How to have a happy Halloween trick or treating with your dog
Trick or treating has always been fun for the whole family, and there's no reason that can't include your furry besties too. Here's our top tips on bringing your dog out this Halloween.
With the falling leaves and a chill in the air, it's clear spooky season has indeed arrived. Halloween night is just around the corner, which also means the long-standing tradition of trick or treating. Soon, the streets will be busy with ghouls and goblins of all shapes and sizes getting their seasonal sugar rush, and we understand how important it is as a parent to ensure your babies are safe and sound when out and about. So, what happens when you need to take your fur babies out with you? We're here to share our top safety tips for looking after your pup alongside the rest of your family, to ensure everyone has a happy Halloween.
Read on to find out how to take your dog trick or treating safely, and make the most of your Halloween this year.
Make sure your dog has more treats than tricks
Keep your pup in on the fun, and make sure you pack plenty of treats for them so they get to trick or treat along with you. Halloween night can be quite an overwhelming experience, and keeping some of your dog's favourite snacks on you will help you redirect their focus if it starts to get too much. We recommend giving your pup a treat after every house you visit, so they'll be just as excited to trick or treat each door knowing what comes next. A delicious mouthful of our Lamb Kebab kibble will ensure your dog has the happiest and healthiest Halloween ever.
Don't forget to dress your pup up as fabulously as you this year, with a pup-friendly costume that will ensure their safety.
Find the paw-fect costume
Finding the ultimate costume is key for everyone at Halloween, including your furry best friend. There are so many comfortable and spooky costume ideas your pup will adore, but our top tip here is to choose something bright and reflective. Whether this is the whole costume, or just an element, making sure your dog is clearly visible can be a life-saver in stressful situations. Halloween night is bound to be busy, and it can get very dark before you know it, so make sure you're able to easily find and help your dog if they slip away from you at any point. You can sew or stick reflective strips to your waggy friends outfit, or even make that the focus with a glow-in-the-dark skeleton costume, or disco ball themed look.
Above all else, make sure you understand your pup's body language and behaviour to ensure fun for the whole family.
Understand your pup's signs
Knowing your dog well is so important on nights like Halloween, as they can be very overwhelming and stressful for some pups. Busy crowds, bright costumes, and loud noises can be triggers to affect your dog, so make sure you know how to look after your pooch best. Watch for warning signs that they might be stressed, such as lowered tails, resistance to move, frantic or stoic eye movements, or whining and growling. If your dog seems unhappy or uncomfortable, take them to a quiet area and use your knowledge of your furry best friend to help them calm down and have fun. If it's all too much but you're not able to return home yet, choose quieter streets to trick or treat, act calmly, and take it slow. Halloween is all about fun for everyone, so make sure your pup is having just as much fun as you are.
We all understand what it's like when you just need to go home, so here's what we recommend for your dog.
Plan your route home
As frustrating as it can be, it is so important that you head home with your pup if they're too stressed out and need a calmer and more familiar Halloween this time. Forcing your dog to stay out if they're stressed can negatively impact their health and happiness, and could even lead them to make aggressive or defensive decisions if they feel scared. We recommend having a route home planned to ensure a pup-friendly night, and a happy Halloween. If possible, make sure there's more than one adult present, so that one person can follow your dog's needs whilst trick or treating continues. Otherwise, make sure you always have a quiet and easy way of getting home wherever you venture on Halloween night.
Want to know an easy way of keeping stress down for your pup and still hitting up as many houses as possible?
The early dog gets the bone
To have the best trick or treating time ever, for both your family and your pooch, why not head out whilst the sun's still up? Going out early to trick or treat can help reduce stress and triggers for dogs, as it's bound to be quieter and less busy. This means you can spend longer getting as many sweets as you can carry, and your dog can be in on the action with everyone. Heading out early also means more visibility, so your pup can see and understand their surroundings better, and you can keep a clearer eye on them. It also means plenty of time for waggy cuddles the rest of the night, whilst you curl up with a spooky film. Check out our best dog-themed Halloween flicks for all kinds of families here, so you can end your trick or treating with a bang.
For a happy Halloween, your dog deserves only the best meals, to celebrate the season and reward them after a successful trick or treating expedition. Our Tilly & Ted meals are designed with your pets health in mind, and are super tasty whilst being kind on tummies. We also offer many grain free meals for more sensitive pups, so every pet can enjoy their mealtime to the fullest. We recommend our Fisherman's Pie for a chicken-less meal, or our Duck Terrine for a grain free delight.
If you want to find the paw-fect meal to reward your pooch, check out our full range of dog food to find tail wagging goodness, for dogs of every shape and size. From grain-free recipes, to hearty classics, we guarantee your pup will be feeling paw-some and eating like royalty.
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