I have this dream that someday I'll have the kind of dogs you could take to a dog park or to the Farmer's Market or pet store, like my little sister does with her Newfie pup. So far in my career as a pet parent, I have experienced none of those scenarios, let alone considering taking them trick-or-treating! My current duo, Bella and Zeus, are two polar opposite German Shepherds. Bella is very high-strung and territorial, Zeus is laid-back and loves everybody.

The problem is that they must go everywhere together, when they are separated they both go cuckoo! So taking the very-friendly Zeus anywhere without the not-so-friendly Bella is a forgone conclusion. But let's say you have the kind of pooch that you can take anywhere, perhaps even trick-or-treating, then you'll want to be sure you keep them safe.

Here are some tips for doing just that.

  • If you are taking your dog with you on Halloween, make sure they are leashed, wearing ID tags on their collar or even better-- micro-chipped. Collars and leashes should have reflective material on them too. If you're leaving pets at home, make sure they are safely restricted where they can't rush out the front door when you open it for trick-or-treaters.
  • If you're dressing up your pets, don't just assume they'll love it, because some pets don't. Pet experts suggest you try it on them long before you expect them to wear it for hours. The costume should be comfortable and safe with Velcro closures so you can get your pet out of it quickly if it catches on anything.
  • It goes without saying that the only creature which should be eating Halloween candy is you, not your dog. Chocolate can be highly toxic to a dog and even the small amount they might get by licking a candy wrapper can be potentially deadly, plus eating discarded candy wrappers can cause severe intestinal distress.

Better yet, if you want to keep you and your pets safe on Halloween, I suggest throwing a fun bash at your house, with great costumes, great food and beverages, and great friends! Ben and his wife Linda have hosted several of these and always dressed up their little King Charles Cavalier, Bogey,  in great outfits. My favorite was the year their theme was "The Addams Family" and Linda made Bogey a "Cousin It" costume. It was fantastic and hilarious! Now that was a fun Halloween

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