It’s almost time for Halloween and you know what that means – tricks and treats and lots of fun – but this holiday can be scary and stressful for sweet little Pommies.
To keep your little poof ball from getting spooked this Halloween, we here at Pommy Mommy offer the following tips and hope you and your Pommy have a safe and fun holiday!
- Even if your Pommy can do tricks, hold the treats. All that candy is for the trick-or-treaters, not the four-legged creatures. Chocolate of any kind is dangerous for doggies, and other candy can pose choking hazards. Make sure to keep close tabs on the candy bowl and put it where your Pommy can’t reach it. If you want your Pommy to have a treat, make sure it’s Fido friendly. Pommy Mommy Treat-of-the-Month, anyone?!
If you choose to put a costume on your fur baby, make sure it’s completely safe for your Pommy and isn’t annoying to him or her. Some pets don’t do the dress-up thing well, while others seem to dig it and enjoy the extra attention their costume brings. Make sure the costume doesn’t restrict your Pommy’s movement, sight, hearing or breathing, and check for any small parts or loose material that could cause a problem. If your Pommy seems stressed by the costume, snap the cute photo and then let him or her off the hook with a festive bandanna instead. If you plan to take your pup trick-or-treating in costume, it’s important to have your Pommy practice walking in the costume. What may look adorable on your Pommy could be very cumbersome for your pooch to sport while walking around the neighborhood.
- If you do plan to put your Pommy in costume and strut him down the street for some trick-or-treating, there are several things to consider. Be aware that vehicle and foot traffic will be higher, so keep your little ball of fur on a short leash and close by at all times. It’s also a good idea to get a reflective leash or light-up collar so they can be seen by drivers and all of the little ghouls and goblins running amok. And of course, always make sure your Pommy is wearing ID tags.
Even if you and your Pommy plan to stay in on Halloween, there are plenty of aspects that can be stressful for your pet. If your Pommy is nervous or hyper when trick-or-treaters appear, keep him in a separate room (perhaps with the TV on or the radio playing) during the candy rush hour. If you keep your Pommy around when the princesses and superheros appear, make sure your pooch doesn’t dart for the door and make an escape while you’re handing out the sweet stuff. If you don’t want to keep your canine confined to a certain room, consider having someone in your house stay outside on the porch to greet trick-or-treaters.
- Don’t leave your Pommy unattended outside. Leaving animals outside on Halloween can be dangerous for them. Not only are there more people out, but some of those people might actually be looking to harm pets. Keep your fur baby safe inside.
Even though this holiday can have some pitfalls for Pommies, it’s also possible to have a safe, fun Halloween with your four-legged best friend! Happy Haunting!
