Quick answer: how do I keep my dog safe at Halloween?
Keep sweets and chocolate out of reach, give your dog a quiet safe space away from the front door, and tire them out with a walk and enrichment before trick-or-treating starts. Ask visitors not to knock, keep lit pumpkins and decorations out of reach, and make sure your dog wears an up-to-date ID tag in case they get frightened and escape. Most dogs are happier at home, away from the hustle and bustle, than out trick-or-treating or in costume.
In this article:
- Why is Halloween stressful for dogs?
- How can I prepare my dog for Halloween?
- How do I keep my dog calm on Halloween night?
- What Halloween hazards should dog owners watch out for?
- Should my dog dress up or go trick-or-treating?
- What Halloween treats are safe for dogs?
- Halloween and dogs: FAQs
Why is Halloween stressful for dogs?
While Halloween is a thrilling time for humans, it’s not necessarily well received among dogs, and it can even be a dangerous season for them. Just imagine it from your dog’s point of view: strangers in bizarre outfits, faces covered in gory makeup, doorbells ringing all evening and people jumping out to scare each other. Add a bowl of sweets within nose’s reach (chocolate included!) and lots can go wrong.
The good news? With a little planning, fright night can be fun for everyone. Below, the Zigzag training team shares their top tips for keeping your dog safe, encouraging positive experiences and making sure both you and your furry friend – whether an adult dog or a curious puppy – have a howl-oween to remember.
If you’re looking for a training programme tailored to your dog’s age and breed, look no further than the Zigzag dog training app. Puppy training can be terrifying in all kinds of ways, so you’ll be relieved to know our professional dog trainers are available 24/7 to help, from seasonal safety to all-round training advice.
How can I prepare my dog for Halloween?
Start a week or two early: get your dog used to door sounds and spooky decorations, and set up a quiet room they can retreat to.
Practise doorbell and knocking sounds
The constant ringing and knocking can be stressful for dogs. In the days leading up to Halloween, practise desensitising your pup to these sounds: ring the doorbell or knock, then reward them for calm behaviour. This can do wonders for their nerves on the big night.
While you’re at it, teach a “wait” at doorways. It cuts the chance of your dog bolting outside or jumping up at trick-or-treaters… and giving them a fright instead.
Get them used to decorations
Here’s a tip from Zigzag Puppy Coach Emma Judson:
Desensitise and counter condition your dog to Halloween decorations – a lot of them are REALLY terrifying for dogs, which can make your home (if you decorate it) or walks around the neighbourhood scary and stressful.
Set up a safe space
With an influx of strangely dressed visitors, your dog needs a quiet, secure area away from the front door. Choose a familiar room with their favourite toys and bedding, a long-lasting chew, and perhaps some soothing music to mask outside noise.
Zigzag Puppy Coach Heddie Wittlin-Leger suggests:
Halloween does not make dogs feel safe. Set up a cosy dog friendly safe space with new chews or other toys and treats for your pup so they can relax away from the ghosts and ghouls!
Bonfire Night and New Year aren’t far behind, so now’s a good time to start preparing your pup for your neighbours’ pyro hobbies too. Our fireworks article explains how.
How do I keep my dog calm on Halloween night?
A tired dog with a full tummy and a familiar routine copes far better with the evening’s chaos. Keep them busy, keep things predictable and keep the front door as quiet as you can.
Tire them out earlier in the day
Bored dogs go looking for mischief. Zigzag Puppy Coach Susan Gammage suggests:
Take your pup for a long walk or play session earlier in the day, before the night time festivities begin. This will help tire them out and reduce anxiety later. Incorporate puzzle toys, interactive games, and calming activities like scent work to keep your dog occupied throughout the evening. Consider preparing some food-based enrichment activities using a portion of their regular meal to keep them engaged and relaxed.
Stick to their routine
Keep feeding and walking times as normal as possible; consistency goes a long way in unusual times. Feed their main meal before trick-or-treating begins so they can eat in peace.
Ask trick-or-treaters not to knock
Susan also suggests:
Pop a notice on the door asking people not to knock if you have a dog that will react negatively. It’s OK to tell people ‘no trick-or-treaters, scared dog inside.’
Turn it into a training opportunity
Practise “stay” and “leave it” to keep your dog away from hazards, and reward calm behaviour when the doorbell rings or when meeting visitors in extravagant costumes. Every calm moment counts.
What Halloween hazards should dog owners watch out for?
The three big ones are sweets, decorations and an open front door.
Sweets and chocolate
Puppies and Halloween treats can be a bit of a disaster. Store all sweets in secure, high places, and be especially careful with chocolate, xylitol (a sweetener in some sugar-free sweets) and raisins, which are all toxic to dogs. If you suspect your dog has eaten something harmful, contact your vet immediately.
Decorations and lit pumpkins
Keep lit pumpkins, electrical cables and small decorative items out of reach. Zigzag Puppy Coach Lisa Milleret puts it simply:
Pups get into everything, so puppies and Halloween decorations don’t really mix! Make sure you have a dog-friendly Halloween by keeping decorations out of reach, as there can be just so many chew hazards around.
Open doors and escapes
With so much coming and going, the risk of a dash for freedom goes up – and dogs can go in a flash! Make sure your dog wears a collar with up-to-date ID tags and that their microchip details are current, and take extra care each time you open the door.
Should my dog dress up or go trick-or-treating?
Usually, no. Most dogs would rather skip both, and that’s fine.
Costumes
It’s important to know that most dogs find costumes stressful. If you’re confident that your dog feels relaxed and unbothered in a costume, make sure that it fits properly, doesn’t restrict their movement or vision, and that they’re supervised the whole time. If your dog hasn’t had lots of positive experiences with clothing, it’s probably best to keep costumes for the humans. Unfamiliar items can make dogs uncomfortable, which isn’t the goal for a fun night.
Trick-or-treating
Think twice before taking your dog along. Even dogs who aren’t bothered by costumes may not enjoy the excitement as much as you do. Many would much prefer to stay home in their safe space with their favourite toys and enrichment.
What Halloween treats are safe for dogs?
Pumpkin-flavoured dog biscuits and homemade treats made with dog-safe ingredients are a great way to let your pup join in without the risks of human sweets. Let’s see how creative you can get with your “spooky snacks”!
Is pumpkin good for dogs?
Some thoughts on pumpkin from me, Zigzag Puppy Coach Petrina:
Cooked pumpkin is a great tummy settler, as it’s high in fibre and works as a prebiotic to support your dog’s gut. It’s also packed with nutrients, with particularly high levels of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), which is essential for good eye health. Pumpkin is also high in potassium, which aids metabolism and helps to regulate blood pressure. Stick to plain, cooked pumpkin rather than pie filling or anything sweetened or spiced.
Leftover pumpkin can be turned into Halloween treats, or for something even lower effort, slice the skin into strips and bake in a low oven, air fryer or dehydrator to make a tasty chew.
Halloween and dogs: FAQs
Call your vet straight away, even if your dog seems fine, as symptoms can take hours to show. Keep the wrapper and estimate how much was eaten, as this helps your vet judge the risk. Don’t try to make your dog sick unless your vet tells you to.
Look for panting, pacing, hiding, trembling, lip licking, yawning, a tucked tail or showing the whites of their eyes. If you spot these, guide your dog to their safe space and keep the evening as quiet as you can. Our guide to puppy body language explains what each signal means.
Yes. Comforting a frightened dog won’t reinforce their fear, so calm reassurance, a gentle stroke or simply sitting nearby is fine. Follow their lead: some dogs want cuddles, others would rather hide in peace.
It’s best not to leave a nervous dog or young puppy alone during peak trick-or-treating hours, as doorbells and noise can be worse when no one is there. If you must go out, leave them in their safe space with enrichment and put a “please don’t knock” note on the door. If your dog struggles being left at any time of year, read our advice on preventing separation anxiety.
It’s best not to. Carved pumpkins left out for days can go mouldy, and candle wax isn’t something you want your dog chewing. Stick to fresh, plain, cooked pumpkin instead.
The liquid inside is bitter and can cause drooling and an upset tummy, and the plastic is a chew hazard. Keep them out of reach and check the floor after any party.
A week or two is ideal. Short, positive sessions with doorbell sounds, decorations and their safe space give your puppy time to build confidence before the big night. New to puppy parenthood? Our 80+ tips for new puppy owners cover the basics.
Have a terror-ific Halloween!
There you have it! Remember that every dog is unique: some may find witches wicked, others not so bad. Pay attention to your pup’s individual needs and comfort levels throughout the holiday so you know how best to support them. Happy howl-oween!
Oh, and once Halloween is over, read up on your puppy’s first Christmas – we bet you’ve already got some questions on that too.
For more tips and help with your dog at Halloween, download the Zigzag app. Our team of qualified trainers like to creep-it real and will help with any of your questions 24/7.
