What to look for in a dog costume:

·        Comfort

·        Tails, ears, and eyes should not be covered, tangled, or pinned

·        Costume should be loose enough to move freely but not so large to be tripped over

·        Never ride a dog as part of the costume (or ever!), as it can lead to early arthritis and overall pain for the animal

 

Overcome or prevent fear of costume:

·        Introduce your dog to the costume ahead of time

·        Dogs should wear costumes under adult supervision only

·        Drape the costume loosely across the dog’s body to start

·        Practice putting it on and taking it off around the house prior to Halloween

·        Treat the dog while he is wearing the costume

·        Smooth out the dog’s skin and fur under the costume so that the dog does not feel pinched

 

Keep dogs safe and calm during Halloween by being proactive:

·        Human costumes can be very scary; offering treats in environments where there are humans wearing costumes can help dogs stay relaxed

·        Keep your own face uncovered around your dog

·        Halloween candy is unsafe for dogs. Never feed a dog Halloween candy! If a dog finds and consumes candy on his own, he may need medical attention quickly.

·        Trick or treaters ringing doorbells may get dogs worked up, so set up an environment with gates and enrichment or put the dog in another room

·        Dogs should wear their identification collars (and be microchipped) at Halloween in case they are spooked and dart away

 

View the full TV segment.