Halloween is fast approaching, and some dogs will find it a more exciting holiday than others. With Halloween parties, trick-or-treaters, lots of tempting treats, and of course scary costumes, it can be quite an intense time, and it can get a bit much for some of our pups.
And that’s why it’s important to prepare our dogs for Halloween (and some of the best long-lasting dog chews will be a great help). You can make the holiday a little easier and more relaxing for pup and parent alike!
In a new Instagram post, the experts at Happy Dogs Training, led by founder and owner Piper M Novick, have explained what we can do to help support our dogs.
First of all, they suggest taking your dog for a long walk to start the day. Ideally, you should give your dog some off-leash time in nature to allow them to fulfill their needs – this way they’ll have more ability to cope with stress. If it’s safe to do so, giving them some off-leash time can be really rewarding.
When you’re back from your walk, get some frozen food enrichment for dogs prepared so it’s ready to use later on if you need to. The coaches suggest simply soaking your dog’s regular kibble in water, or using pumpkin and yogurt for a seasonal treat! “Freeze the food enrichment early in the day so it’ll be ready to go by evening,” they add.
Particularly if you’re expecting visitors, be they friends and relatives or trick-or-treaters, you can build a barrier around your door with an exercise pen. “Even with your dog crated in another room, accidents happen, and having a barrier is an extra layer of safety,” the coaches explain.
Meanwhile, it’s important to give your dog a safe space to retreat to if they want or need to. Choose a quiet, secluded part of your home, make it cozy, and put plenty of your dog’s favorite chews in there! If you have a speaker, you can play white noise to hide the sounds of trick-or-treaters, too.
Before the celebrations begin, don’t forget to fit some extra training or play in if you can! And, give them a final toilet break outside. The more fulfilled and satisfied they are, the more likely they’ll be to enjoy a quiet evening in their safe space.
If your dog is more of a Halloween aficionado, however, and you’d like to include them in the excitement, here’s how to throw a Halloween party for dogs – put on the best celebration that’s appropriate for humans and dogs, too!
And for some extra advice, here’s how to calm a dog down during periods of high anxiety.
