How to Keep Your Dog Calm on Halloween Night

There’s nothing like Halloween to make even the most mature of us feel giddy with excitement. Halloween is one of the most beloved holidays for a reason – people of all ages can dress up, eat their favorite sweets and embrace the spookier things in life, all in good fun.

While this time of year is celebrated by just about every American in the country, our dogs may be less enthused about what it entails. Mainly, many dogs are thrown off by the constant noise of strangers appearing at our homes, trick or treating with bags filled with candies. The good news is that there are some things that we can do to keep our precious canines calm while the Halloween festivities take place.

Why are Dogs Prone to Stress on Halloween?

Even the most confident dog in the world can get stressed out on Halloween night, as all pets have specific triggers that can make them feel unsafe. Not all dogs will get stressed out as trick or treaters arrive at your home, but if your dog generally doesn’t do well with unfamiliar sounds and strangers showing up in their territory, it’s good to make preparations beforehand to minimize their distress.

Dogs thrive in predictable environments because their instincts tell them that sudden changes to their environment are dangerous. The sound and sight of a stranger at their door might as well be a dangerous predator in their eyes. Having strangers repeatedly show up within a short period of time can seem chaotic to your dog and cause them to feel overwhelmed.

Signs that your dog is stressed include:

Pacing
Excessive vocalization
Hiding
Disinterest in food
Disinterest in affection
Panting
Excessive grooming
Lethargy
Aggression
Destructive behaviors, like chewing an object in your home

How Can You Soothe a Frazzled Pup on Halloween?

Fortunately, there are some ways to hack your dog’s state of mind so that they are less reactive to the unpredictable environment that takes place each Halloween. The key is keeping their home as calm as possible amidst the activities that occur as trick or treaters arrive.

Tip #1: Create a Hiding Space

A dog’s natural instinct in moments of unsafety is to hide in a confined space from potential danger. You can help support their instincts by creating this type of “safe space” in a quiet room in your home, as far away from the Halloween action as possible. Purchase a covered dog bed or build a fort – anything that makes your dog feel completely concealed.

Tip #2: Neutralize the Noises

We know that dogs don’t react well to sudden, loud noises, and any dog owner who has gotten through a 4th of July with their furry friend will be happy to concur. Halloween comes with its own loud, sudden noises – think of groups of excited children all appearing at your home at once – which is why the key is to drown out the noise wherever your dog will be. Once you’ve established their “safe space,” consider putting on some white noise or calming music on YouTube, which will neutralize the frequencies taking place at your door.

Tip #3: Set Up an Outdoor Station for Trick or Treaters

If your dog stays inside throughout the duration of the evening, you can simply greet your tricker or treaters outdoors so that your dog doesn’t even know that there are people showing up. Get a comfy chair and bring your bowl of candy and meet guests halfway.

Tip #4: Surround Your Dog with Objects of Comfort

Our dogs can feel safer if they are surrounded by comforting objects like their favorite toys and their most beloved blanket. The familiar smells of these objects can compensate for the unpredictable nature of what’s going on outside.

Tip #5: Stay on Schedule with Feeding and Other Parts of Their Routine

Dogs are creatures that value routine, again because it plays into their desire for the predictable. Throwing their schedule out of whack can therefore naturally make them feel quite insecure and uneasy. This is challenging during holidays, and especially on Halloween. When we have to prioritize people who show up at unexpected times throughout the day and night.

Make every effort to feed your dog at the same time you normally do. And let them into the yard, so that their schedule is not thrown off in any way. This will make them feel more secure that nothing is wrong.

Tip #6: Keep Your Dog at Home

You should consider keeping your dog at home on Halloween night. Rather than taking them out for a walk around the neighborhood. Your dog doesn’t understand that potentially scary-looking costumes are worn in fun, by perfectly harmless people. Also, Halloween is an exciting time for all of us. And this means that children and parents alike can be quite noisy as they walk down the streets of your area. What all of this means for your dog is that the sights and sound of Halloween can trigger their fight-or-flight response, and cause them to behave unpredictably as a result.

If you do feel that it’s better to take your dog out on Halloween night. Simply follow these quick tips to keep them as calm as possible.

Tip #1: Keep your dog leashed and as close to your body as possible.
Tip #2: Be mindful of your surroundings so that you can predict when a stress trigger may appear.
Tip #3: Avoid letting children pet your dog since your dog will likely be on edge and therefore be feeling less social.

Tip #7: Give CBD a Try

Halloween might be the perfect occasion for giving CBD to your dog. Along with any time when your canine is showing signs of stress or anxiety. CBD, or cannabidiol, is nontoxic and non-psychoactive to dogs and humans alike. Being a natural and legal derivative of the hemp plant. Because CBD is a cannabinoid, it interacts with cannabinoid receptors in your dog’s nervous system which are tasked with regulating functions including stress response.

Tip: If you’re going to give your dog CBD this Halloween, make sure that it is formulated specifically for pets. This ensures that it contains dog-friendly ingredients and has a milligram strength that’s appropriate for their body. Follow the dosing instructions that come with the product and consider going with a CBD dog treat. Which is easy to administer or add CBD oil to their food.

Keep Your Dog Safe, Happy, and Calm this Halloween

There’s no doubt that Halloween can be a time for us to have a lot of fun. But the same can’t be said for our dogs. The good news is that there are some simple tips that you can follow to ensure that your dog doesn’t experience any more stress than necessary. And, if you want to try giving them CBD to ease their nerves, you’ve come to the right place as

CBDDY offers lab-tested, all-natural dog treats and oils infused with the perfect amount of CBD for their bodies.

How to Keep Your Dog Calm on Halloween Night