Please welcome Regina Duke to NN! We are so excited to have you!
“Buster’s
Halloween: Keeping Fido Safe & Happy”
One of the joys of pet ownership is
including our dogs and cats in the memorable moments of our lives. Halloween is
one of the most popular holidays. The temptation to dress our pets up in
costume and show them off to the visitors at the door is a powerful one. I have
even dressed my dogs in costumes for Halloween fundraisers for local animal
shelters and we all had a ball!
Before
investing in an expensive costume for your pet, there are a few things you
should consider.
Does
your pet enjoy wearing costumes? Will she tolerate a full-body outfit? Will she
be uncomfortable?
If
you’ve never put clothes on your pet before, you may want to test out Fido’s
tolerance ahead of time. My papillon, Buster, will wear a neckerchief for a
short while, but nothing else. His brother Darby will wear a full-body outfit,
and loves his fleece hoodies in the cooler weather. And of all things, my
little Sheltie, the one with all the fur, will let me pile on the clothes even
though she is never cold!
The
next considerations are when and where to don the costume. If your dog barks
hysterically when the doorbell rings, or threatens to pull the candy dish out
of your hand, you may prefer to do an afternoon photo opportunity of your pet
in costume next to your Halloween decorations. This will create a lovely
keepsake, and by the time the kids start banging on the door, Fido can be
safely tucked away in a bedroom or in his crate for the duration of the
evening. His stress level, and yours, will be greatly reduced.
If
you can’t bear to separate Fido from the activities at the front door, be extra
careful when you open and close it. For Fido’s sake, keep him on a leash and
attach the leash to your belt to leave your hands free for handing out treats.
Even the most trustworthy pet can get overly excited and either jump on a small
visitor or make a dash through the door to chase a car. If you have an exercise
pen or other type of gate, you may want to separate the entry from the living
room. This will allow your dog to watch the goings on without getting too near
the door or the kids.
Of
course, you probably already know that chocolate is taboo for dogs. Be sure
someone in the family is keeping track of Fido during the excitement of
trick-or-treating to make sure he doesn’t eat something that will cause him
harm.
Have
a great pet-friendly holiday!
Regina Duke
4 comments:
Tabitha, thank you so much for having me! When I am not working on my next novel (romance at the moment) I am playing with my dogs and getting ready for the next Rally Obedience trial. I hope everyone's pets have a very safe and happy Halloween! :-)
Love your thoughts on dogs during the festivities. They sense the excitement and want to be part of it. Even the most sweet loving dog can get loose on Halloween. And not every child is accustomed to animals. So for them coming face to face with a dog can be scarier than decoration.
And don't forget the cat. They can slip out that door so quick!
So true! We mustn't forget the kitties. They must also be watched carefully and tucked safely away from that open door. :-)
Lots of great tips.
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