Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Getting Started

PawTracks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Dogs on Halloween: Pro tips to keep them stress-free and happy so you can enjoy the day together

Tips to make life stress-free for your dog on Halloween

Vera Lawlor
By

Dressing in costumes, trick-or-treating, and decorating the lawn with ghosts, goblins, and ghouls, there’s just so much to love about Halloween. That’s unless, of course, you’re a dog. According to animal welfare workers, it’s not unusual for pets to go missing on Halloween. The sights and sounds that provide so much entertainment for adults and kids can be downright scary for even the most confident dogs on Halloween. Here are some tricks to treating your dog to a calm, happy, and safe holiday.

A pit bull wearing fake horns poses for a Halloween photoshoot by a jack-o'-lantern
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Not every dog likes to play dress-up

With so many fun pet costumes on the market, it’s easy to get caught up in the spirit of the holiday. However, animal welfare organizations caution families that being dressed in a costume can be stressful for many pets. If your dog appears uncomfortable, he shouldn’t be forced to wear a costume no matter how cute you think he looks. If your dog rolls on the floor or rubs against furniture in an attempt to slip out of the costume, it’s a clear sign that he’s uncomfortable. Less obvious signs your dog is stressed in a costume include:

  • Ears pinned back or folded down
  • Frequent yawning
  • Tail tucked between legs
  • Panting or drooling
  • Whining
  • Hunched back
Dog dressed in Halloween bandana sitting beside pumpkin.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Just because your dog is tolerating the costume doesn’t mean they enjoy wearing it. A stressed dog should never be forced to play dress-up. Instead, putting a costume on your dog on Halloween, opt for a fun collar, bandana, or leash. There are plenty with festive prints, such as pumpkins.

Recommended Videos

If your dog does enjoy playing dress-up, be sure to consider his safety. Never choose clothing that restricts his movement, hearing, or ability to breathe or relieve himself. And always check the costume for parts your pet could gnaw off as these can pose a choking hazard.

Related

A golden retriever stands outdoors wearing a wizard costume and clutching a pumpkin Halloween basket between his teeth

Don’t take your dog trick-or-treating

Many families like to take their dogs along when trick-or-treating with the kids, but animal advocates urge you not to. According to the Humane Society of the United States, many dogs get spooked and break free when walking around the neighborhood on Halloween, and what started as fun can quickly turn into a nightmare.

The best plan is to leave your dog home on Halloween. If you don’t want your dog to miss out on the fun completely, you can enter him in a pet costume contest — only if he enjoys being dressed up, of course — before the actual holiday. Large pet store chains and many animal shelters and rescue groups sponsor Halloween activities for pets on weekends leading up to the holiday.

Put your dog in a safe space before the trick-or-treaters come calling

To help keep your dog calm on Halloween, animal behaviorists advise setting your dog up in a safe space before trick-or-treaters start calling. Choose a room well away from the front door and make sure that all window blinds and drapes are closed. Provide your dog with his favorite bed or crate and an interactive toy. A frozen Kong stuffed with peanut butter and treats is a great way to keep him distracted. Playing relaxing music or putting on the TV will help drown out the sound of the doorbell or noise from trick-or-treaters out on the street.

A cockapoo lies on their back on a chair, covered in Halloween candy
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to help an overly anxious dog

Some dogs can handle stress better than others, and if the loud, weird noises of Halloween rattle your dog, you may need to take some extra steps to help him. For example, to avoid the stress of the doorbell, you might consider sitting out front to greet trick-or-treaters. Following are a few additional stress-relieving options to consider. It’s always best to ask your veterinarian before giving any new product to your dog.

Rescue Remedy

This is a popular homeopathic treatment for anxiety in dogs. Rescue Remedy is made from a diluted combination of five flower essences: star-of-Bethlehem, rock rose, cherry plum, impatiens, and clematis. According to veterinary experts at PetMD, scientific evidence is lacking to support the effectiveness of homeopathic treatments, but many pet parents report that this product helps calm their anxious pooches.

CBD oil

CBD oil is a natural substance found in the hemp plant. While it comes from the same source as cannabis, it doesn’t cause a dog to get “high.” Manufacturers say CBD oil has a naturally calming effect and soothes dogs who are anxious or stressed.

Putting CBD oil in dog's food with a dropper.OwnerPutting CBD
Image used with permission by copyright holder

ThunderShirt

While your dog may not be comfortable in a Halloween costume, he might find a ThunderShirt comforting. According to the manufacturer, this shirt provide consistent body pressure that helps put an anxious dog at ease.

In addition to keeping your dog stress-free during Halloween, you need to be alert to health risks. Many human treats aren’t safe for consumption. Never feed your dog holiday candy, especially if it contains chocolate or xylitol, and make sure all trick-or-treat bags are kept out of reach. Holiday decorations such as candles and jack-o’-lanterns also need to be out of reach of pets. Be prepared and take the necessary precautions, and your pet can have a safe, stress-free Halloween while you enjoy the festivities.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Vera Lawlor
Vera Lawlor
Contributor
Vera was the pet columnist for 201 Family magazine and has contributed pet and animal welfare articles to Bone-A-Fide Mutts…
Homemade dog food: Should you do it?
Homemade dog food: Yay or nay? Vets weigh in and you might be surprised what they said
Large white Labrador eating out of a metal bowl

You’ve probably heard guidance to eat home-cooked meals — for humans. They generally have less salt, and you know the ingredients in each. You’ve probably also heard of cutting down on processed food.

As dog people, we love our furry friends and want what’s best for them. Some foods, like blueberries and bananas, are safe to feed in moderation. However, should you be home cooking your dog’s food? After all, nothing appears more processed than a tiny piece of kibble that’s apparently processed — gasp! — with all the nutrition your pet needs.

Read more
Did you find worms in your dog’s poop? Here’s how to identify and treat them
Parasitic worms can cause real problems in pets — here's how to treat them and take care of your furry friend
Dog runs through the grass outside

Keeping our dogs regular is a fundamental part of pet ownership and is usually pretty easy. Their food includes all the nutrients they need plus maybe a built-in probiotic to help maintain digestion. Sometimes, though, you'll suddenly find your pup has diarrhea, and you'll have to figure out exactly what's going on inside. While there are a number of different possible causes, it could be worms, which can turn serious and even into a life-threatening situation if left untreated.
What are parasitic worms?
When we're talking about worms here we don't mean the kind in your yard and we also aren't including heartworm and ringworm. The type that usually leads to vomiting and diarrhea are intestinal parasites, meaning they're living in your pup's gut. There are a bunch of different worms in dogs out there but the most common in dogs are hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm, and roundworm. Each can have slightly varied effects but likely all include problems with your pet's poop.
How do I know if my dog has worms?
Remember vomiting and diarrhea are symptoms of a lot of issues in dogs, everything from eating something they shouldn't have to serious illnesses, like cancer. The best thing to do is call your vet. They will likely have you bring in a stool sample to test for parasites and possibly other conditions -- sometimes our animals catch a tummy bacteria from other dogs that's easy to treat with antibiotics.
Where do they catch worms?
Sadly, some puppies are born with them and that's when they're most fatal, too (particularly hookworms in dogs). In adulthood, your animal might get them from dirt, poop, a rodent, fleas, or another infected pet. It's best to test your pet before bringing them home or make sure the adoption agency or breeder has thoroughly ruled out worms in dog poop. Even then, you might include a fecal examination as part of a routine screening during their first checkup.
How do I go about identifying dog worms?
Some worms are easy to spot with the human eye, and if you notice something in Fido's poop, you should keep it for later and bring it to the vet. Otherwise, you won't always necessarily see the worms, but you'll notice the effects clearly. When you bring in a stool sample, the tests will determine the type of worm, which also can influence treatment.
How do I treat dog worms?
The best way to take care of worms is with preventatives. Check your heartworm or flea medicine to see if they already contain the right chemicals to keep them at bay. That way, the parasites never have a chance to take root inside your beastie at all. However, once the bugs set in, you might need an additional dewormer to get them out. Your vet will prescribe this, possibly over the course of many months.

We say this a lot, but the best defense is a good offense when it comes to worms in dogs. If you're already paying for preventatives, you can look around and see which ones kill the most worms. One note, cats and dogs sometimes do share parasites if they live in the same household. If you find that your pup has caught one of these, you'll need to look at your other pets, too.

Read more
New Year’s resolutions that can make you a better pet parent in 2023
5 ways you can become the best pet parent this year
A woman strokes a blue-eyed white dog while outside

We all kick off the new year with resolutions, but for pet lovers, the goal to be a better pet parent is a resolution worth keeping. From teaching your fur babies to get along to helping your cat kick a treat addiction, there are plenty of things we can do to improve our four-legged friends' quality of life. We'll take a deep dive into the top New Year's resolutions pet parents should make to ensure their furry companions stay happy and healthy throughout 2023.

How to set a New Year's resolution you'll keep
We all start off the new year with the best of intentions, vowing to eat healthier, get more exercise, and spend less time doomscrolling on social media. However, by the end of January, the vast majority of people have already started to backslide -- or have given up on their resolutions altogether. But when you're setting resolutions with your fur babies in mind, keeping them is more important than ever. Try:

Read more