Keep those tails wagging!
No matter how ridiculus we act or look to our dogs, they forgive so sweetly. Halloween for pets has become big business and full challenges for our best friends. Do be gentle with your canine or feline friends. If they don’t dig the new costume, don’t make them wear it. Or try them another day after exercise. Keep a bowl of healthy treats nearby. A fresh sugar snap pea, slice of apple or carrot goes a long way to distracting Fido from the orange pumpkin suit or bat wings you want him to squeeze into.
Tip: Involve your dog in costume choices
Better yet, take Fido with you to the pet shop to try on stuff. He or she will let you know what is acceptable and what is not. Always use a cheerful tone of voice, high pitched voices please dogs (can’t figure out why, but studies show that they do.)
Beware of sudden loud noises on Halloween
Dogs hate them. So do most cats and horses. Babies too. So I cover the doorbell and put a sign on my door, “Bell out of order. Please knock.” Unless your dog is a canine companion, don’t answer the door with him. Freaked out dogs run. They run out into the street. They run under trucks. So please, keep your dog inside, unless he’s a totally unflappable canine. I MEAN it. Never met a 100% unflappable dog. Sudden moves, loud sounds, and wild laughter generally unglue every dog I ever had.
Avoid toxic candies and small toys
A well-experienced dog friend had one of her calmest dogs engage in a new behavior. Her dog choked down an entire bowl of chocolates the moment she stepped out of the room. Of course a few wrappers were ingested at the same time. Don’t end up in a veternarian emergency room with a mutt full of candy or worse. For further reading on what candies and eatables to keep your doggie away from please read these other Dog Leader Mysteries blog posts.
1 more thing more toxic than chocolate for dogs
If you read MYSTERIES or COZY mysteries, please read about my book Red Sky at Night: Dog Leader Mysteries. Currently, it has earned 6 five star reviews on Amazon.
Below you will find a dog related read I think you will like.
Trick or Treat Or a Trip to the ER? The Bark Magazine
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