How to Make Halloween Less of a Nightmare for Your Pup

If you want to include your dog in this year’s festivities we’ve put together a few things you’ll want to do to ensure you all have a fun and safe night!

Safety first

Remember that Halloween can be a fright fest for your dog. From constant doorbell ringing to chocolate everywhere, it’s wild how quickly your home can turn into a house of horrors. Staying alert and taking necessary precautions to keep your pup safe and sound will ensure you both enjoy your night.

Keep tabs (and tags) on your pup

First, make sure your pup is microchipped or wearing a collar with an updated ID tag. In the event that he or she is spooked and runs off, this can help them return home safely. If you’re planning to take the dog around the neighborhood with you consider a reflective collar or one that lights up so everyone can see them.

Ditch the doorbell

If your pup is easily startled or over-excited by the doorbell, consider standing outside to give out treats (weather permitting) and leave your pup inside. This way, there is no constant ringing of the bell. Not handing out treats? Temporarily disabling your doorbell or posting a sign can help keep trick or treaters from accidentally terrorizing your pup!

Secure your candy stash

Speaking of treats, the smell of peanut butter wafting off your Reese’s cups may be too much for your pup to resist. So keep your candy stash out of paws reach, OK? If you have little ones in the house, take the time to educate them about the dangers of feeding candy to dogs and keep a close eye on them when they’re endulging themselves.

Beware of dangers in disguise

Costumes can be tricky for your dog too, so if you’re planning to dress your dog up, just remember not to leave them unattended in a costume; they could overheat, get their costume caught, or ingest a piece of their Halloween couture.Be sure to give them plenty of breaks from playing dress-up. If your dog is showing any sign of discomfort or stress in their costume, remove it ASAP.

Choose dog-friendly decorations

Plastic bones and rubber animals may look an awful lot like dog toys without the pup-proof design. You don’t want your pup to get ahold of anything they can chew up or choke on. Remember to supervise your dog properly around any decorations you put up, particularly the ones that may look tasty to a curious pup.

To make things extra safe, consider decorating with Halloween dog toys. As a bonus, your pup will have plenty of enrichment.

Flashing lights, talking decorations, or life-sized inflatables can be spooky to your pup. If these are popular in your neighborhood, plan your walk routes carefully this time of year. While humans may find fun in a good scare, your dog won’t understand it’s just play.

Pick your treats wisely

While we humans load up on candy, caramel apples, or a cauldron punch, you might want to consider healthier indulgences for your dog. There are many delicious fall flavors your pup can enjoy that won’t make them sugar high or pack on the pounds.

Apples and pumpkins are both delicious and great for pups. In fact, at Ollie, we pack our Turkey Recipe with delicious pumpkin to provide a healthy dose of fiber and essential vitamins and minerals.

Indoor activities for everyone

If your pup would just prefer a quiet night at home, there’s plenty of fun to be had indoors on this dark and spooky night.

If the kids are into carving pumpkins, grab a few and set everyone up in the kitchen to carve. You can pop on a favorite halloween movie while you work. The Nightmare Before Christmas, Frankenweenie, and Hocus Pocus are always great choices.

For you dog, consider roasting up some fresh pumpkin as a well-timed snack. You can puree the roasted pumpkin and offer as a topping for their Halloween dinner or use it to bake some special home made treats.

We recommend making a pumpkin cheesecake.

You’ll need:

• 1 small ramekin or mini pie pan per pup
• Dog treats to crush for a “crust” (We recommend Bocce’s Bakery Unicorn Shake or Lazy Dog Cookie Co. Roasted Vanilla Muttmallows but you can use anything your dog likes)
• 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon cream cheese
• A sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)
• Whipped cream (also optional)

To assemble the cheesecake:

Crush your dog treats and fill the bottom of your ramekin or pie tin
Spread the pumpkin puree over the crushed dog treats
Layer the cream cheese on top of your pumpkin or swirl it through the pumpkin

Top with whipped topping and a dash of cinnamon if you like. If you have left over treat crumbs you can also sprinkle those on top as well.
Place the cheesecake in front of your pup and watch them chow down!

If the cheesecake isn’t right for your pup, check out our roundup of 5 Healthy Halloween Treats or 9 easy pumpkin dog treats for some additional ideas!

However you decide to spend the evening, we wish you have a safe and very happy Halloween!

The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.com.