Doggone Etiquette —

Halloween

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

Halloween is a special day of the year when a great many of you dogs will be included in at least some of the “fun” things gong on. You may be dressed up to look either funny or spooky, depending on how your VIPeople see you. But some of you probably won’t get the joke or might even be spooked yourself. There’s no accounting for taste when it comes to Halloween costumes, whether you are a dog or a person. (The kids are lucky – they get to choose what they want to look like.) But there’s more to this holiday – like contests, parties and lots of candy, cookies, and noise. Let’s see where you fit into the picture.

A Word to the Dog’s owner:             

We talk about this every year, but there are always first-time dog owners out there who may need a little help in order to see this Halloween business from their dogs’ point of view. For starters, since it is also known as All Saints day, please believe me, not all dogs are saints!           

You will need to know what your dog’s reaction will be to everything that goes on during this mythical night for kids. Things such as strangers coming to the door (and on this night it could be a group of people) and knocking, or ringing the doorbell. Kids in costumes, carrying strange objects and/or making weird sounds can startle or actually frighten any dog, but it can also bring on an aggressive reaction. After all, Rufus is only protecting you and his home from monsters – from his viewpoint, of course.          

Keep the dog on leash as you go to the door for the first few trick-or-treaters, and watch how he reacts. If he’s overjoyed by these strange visitors, you’ve got it made. You could put Rufus on a sit-stay (after he has sniffed the kids) while you hand out treats. But if there’s any sign of fright or fight from Rufus, put him safely in another room where he won’t be confronted with the pandemonium. In other words, play this game by the dog’s take on the event. Don’t push it.         

Then there’s the owner’s desire to really include Rufus in the holiday spirit. There are those whose dogs enjoy nothing more than showing off how great they look in whatever costume has been chosen for them. Just be cautious when it comes to covering the dog’s eyes, ears, or nose. Sight, sound, and scent are his primary sources of what is going on in his world. Rufus can’t get out of the costume – safely, that is – by himself, so be sure no part of it is restrictive, particularly around the dog’s neck and/or legs. Remove any bit of a costume that might come loose and cause him to trip, or that Rufus could chew off and swallow.                

Many dog clubs or groups have special costume parades for the dogs, followed by some form of party for their people. Be sure to join in the fun, even if your Rufus turns down any thoughts you may have of dressing him up. A clown he may be, but definitely without the need of a costume. An easy solution that might satisfy both of you would be to tie a Halloween bandana under or over his collar.  

All this is just to say, let Rufus join in the fun if he goes along with it, but be aware of any dangers that he cannot foresee. As for the trick-or-treat candy and other goodies, you can have him perform whatever tricks he knows, but treats are the “for dogs only” variety. The same goes for any four-legged tricksters that may come to your door.

Until next time – BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.