Halloween is approaching and it is a holiday that has become very popular today in many countries.
Costumes, candy and moments with friends and family have become a ritual every year.
Our dogs can also be part of the party, but we have to take a few precautions to make sure everything goes well.
Here are 5 tips to make this party a great time for you and your dog
SECURE THE AREA WITH YOUR DOG
Halloween is synonymous with candles, pumpkin, spider and ghost decorations and candy.
However, these different elements can represent a risk for our 4-legged friends.
Candles. This may seem obvious to some, but an accident happens so quickly that it is better to be careful. All it takes is a dog approaching the coffee table with a lit candle on it and the hair getting close without realizing it for a small flame to cause major damage to Titou. So beware of poorly positioned candles!
The decoration. The decoration elements can be swallowed or chewed by the dog, which can become sick from ingesting plastic for example. It would be a shame if your dog got sick or had an intestinal obstruction during this festive moment.
CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN WITH YOUR DOG
The candies. Sweets can be very dangerous for dogs because of different components that are toxic to them: Theobromine (contained in chocolate) can affect the nervous system, cause diarrhea and in the long term, cause the death of the dog. For example, a dose of 60g of chocolate can be fatal for a dog of 10 kg. Xylitol (contained in any type of sweetened candy) will increase insulin very quickly and can therefore cause severe hypoglycemia in the dog. Symptoms may include muscle weakness, disorientation, seizures and also digestive problems. Go to your veterinarian immediately if you have any doubts about your dog.
GETTING YOUR DOG USED TO THE DOORBELL OR KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
Most dogs come to the door to greet guests when someone rings or knocks on the door of the house. This may not be a problem if it is occasional or desired by the owner.
But it can be disturbing to the dog if the doorbell rings many times during the evening. The goal is not to make the dog feel bad and stressed during the evening.
To solve this problem, here is a little advice: we will teach the dog another behavior when he hears the doorbell.
What do we want our dog to do when someone rings our doorbell: go to the basket for example?
Feel free to lure your dog at the beginning of the training and coordinate the sound of the doorbell with going to the basket while associating this place in a positive way with a toy or a treat. You can use a clicker to signal the dog that he has performed the correct behavior. Your voice can also replace the clicker if you are not comfortable with having an object in your hand. You can replace the clicker’s “click” with a word like “yes”.
CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN WITH YOUR DOG
The key to successful learning is repetition. It is necessary to do this work many times so that your dog understands that it is the sound of the doorbell that triggers the behavior of going to the basket.
BEWARE OF HALLOWEEN COSTUMES THAT CAN SCARE YOUR DOG
Halloween costumes can be scary for dogs because they are not used to seeing this kind of clothing on a daily basis. So avoid walking in dark alleys so Titou isn’t surprised by someone carrying an axe or wearing a big black cape. A scared dog can react in different ways: Running away, aggression or freezing. Keep your dog at home so that the tour of the neighborhood is not an unpleasant moment for him and avoid an accident if he bites out of fear.
EXERCISE YOUR DOG BEFORE THE PARTY
To keep Titou calm during the evening, take him for a long walk before the festivities begin.
If he’s out and about beforehand, he’s more likely to be calm in the evening and more likely to rest and sleep. You can also put him in a secluded room in the house so he can be quiet during the evening.
CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN WITH YOUR DOG
PLAY WITH YOUR DOG ON THE THEME OF HALLOWEEN
You can play a game with your dog by making him look for treats in the garden or in a Halloween colored digging mat that you can make yourself for example.
How to make a digging mat?
You will need:
A rubber base (like a doormat with holes)A fleece blanket for the straps A pair of scissors.
Now cut the strips evenly, ideally 3 cm by 20 cm.
Then tie knots with the fleece strips in the holes of your rubber mat (you can also double-knot to ensure strength). The more knots, the better your digging mat will be!
It will be a fun activity for you and your dog to do and he will be able to participate in the evening with you. This activity will tire him out so he can sleep for the rest of the evening.
Now that you have all the tips you need to make Halloween go smoothly, you can enjoy the party with family and friends!
