[Episode 31]

 

7 Tips to Keep Your Dog Calm on Halloween         

 

Can Halloween make your dog more fearful? Why does your dog bark and cower when he sees the Halloween decorations on your neighbor’s front lawn?  How do I keep my dog from barking every time the doorbell rings on October 31? Any holiday can be stressful for your dog, but how can Halloween make your dog’s fears worse? Today you’re going to learn 7 Tips to Keep Your Dog Calm on Halloween.

 

“My puppy is afraid of the Halloween decorations on my neighbor’s front lawn.”

 

That’s what one of my private clients told me about her 5-month-old puppy. Halloween can be a scary holiday for puppies and dogs. I told my client what to do about the Halloween decorations and gave them a plan for the night when kids will come trick or treating. 

 

This information will also help you and your dog if you have a young dog, less than 18 months old, then you need to listen to this podcast and take some notes. 

 

If your dog is older and has some fears of people already or maybe your dog is a little bit nervous, maybe barks and lunges at people. Then I want you to listen to this episode as well. And if your dog isn’t fearful, this is you’re also going to get some great information on just how to plan for Halloween.

 

Why is Halloween scary for your dog?

 

During the Halloween holiday, and frankly, anytime, it’s a good practice for you to think, 

 

What does this look like from my dog’s perspective?

 

Your dog doesn’t know that those are Halloween decorations on your neighbor’s front lawn. Your dog thinks those are real objects or real people. Your dog doesn’t know they fake decorations. Your dog doesn’t know that’s a fake spider plastered on your outside wall. So Halloween can be scary for your dogs because they don’t know it’s Halloween. You need to keep that in mind as you walk your dog around the neighborhood.

 

Your dog also doesn’t know that children are dressing up for Halloween. 

 

There are two different parts for Halloween? There’s the before Halloween and then there are the events on the 31st. The first tip will help with the lawn decorations and the next 6 tips will help you keep your dog calm on Halloween night. 

 

 1. Counter-condition lawn decorations

There’s a great counter-conditioning exercise I teach my puppy clients. It’s also in The Dog Academy called Focus Around Distractions. It’s one of the best exercises you can ever do with your dog or puppy. Just that lesson alone in The Dog Academy is worth the cost of the course because it’s such a valuable exercise to change minor fears and prevent fears from forming. The first thing you want to do is to counter-condition the lawn decorations if your dog is afraid or worried about that. If your dog isn’t afraid or worried, you’re still going to do this exercise because you don’t want your dog to develop any fears. 

 

 2. Take your dog on an adventure walk during the day on Halloween

An adventure walk is when you take your dog to the lake, the beach, a park, or just a different neighborhood for a walk. The purpose of the adventure walk is to introduce new sights, sounds, and smells. Your dog will be excited to have a new place to explore and will be more fatigued after the walk. It’s different stimulation for your dog and he’ll have a blast. The adventure walk will help him relax more in the evening. 

 

 3. Have stuffed Kongs ready 

Stuffed Kongs, or any engaging interactive food toy is a great way to help your dog relax. You should already be using interactive toys with your dog on a daily basis. You’re going to prepare 1 – 2 stuffed Kongs before the 31st and have them ready in the freezer. When the trick or treaters start coming to the door, give your dog his stuffed Kong to enjoy. 

 

 4. Find a safe place for your dog to relax

Find a safe place for your dog when the trick-or-treaters come to the door. This can be a crate in the bedroom, the laundry room or maybe just relaxing in a bedroom far from the front door. If it’s safe, you can give your dog his stuffed Kong in this crate or room.

 

 5. Cover the doorbell

Cover the doorbell with a note that says not to ring or push the button. The doorbell is a trigger for a lot of dogs. It’s a trigger for fearful dogs and it’s a trigger for dogs that don’t have fear issues. If you’re preparing for kids to come to your door, then focus on that instead of letting them ring the doorbell. 

 

6. Sit outside with and without your dog

Now that you’ll have the doorbell cover, you can sit outside and hand out candy. You may want to use this opportunity to socialize your puppy or teach your dog to be calm around children or a lot of people. This could be a great training opportunity, but you need to be focused on your dog. Remember your dog doesn’t know that children are dressed up and you don’t want your dog to get frightened. You can use this to train your dog for 30 – 60 minutes. You shouldn’t expect your young dog to spend more than an hour outside. 

 

If you’re not going to have your dog outside when you’re handing out candy, then your dog should be in his safe place with his stuffed Kong. 

7. Turn off your light and leave a note that you’re not handing out candy.

Turn off your light and leave a note that you’re not going to participate in the trick-or-treating. You don’t want that doorbell ringing over and over again all night long. 

 

Now you have 7 tips to help keep your dog calm on Halloween. Which tips will you be using? Find us on Instagram and tell us what your Halloween plan is going to be.