Halloween Costumes for Your Dog
With Halloween quickly approaching, you might be scrambling for something to make your pooch look festive. The most important thing is to be considerate to them. If they appear to be frightened, don’t push them to wear an item. If they are laid back, you are likely to have better luck. They might not wear the costume for an entire evening, but at least long enough to get some fun photos taken, so at the very least, you can plaster them all over Facebook.
Basic Guidelines
The guidelines are similar to those to bear in mind with costumes for children. Masks are always best avoided when possible. If anything could cause a tripping or falling hazard or impair vision, it should be removed from the costume. Many costumes can be altered to suit your dog’s needs. Costumes often involve some sort of hat that goes over their ears. Many are fine with this. If there is anything that wraps around their chest or stomach, be sure that it’s not too tight. You want to be sure their breathing is not restricted, which could cause them to panic.
Homemade Costumes
If there’s nothing at your local pet store that really suits your dog’s personality, or you can’t find something to properly fit your large dog, you might try making them a costume. When making your own costume, you can use velcro, which is a lot easier than buttons, snaps or zippers and definitely safer for your pooch should they decide to remove the costume. If they do, you can always pop on a festive bandana. Most dogs are OK with this, as it feels similar to their collar.
Trick or Treating
If you decide to take your dog along and make trick or treating a family affair, be aware of your dog’s behavior. There will be lots of stimulating activity, noise and sights they aren’t used to. Even the most well behaved dog can act out when they are frightened or over stimulated. There will be lots of children tempted to pet your dog. If you have any doubts at all about whether your dog will be OK with this, you should leave them at home, which is the safest option. If your dog has been in such situations before, be sure that they have reflective tape on their collar and part of their costume so that they can easily be seen.
If you have a dog that is particularly shy or skittish, you might find them a safe place to stay while trick or treaters are visiting your house. All of the commotion with door knocking and doorbell ringing might be too much for them. Create a safe haven for them with some food, water, a bed or blanket and a favorite toy. Be sure to check on them every hour or so to be sure they don’t have to go out.
Halloween Treats
Pet stores often have special treats for different holidays so that your furry family members can be included as well. It is especially important to keep candy away from your dog or even anywhere they can even potentially reach it. Chocolate is especially dangerous, as it contains not only caffeine, but also theobromine, which is toxic to dogs and cats. If you see any nausea or vomiting in your dog, and suspect they may have eaten some chocolate, get them to the vet immediately.
Another danger that might not come to mind as quickly are the shiny wrappers candy comes in. They are crinkly, shiny and make fun sounds when they’re chewed on. Unfortunately, they can wreak havoc on your dog’s digestive tract, especially if they’re made of foil. Plastic wrappers can make their way through and out without incident, but can also cause problems. Best to be sure all wrappers are disposed of properly.
Halloween can really be as fun for your dog as it is for you and the family. By following these simple guidelines, your dog may even look forward to next year.