Amidst the spooky fun of tricks and treats, remember these Halloween 2019 dog safety tips.
Amidst the fun of costumes and spooky snacks (not to be confused with Scooby Snacks), it’s important to remember these Halloween 2019 dog safety tips.
Sharon Walsh, Training Supervisor for the nonprofit organization Guiding Eyes for the Blind (which has recently done some cool things), provides some general tips for dog safety this holiday season.
Though Guiding Eyes specializes in guide dogs, these tips are meant for the general canine population.
If the constant ringing of the doorbell is too much stimulation, set a crate in a room far away from the front door, if possible, and a special chew toy or snack might also be a solid idea.
It sounds obvious, but don’t leave your outside dogs in the yard where trick or treaters are visiting. They’re small humans, but they are wearing costumes, and that could make them look threatening. And be sure to check on your dog often.
All candy (especially chocolate and sugarless gum) should be kept out of dogs’ reach in a cabinet or on a high counter, and ideally in a container with a lid (Rubbermaid container or an old Cool Whip container could work).
If your dog does eat some candy, call your vet as soon as possible and try to find the wrapper to determine what type of chocolate and how much he ate. (Some types, like milk chocolate, aren’t quite as harmful as others.) Also, the ratio of amount eaten to dog’s weight can also vary the lethality.
If you have a service dog or a guide dog, they have had a ton of training and education on new situations, but they’re still dogs, and could get freaked out by strangers and noise. Livestock guardian dogs will probably be working overtime as well.
If your plans involve going out and bringing your doggo with you, remember to make sure they’re wearing their collar and ID tags in case they get lost, and have a sturdy harness or leash to prevent that.
If they (or you, if you’re an introvert) feel too overwhelmed by the overall surroundings, it’s perfectly fine to head home early (you could watch a movie or something – Hidden Remote and Netflix Life have plenty of suggestions). That means you’ll get a head start on the on-sale candy shopping.
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