10/31/2026
🎃 It's October 31st. Let's talk about our dogs. 🐾
Today is one of those days that gets a whole lot of attention. For some people, that means dressing up in costumes, walking through neighborhoods, knocking on strangers' doors, and collecting free candy.
For others, it means decorating their homes, setting up elaborate displays, and finding creative ways to scare the daylights out of unsuspecting people.
Personally, I've never been a big fan of being scared. I'll avoid it at all costs. I don't think being intentionally frightened is funny, and if someone jumps out at me unexpectedly, there's a pretty good chance my instinctive reaction won't be what they were hoping for.
That's exactly why I make an effort to avoid places where people are intentionally trying to frighten others. I don't want to be put in a position where I feel threatened and react defensively, only to be treated like the bad guy because someone else thought scaring me would be entertaining.
And that brings me to something I think is especially important for dog owners to consider today.
🐕 Socialization opportunities and unnecessary risks.
This day of the year can actually present some interesting socialization opportunities!
We've taken young puppies and client dogs out into our driveway to observe people walking by in costumes. We've walked them through neighborhoods during the daytime to see unusual decorations and experience all kinds of sights and sounds they wouldn't ordinarily encounter.
But there's a difference between thoughtfully introducing a dog to new experiences and throwing them into an unpredictable environment they're not prepared to handle.
If your dog can't comfortably walk through your neighborhood on an ordinary evening, Halloween night probably isn't the time to give it a try.
And if you're taking your dog somewhere people are intentionally jumping out and frightening others, I'd encourage you to reconsider.
Intentionally frightening dogs isn't funny.
I know there are people who find it hilarious to watch a dog panic when someone jumps out wearing a scary mask. Sometimes those videos even go viral.
But what happens when that frightened dog slips its collar and runs into traffic? Or disappears into a neighborhood where its family spends the next several days desperately searching?
Those consequences aren't nearly as entertaining as the video someone was hoping to capture.
We absolutely work on building confidence and helping dogs navigate unpredictable environments. But there's a tremendous difference between preparing a dog for something unusual and deliberately terrifying them for entertainment.
🍬 Next, let's talk about all that candy.
Children get excited, candy gets dropped, wrappers blow away, and accidents happen.
Pay attention to what your dog is sniffing around your yard and neighborhood, not just today, but over the next several days.
Chocolate and certain sugar-free candies can be toxic to dogs, and swallowing wrappers can create problems of their own.
And if you have candy in your home, make sure it's stored somewhere your dogs can't access it.
🚪 What about all those people knocking on your door?
If your dog goes bananas every time someone knocks or rings the doorbell, imagine how overwhelming an evening of constant visitors might be.
Kids yelling, strange costumes, unfamiliar smells, people approaching the house over and over again...
For some dogs, that's a LOT.
If you plan to hand out candy, consider setting up outside in your driveway or on the porch rather than repeatedly opening your front door.
You can also allow your dogs to relax in another room, away from all the activity.
And if you don't want to participate at all, that's perfectly reasonable. Nobody is obligated to hand out candy, and nobody is obligated to put their animals through an evening of unnecessary stress.
⚠️ Please be especially mindful of your dogs around the front door.
In our home, our dogs aren't permitted to rush the front door when someone knocks. That's a rule we maintain regardless of the time of year.
But on a day when children are approaching homes wearing masks and unusual costumes, that rule becomes especially important.
A dog standing beside you when you open the door might become frightened or defensive toward a child who has absolutely no intention of causing a problem.
And it only takes a split second for a dog to bolt through an open doorway or for someone to get bitten.
These are preventable situations, but only when we're thinking ahead.
Here's what I really want dog owners to consider today.
Our dogs have absolutely no idea what Halloween is.
They don't understand why children are dressed like monsters, why strangers are approaching their homes, or why people are suddenly jumping out of bushes.
We can't sit them down and explain that everyone is just having fun.
What we CAN do is make thoughtful decisions about the environments we put them in and the situations we expect them to handle.
Some dogs are perfectly capable of observing the festivities without becoming overwhelmed. Others are much better off spending the evening at home, away from the excitement.
And there's nothing wrong with either.
You don't have to stop other people from enjoying their holiday to make responsible decisions for your own animals.
Be mindful of your dogs, respect their limitations, and don't mistake fear for entertainment. 🐾
