Barktober safe, scary and fun!
Enjoy the month of Barktober with your dog!
It’s a good month to be a dog. Cool days and huge piles of leaves to romp in. Dog friendly fall festivals and weekend romps at the beach. All these fun activities lead up to the big night of Halloween. Halloween for humans and dogs can go hand in paw. Please have fun all month, but think about your dog, here are a few tips to keep Halloween safe:
-Candy is for humans, not dogs. Chocolate, tin foil and cello wrappers can cause digestive problems and Xylitol (found in many kinds of gum and candy) is very toxic to dogs. If you think your dog has gotten into something evil, call animal poison control or your vet as soon as possible.
-Dogs in costumes. Some dogs like it, some do not. Please don’t force your dog to wear something they do not want to wear. Please, no masks or face covering items or restrictive parts around the body or chest. Dogs really like to see and breathe. If you have a doggie that resists the urge to wear a costume, try a color coordinated bandana secured on the collar. Don’t wait until that last minute to test their costumes, it is better to know early what will and what will not work.
-Keep the dog safe when trick or treaters come a callin’. At home, keep the dog in another room with a favorite toy or bone while the doorbell is ringing all night. Dogs can get easily scared of people and kids in costumes, they can become overly protective or even try to escape when the door is opened.
-Not into Halloween? No worries. Walk the dog early before the hordes of kiddies hit the streets. Turn your lights out, put the TV on extra loud and settle on the couch for a fun movie night with the dog. Marley and Me? Beethoven (1, 2 or 3)? Cujo?
Nothing is more fun than a great day out with your dog. Remember to keep them on their leashes at all times, even if it seems like everyone else’s dogs are running wild. Finally, don’t bring an unsocial dog to a social event. Not cool, it will most likely ruin someone else’s day and certainly yours. Have a great Barktober and hug your dog everyday. Yes, everyday!