Tip of the Month: Tricks & Treats, Ghosts & Goblins? … from Fido's Perspective!
Okay, WE all understand that kids (of all ages) love to dress up and pretend and apparently, the more countless candy treats collected the better on Halloween, but for your Fido . . . October 31st could be your dog’s worst nightmare ever!
Scary new decorations may have appeared in and out of the house, an unusual energy of anticipation is developing… Imagine your dog napping happily after a nice yummy doggy dinner to be startled awake by doorbell after doorbell after doorbell, followed by their house door opening to an unexplainable array of costumes, disguises and voices of all fantasies and descriptions? Characters of all sizes, colors, strange costumes (or are they real actually?),unrecognizable masked faces and even weird noises appear repeatedly at the front door??? Unbelievable! And worse . . . the master of the house keeps giving the continuous array of doorknockers treats of all things! Have you ever wondered what on earth is happening for your dog on Halloween? How do they reconcile these phenomena?
Well, as you can well imagine from your dog’s point of view, STRESS might be a very mild word for what some dogs endure and have to find a way to comprehend on this infamous occasion of strange rituals! Do they defend, do they attack, do they hide, do they beg for one of those human treats, do they cry or pace or run away? Are they in trouble for barking and growling or get sent away or made to feel wrong entirely? Can they ignore the stimulus? How do they cope?
Even some of the most calm and balanced dogs can react very differently when intense emotional stacking is encountered. Some warning signs of intense fear to watch for with your Fido may include; yawning, shaking (it off),tail tucking, pacing, licking, panting, withdrawal or hiding (usually under something).
Here are some suggestions to help your dog cope with Halloween:
- • Well before dark thirty when trick or treaters are anticipated, take your dog to a comfortable room well away from all the stimulus. Give them a chewy or toy to keep them entertained and even better, turn on the radio or television to help mute the unexplainable noises from outside of the room. If you know your dog is going to be extremely nervous, fitting them with a snug ‘thunder shirt’ may be helpful and having someone keep them company would be excellent support (great time for a movie!),OR
- • If removing your dog to another room isn’t an option, have them on leash inside the house a half hour before expected visitors and take care to keep them ‘with’ you for support. Be sure they are calm (preferably sitting or in a lie down position) and acknowledge them, well before answering the door
- • If you choose to keep your dog loose in the house, remember that often trick or treaters will leave the yard gate open so take extra precaution to greet visitors outside of your door and keep Fido safely inside, without any temptation to bolt in fear
- • Keep in mind that body language is universal, even for dogs. They depend on reading facial and body expression to interpret ‘life’ and respond accordingly. Stay calm and keep your energy low for them. Help them to trust your judgement without feeling prompted to take situations into their own paws (or teeth) in defense or aggression
- • Do not allow any stranger to give your dog human Halloween candy (keep in mind that xylitol is often candy sweetener and is highly toxic for dogs…chocolate can equal a visit to the vet!) Instead, if your dog is calm and the visitor is willing, have a healthy dog treat handy that the trick or treater can give to your calm dog to help your dog’s interaction with visitors and the doorbells be less intimidating
In conclusion, for many humans, the spooky atmosphere and bizarre costumes are what makes this time of year special and fun, but please remember that the out-of-the-ordinary rituals and tactics of Halloween aren’t safe, inviting, exciting or even fun for your Fido! Please, do what it takes to make October 31st a successful less stressful night for all of you and your precious dogs!
For more dog health and training tips, visit Ask The Trainer. Ask me about dog-owner training today as well!
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