Tips for Taking Your Dog Trick-or-Treating

Trick or treating is fun for the entire family, and as any dog lover will tell you, no family event is complete if it doesn’t include the family dog. Taking your dog trick or treating can often add to the experience for humans and animals alike—provided you do so safely. To that end, here are three tips for taking your dog trick-or-treating successfully.

Get Them a Costume

Is there anything more adorable than a dog in a Halloween costume? Of course not. Putting a dog in a costume ensures that they are part of the fun too, and it will absolutely charm most of the homes which you visit. Thankfully, there is no shortage of possible costumes available that you can put them in. Always keep in mind that, as adorable as these costumes can be, they have to be comfortable for your dog. If your pooch seems miserable or is scratching a lot, remove or minimize the costume.

Keep Them Safe

Halloween is dark and often crowded. To that end, keep your dog on a leash. Keeping your dog on a leash will prevent potential injuries to other people. It can help keep the dog safe as well, ensuring that your dog can’t run off. Even if you have a well-trained dog, remember, Halloween can be nerve-wracking for our animals. It’s dark, loud, likely on unfamiliar streets and filled with people and scents that the dog may not be used to. A leash is vitally important to make sure that your dog can be kept under control and avoid potentially hazardous situations. Given that you will likely be trick-or-treating at night, you should make sure that where you are walking is well lit. You should also have a flashlight with you to always see your dog and see where you are walking. Also, keep a close eye on the ground to make sure your beloved pet doesn’t start to eat something they shouldn’t. Remember, lots of candy—particularly chocolate—can be dangerous for your dog.

Prepare Ahead Of Time

The worst time to realize you could have done more to prepare for the terrible event of losing a beloved pet is after you lose them. There are many things you can do to make sure that, if your pet does get away from you, you maximize the chances of getting them back. Microchip your dog to ensure they will be returned to you if you lose them. Have an up-to-date picture to post on social media and in fliers, and make sure you have a dog license and collar with your contact information on them.

Having your dog celebrate Halloween with you is a great way to add a bit of special to an already fun night. Thankfully, with a little bit of time and preparation, you can do this in a way that is safe and fun for everyone involved.