5 tips to help your dog behave this Halloween
From brooms to black cats, Halloween decor can create chaos
Halloween used to be a good time for haunted houses, chocolate and sugary candy, fun costumes, wild home decor and trick-or-treaters, but pets have made holiday enthusiasts move differently. As with fireworks on the Fourth of July, pet owners’ ears are on high alert for their dogs’ sake. Even common sounds like ambulance sirens and smoke alarms can leave new pet owners in panic mode, hoping the dogs don’t wake up the entire block.
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Then here comes Halloween to add another level of confusion to the mix. For first-time pet owners, these weeks of haunting will leave pet owners with more questions than answers. What food can dogs eat? Which costumes are OK? Where should the Halloween decor go? This FetchaDate video answers some of the most frequently asked questions.
But here are some tips for common household decor that you can help your dog prepare for before the Halloween festivities start.
Recommended Read: “Before you have that holiday party, prep your dog ~ How not preparing your dog for strangers can ruin the Christmas and New Year’s festivities”
Brooms: Your dog does not understand the purpose of this thing, whether it’s a rectangular combination of polyester fiber or full of corn husks. Puppies see brooms as a moment of combat. That is, until they learn the fun (and annoying) art of constantly kicking or nudging balls underneath the couch, leaving their owners crawling underneath to collect these balls — over and over again. Here’s where the broom becomes a perk. Start using the broom handle instead of your own body to push the toys out. Eventually your dog will stop growling and barking while you sweep, and connect the broom to a toy retriever. Now you can enjoy your Halloween witch decor in peace.
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Candles: Both of my grandmothers were heavy churchgoers. I am not. But there was one thing I was fascinated by — my maternal grandmother constantly lighting candles. I collect candles, too, and light one just about every single day. When the wicks burn out on one, I’ve got essential oils, plug-ins and another candle ready to go. I worried about this multi-decade old habit with a new puppy, although I really didn’t have to.