Halloween can be a stressful time for our furry kids. Before the excitement of October 31st, let’s all hit pause and take a moment to make sure we are setting them up for success that day.
Our pets thrive on routine. They know, like an internal clock, what should happen when. If your alarm regularly goes off at 7 am, you can be assured they will be staring over you at 6:59 to monitor the situation. If you normally feed them breakfast at 8 am, they will corner you at 8:01, telepathically reminding you that you have forgotten, and that they are now on the brink of starvation. If you ordinarily return home at 5 pm, they will be sitting where there is a bird’s eye view of the driveway by 4:59. And if you generally go to bed around 11 pm, they will be rushing up the stairs at 10:59 to make sure they get there first to steal the entire pillow.
Holidays can throw a curveball at them though because our routine changes, which means their routine changes. This gives them a base level of anxiety, not fully knowing what to expect. Now throw on top of that the extra zigs and zags that Halloween sneaks in, and it can make for a stressful night for our furry friends.
Look at the different perspectives, from your our dog’s viewpoint.
People Halloween is filled with the excitement of dressing up and becoming someone completely different for one day a year. Pet Halloween is filled with the confusion of why these strangely dressed beings are in my house, and where did my familiar people go? It also comes with special face paints and costume accessories that can land on the floor during that transformation, becoming novel objects for me to investigate and probably eat. I heard that could be dangerous for me.
People Halloween is filled with the unexpected surprise of who it will be each time the doorbell rings. Pet Halloween is filled with the stress of that doorbell ringing over and over again, each time sending me into high alert to protect my home from all these strangers. I vacillate back and forth between the stress of fight barking and flight hiding, which honestly becomes mentally and physically exhausting. All that hyper-arousal increases my heart-rate, breathing-rate, and cortisol levels (that’s my stress hormone and I get a surge of it when I’m nervous). I read that could be dangerous for me.
People Halloween is filled with connecting with neighbors and making new friends as they knock on the door looking for tricks or treats. Pet Halloween is filled with swirling ideas of how to squeeze a peak through that door. So many people walking around that might want to play with me. Maybe the next time the door opens I could just scoot out for a quick gander. Mom worries that if I was all by myself outside, especially when it’s dark, it’s hard for cars to see me. She says that could be dangerous for me.
People Halloween is filled with the strange custom of buying candy that you don’t like so you won’t be tempted to eat it all yourself. Pet Halloween is filled with the impossible will power challenge not to dip my entire head into the huge candy bowl you have sitting by the door to give away to all those colorful strangers. Since willpower is not really in my wheelhouse, I will usually fail this challenge. Chocolate and sweeteners are toxic to us dogs, and it wouldn’t take too many stolen treats for me to become seriously ill. My vet said that could be dangerous for me.
People Halloween is filled with all the little people in my house returning home with decorated bags filled with the biggest variety of treats any canine could imagine. They like to spread it out across the floor to find the treasures they want to savor and the bazingas they plan to trade away. My mind races as I go through each scenario of how I could stealthily creep in and try a few….. they smell sooo good. Those little humans each save their stashes so they can keep enjoying it over the days and weeks to come. But when they go out to school or play they usually forget about it which gives me my chance. I know my mom says “no” since “that’s not good for you”, but they probably won’t miss just a few pieces……. Though, I know, that could be dangerous for me.
Now let’s jump back into pet parent perspective.
October 31st is one of the most fun nights of the year for us humans. But it can put our furry kids under a lot of stress and in the cross-hairs of many potential dangers.
It will only take a little bit of pre-planning to help them stay relaxed and safe for Halloween evening.
Set up a room, far away from the trick-or-treat door, to be their sanctuary for the evening. A comfy bed, warm blankets and pillows, some soft lighting…. all the makings of a great spa night.
Play relaxing music, like Enya (my favorite) or those “Through a Dogs’ Ear” compilations that have been scientifically created to reduce canine anxiety (my dogs’ favorite). Slow peaceful music can truly set the stage for a more tranquil mindset.
Diffuse or spray “ComfortZone with Adaptil DAP” (Dog Appeasing Pheromone). This scent is reminiscent of their mothers back when they were puppies, and can trigger a calming response in their brains. Even many vets are using it in their clinics these days. You could also diffuse essential oils like lavender or chamomile, which have also been shown to have a soothing effect.
Anxiety pressure wraps, like the “ThunderShirt” or “MellowShirt”, can also help our pets achieve improved inner serenity. They work by putting gentle constant pressure around their core, like a non-stop hug. The idea was developed by animal science and behavior professor Temple Grandin, to help with emotional disturbances that can occur with autism.
Complimentary supplements can be another addition to our multi-pronged approach. “Composure” by VetriScience provides colostrum, L-Theanine, and vitamin B1 working synergistically toward a more restful state of being. “Bach Rescue Remedy for Pets” uses flower essences to target emotional well-being. There are also homeopathic remedies aimed at relieving animal angst.
If we’re lucky enough to have a second human with us, they could be in the sactuary room with our dog, practicing basic commands and rewarding positive behavior with treats. This can distract them and keep their focus on something fun.
Energy work, like Reiki, can be a wonderfully supportive treatment toward more zen-like doggies. It can even be done as distance sessions so that anyone from anywhere can have access to its benefits. Body work, like massage, is another helpful therapy to try while working toward that zen goal. There are resources available to teach techniques for safe home canine massage so that you can learn how to do it yourself. Both are amazing ways to bond with your pup. (Visit me at HandToPaw.com to learn more about these two paths to holistic pet wellness.)
If you still notice your dog struggling with the over-stimulation of Halloween, or any other holiday, situation, or weather event, talk to your vet. There are medications they may find appropriate to trial, either “as needed” or ongoing, that can cautiously sedate your pet during extra stressful times to help them find their way through to the other side.
If they can experience these times with less worry, using the help of medical intervention, it could begin to gradually desensitize them so that eventually they no longer relate those situations to negative emotions, or at least to have a more manageable reaction to them. The hope is that, after some successful desensitization experiences, these other non-medical modalities we talked about could help them all on their own in the future.
Ultimately, there is no one right or wrong way to help them during stressful times, so if you’re trying any of the ideas, you’re doing great. And it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, so try even just one idea or a combination of them. A little creative thinking and pre-planning goes a long way to help Pet Halloween be a safe and worry free experience for all of our BFFs (Best Furry Friends).