate & chewing gum are hazardous to dogs. Watch the kids! Children can make the innocent mistake of sharing their loot with their furry best friend. Make sure they know the difference between a treat for humans and a treat for your dog. Click here for a full length article about Chocolate and dogs and what do do if you think your dog has eaten chocolate.
Lolly wrappers can also be an issue, as they can become lodged in your pet’s throat or intestinal tract, requiring surgery to remove. Wrappers that are foil or cellophane have the potential to result in gastrointestinal irritation.
Some Halloween treat-givers often choose to pass out small boxes of raisins. This option is great for children, but raisins and grapes are dangerous to dogs and if they eat enough of them can cause renal failure. Be sure that you keep raisins out of your dog’s reach at all times.
Summary
Halloween can be great fun for the whole family. Just keep an eye on your dog to make sure they are also having a fun experience. If you know your dog will struggle, plan ahead to set your dog up for success and minimise the stress that Halloween celebrations and traditions may cause them.
