Happy Howl-oween

By Gillian Ridgeway

Halloween will be upon us this month and while I am not surprised at the number of costumes available for children, I was unaware at how many choices there are for dogs! There was a statistic shown on the television the other night that stated that 31% of all dog owners dress up the family pet for Halloween.

This statistic did not go into any more detail than that, so dressing your dog up for Halloween might include putting a pumpkin colored collar on Sparky for the month of October.

Having worked with dogs for the last 34 years, I can honestly report that this is a relatively new idea. As kids we often dressed up the neighborhood cat in a dolls bonnet and wheeled him around in our toy stoller (and yes, he did stay in it). But the choices for costumes for our dogs is so abundant that they take precedent over the front counter of many pet shops at this time of the year.

Safety must be the number one consideration. Make sure that the costume you pick fits your dog well. It should not be too snug and should allow for free movement. Take care to ensure that it is made of a material that is not flammable. The same safety issues for children should apply to your pets. Reflective tape on the costume will help passing motorists have a clearer view of your pet. Never, under any circumstance, let your dog wear a mask. This will probably cause him a great deal of stress.

Just the wearing of the costume might be a problem for some dogs. Getting your pet’s outfit ready prior to the big night and spending some time getting him used to wearing it is the best idea. To do this simply put the costume on your dog and then feed him a treat or two. Leave it on for just a few minutes at a time, until he understands that by wearing it, good things happen to him!

Having your pet accompany you and the kids while out for trick or treat can be lots of fun. Remember that candy of any kind should not be given to your dog. Carry a few dog biscuits and allow the children to treat Sparky with a treat specially made for him. Keep in mind that any dog that is nervous or has a difficult time with children should be left at home. They will feel much more comfortable curling up by the fire while you dole out the candies at the door.

If you don’t want to participate with costumes, you can still be in the festive spirit. Most dogs don’t mind wearing a bandana and you will have no trouble getting one in a pattern to fit the occasion. A witch, ghost or goblin bandana can be lots of fun. Be safe, keep your dog on a leash, carry a flashlight and have fun. Happy Howloween!

Gillian Ridgeway, AHT, has worked with dogs for over 33 years. She is director of Who’s Walking Who in Toronto and Ajax. A consultant for TorontoBarks.com, Gillian also writes for Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!, Dogs in Canada. She has appeared on Dogs in Canada TV, Global television, Q107 radio and in Toronto Life, and is co-author of the book, “Citizen Canine.” She travels with the Iams SuperDogs Performance team and teaches learning theory at University of Toronto. Gillian can be contacted at 416-465-3626; www.whoswalkingwho.net

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