Should You Take Your Dog Trick or Treating?

Owners who want to involve their dogs in their Halloween festivities may wonder whether it’s better to take them out trick-or-treating or stay at home and welcome trick-or-treaters at the door.

“It’s best to keep pets indoors during trick-or-treating hours to prevent them from getting spooked,” says Dr. Klein. “If you do venture out with your dog on Halloween, always keep them on a leash under the control of a responsible adult.”

It’s not unusual for cats and dogs to feel frightened by the doorbell ringing and strangers streaming in and out. And because those people are dressed in costumes, even pets that aren’t normally fearful of unknown humans visiting may react differently, says Dr. Malamed.

Follow these tips to help keep your dog calm and safe:

• Make sure your dog is secure to prevent scared pets from running away: Keep them on a leash or away from the door when trick-or-treaters come by, says Dr. Klein.

• Create a structured environment for your pets to celebrate: “If your pet seems comfortable and visitors are willing, you can ask your dog to sit and the visitor can offer a dog treat,” says. Dr. Malamed. “A more structured interaction, such as a command-response-reward format, can make the situation more predictable and positive, as opposed to having people randomly interact by approaching, reaching, or touching your dog. Exposures should be controlled so that they are fun and not forced.”

• Don’t allow neighbors to give your dog human treats: As we’ll go into more detail below, human candy should be off-limits for pets.

• Keep frightened pets in a separate room for their comfort and safety

Read the Warning Signs

While the scary side of the holiday may be fun for humans, there’s no reason to produce real fear in our pets. Dr. Malamed suggests families with dog at home be on the lookout for body postures that might indicate fear, including:

• Tail tucking

• The retraction of the ears

• Pacing and restlessness

• Shaking or cowering

• Moving in slow motion

• Refusing treats

• Hyper-vigilance

• Yawning

• Lip licking

• Panting

In a moment of fear, dogs may try to escape, so make sure your dog has an ID tag and is microchipped and that the contact information is up to date.