Tips To Keep Your Dogs Safe On Halloween

If you’re walking down the street on Sunday evening and a firework in a nearby park flies into the air when you’re not expecting it, chances are you’ll get a shock, but will be back to your usual self soon.

It’s a whole different story for your dog as the noise and unpredictability of fireworks leads them to think there’s a threat, and it triggers their fight-or-flight response.

Fireworks shoot up into the air with no warning signs, they’re bright, they’re unsettling, and they leave a burning smell in the air, four things that your pet, particularly your dog, will not like.

Not all dogs are scared of fireworks, but unless you are 100% sure, here are some useful tips to make Halloween that little less scary for your pet:

• Walk your dog early to avoid the busy and hectic evening that’s on the way
• Create a safe space for your dog and make sure all windows are shut
• Close your curtains because a firework’s brightness might scare them more than the noise
• Distract your dog by playing games, and be generous with treats for ignoring explosions
• Stay close and provide reassuring contact if your dog gets anxious

So that’s a quick rundown of what’s the best way to keep your dog safe from fireworks, but unfortunately, there are plenty of threats to dogs, and other pets, inside the house on Halloween too:

• Keep candy and treats out of the reach of dogs as several popular treats are toxic to pets
• Carefully place your decorations up high as pets can easily knock them over and start a fire
• Be careful with costumes because they could cause some pets unnecessary stress