How to Keep Your Dog Safe on Halloween
To keep your dog safe on Halloween, make sure it's wearing a collar with ID tags on it in case it escapes. If you're worried about how your dog will react around trick-or-treaters or guests in costumes, keep it sectioned off in another part of the house using a baby gate, or close it in a separate room. Also, make sure you keep any Halloween candy out of reach since candy can be toxic to dogs. If you're going to dress your dog in a costume, supervise it at all times in case it gets stuck or tangled up.
Keep candy dishes out of your dog’s reach. Halloween candy is not a safe treat for your dog, so make sure to put it up where your dog cannot get at it. Some types of candy may cause your dog intestinal distress, while others may be toxic or pose a choking hazard. Get a box of dog biscuits that your dog likes so you can give your dog a couple on Halloween. For a healthier treat, you might offer your dog: Apple slices Carrot slices (cooked) Banana slices Berries Broccoli (cooked) Green Beans (cooked) Sweet potato slices (cooked) Watermelon slices Hang decorations high to prevent your dog from getting tangled. Halloween banners, strings for hanging spiders and skeletons, and other parts of your décor may pose a hazard for your pet. Make sure to keep these up and out of your dog's reach. Try hanging your decorations from the ceiling or along the wall near the ceiling. Avoid hanging anything low to the ground or from the edge of a table or counter. Keep wires out of your dog's reach to prevent it from chewing them. Dogs can get electrocuted by chewing on exposed wires. Make sure that you keep all wires extending from your Halloween decorations well hidden from your pet, or keep them high enough so your pet cannot reach them. Try covering wires with area rugs and taping down other parts of the wire with electrical tape. Or, keep wires up on the wall using tape or hooks. Use flameless candles in your jack-o-lantern. Your dog may get curious about your jack-o-lantern, and possibly even knock it over. If you have a candle in your jack-o-lantern, this could start a fire. Keep your dog and your home safe by placing flameless candles in your jack-o-lanterns. You may also want to keep your jack-o-lantern up on a high table or counter to prevent your dog from messing with it. Also, make sure to use flameless candles that will not pose a choking hazard for your dog if it gets them. Call your vet if your dog seems sick. If you happen to notice that your dog has eaten something it shouldn't have, watch your dog closely for symptoms. If your dog starts showing symptoms, call your vet or the ASPCA's poison control hotline at 1 (888) 426-4435 (in the US). Some serious symptoms to watch for include: Vomiting or not being able to keep anything down Straining to defecate or vomit Pacing Mucus or blood in the stool Sudden weight loss General weakness Diarrhea Choose a costume that fits your dog and is free from hazards. Most dog costumes are safe for your dog to wear, but it is still a good idea to check the costume carefully before you buy it. Check to be sure that the costume fits your dog comfortably and is not too tight or too loose on your pet. Also, ensure that there is nothing on the costume that could pose a hazard to your dog, such as: Small pieces your dog could chew off and choke on String or cord that could get tangled around your dog's limbs or neck Any components that would prevent your dog from seeing, eating, barking, hearing, moving, or breathing See how your dog reacts to wearing a costume. While you may think your dog looks adorable dressed as a hot dog, your dog might not be as enthusiastic. Put the costume on your dog and watch to see how your dog reacts. If your dog immediately starts chewing at the costume, trying to get it off with its paws, or if your dog seems agitated, apathetic, or frightened, then it is likely not enjoying having a costume on. Take the costume off your dog right away if you notice this type of reaction. If your dog dislikes wearing a costume, try putting a festive collar or bandana on your dog instead. Supervise your dog at all times while it is wearing the costume. Even if your dog seems to love the costume and the costume seems safe for it to wear, you should still pay close attention to your dog while it is wearing the costume. Your dog may still get caught on furniture or encounter other difficulties as a result of wearing the costume. You may also want to remove the costume when your dog goes out to the bathroom to avoid getting the costume dirty. Be sure to take the costume off your dog at the end of the night, or whenever your dog seems like it would like to be free from it. Place an ID tag on your dog’s collar in case it gets lost. If you will be entertaining guests or handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, then your door will be opened and closed many times throughout the course of the night. This comes with the risk that your dog may get out without you noticing. If your dog happens to get out and get lost, having an ID tag on its collar will make it easier for someone to bring it back to you. Make sure that the ID tag includes your full name, current address, and phone number. Keep your dog on a leash if you take them out. If you plan to go out trick-or-treating with your dog, make sure to put a sturdy, short leash on your dog to keep it safe. Even if your dog is very obedient and great with kids, having your dog on a leash will help to ensure that it is safe. Use a strong, nylon leash that is no more than 6 ft (1.8 m) long. You may also consider putting a harness on your dog. This is especially useful if your dog tends to pull when you walk it. Use gates to keep your dog confined to an area of your home. Baby gates can help to prevent your dog from coming to the door every time a trick-or-treater or guest arrives. Try confining your dog to a room or an interior area of your home so that it cannot go near the door. For example, If you will be handing out candy to trick-or-treaters from your front porch, then put a gate up so that your dog cannot access the porch. If your living room separates your dog from the front door, then put up a gate so that your dog cannot get into the living room. Pay attention to how your dog reacts to people in costumes. Before you let your dog around kids and adults in costumes, you may want to put on a costume to see how your dog reacts to it. Costumes can be confusing for dogs, so your dog may react by running in fear, or it may become aggressive and bark or even try to bite. If your dog seems distressed by a costume, then keep your dog away from people in costumes entirely. You may notice that your dog is only distressed by certain types or aspects of costumes, such as masks or hats. In this case, you could ask your guests to remove that part of their costume. However, still be very cautious and watch your pet. If your dog shows aggression, do not allow it to greet trick-or-treaters or take it out trick-or-treating with you. Children may unknowingly try to pet your dog and it could cause serious harm to a child if it bites them out of fear. Play white noise to drown out the sound of people outside. If you notice that your dog seems skittish or agitated by the sounds of trick-or-treaters outside, then put on something to drown out the noise or mask it slightly. Turn on a fan, play rain sounds, or turn on the TV to help drown out the noise. You may also want to move your dog to a quieter part of your home during trick-or-treating hours if it seems distressed. Create a safe haven in a spare room if your dog seems distressed. If all of the commotion and excitement of Halloween is too much for your pet, then create a safe space for them in your bedroom or in another room of your house. Put food, water, your dog's bed, and a few toys into the room with your dog. Check on your dog once every 30 to 60 minutes, but don't let it out until the festivities are over. Make sure that you can close the door and your dog won't be able to get out. 
Keep candy dishes out of your dog’s reach. Hang decorations high to prevent your dog from getting tangled. Keep wires out of your dog's reach to prevent it from chewing them. Use flameless candles in your jack-o-lantern. Call your vet if your dog seems sick. Choose a costume that fits your dog and is free from hazards. See how your dog reacts to wearing a costume. Supervise your dog at all times while it is wearing the costume. Place an ID tag on your dog’s collar in case it gets lost. Keep your dog on a leash if you take them out. Use gates to keep your dog confined to an area of your home. Pay attention to how your dog reacts to people in costumes. Play white noise to drown out the sound of people outside. Create a safe haven in a spare room if your dog seems distressed. 