Spooky Tips for easily spooked dogs
These tips could help your dog have a happier Halloween this year…
Often times, when things get a bit different or scary, our worried dogs want to be with us… but is that the best place for them? If that puts them somewhere that they may react by growling, barking, lunging, or trying to hide, this can put their people in a pickle. Below are some tips and recommendations which could help make Halloween better for all!
Plan Ahead What will your dog be doing for Halloween? If he or she struggles with loud sounds, children, strange people, costumes, or usual decorations, the best place is probably somewhere quieter away from all of those things. Planning ahead can be really helpful, particularly because some dogs need practice relaxing if the location or context is different.
Exercise & trips outside Plan any exercise in early afternoon the day of, or a nice hike or a good run the day before. Trips out to go to the bathroom would ideally be to a back yard away from activity, or before 3 pm/whenever Spooky activity begins in your neighborhood. Most importantly… ALL TRIPS OUT SHOULD BE ON LEASH CLIPPED TO A SNUG COLLAR OR HARNESS to prevent anyone getting lost or bolting!!
Choose an activity Worried dogs often can often relax if they have a tasty chew or food-stuffed toy to focus on. These types of activities are most always helpful, so long as the dog has had practice! If you think a food puzzle, or perhaps a selection of different food puzzles, could be helpful to get your dog calmly through the evening, give her practice now! You should start her somewhere she is comfortable, and start the puzzle at a level where she is able to chew or lick the food or treats until it’s finished. (and not get too frustrated or give up)
Where would the best place for your dog be? The ideal settling location would be somewhere as far as possible from activity… a room at the back of the house or away from the door… somewhere with a familiar bed, blankets, or a comfy couch is a great option. If you choose a crate, make sure she can crate calmly in a new room or location (some dogs will struggle if the location of their crate is moved).
Noise Management If your dog might be alarmed by the sounds of enthusiastic people, children, or fireworks, setting up your own sounds to drown out or minimize those of the outside world may be a great piece for your plan. White noise machines, fans, calming soundtracks, other music, or even leaving the TV are all options (or a combination of these!)
Put it all together Once your dog has mastered her food puzzle, see if she can work on it for a few minutes in the place you plan her to stay on Halloween night. If she can’t work on the food puzzle alone just yet, sitting with her for a few short food puzzle sessions might help her feel a bit more at ease in the alternate location. Once she’s able to work on a food puzzle (or 3) comfortably, in a safer, quieter location with some background noise, you’ll have a plan to spare her the spooky!
Malli Hutchings is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer located on the Southern End of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.