Dear Critter Corner: This is our pup’s first Halloween. He tends to be cautious and has been startled by decorations while on our walks. Do you have any suggestions for Halloween night?
Holidays are a fun time, but for some pups, it can be a difficult time. Many are like your pup and get easily startled by the decorations or the extra guests coming to the home. Some are bolder and give in to the temptation of food left on counters.
When we have pups that are cautious of their surroundings or new people or things, we want to set their environment up so that they can experience the new item from a distance they are comfortable with. This will allow them to decide if it is safe or not. You, of course, can be a cheerleader and reward them for being brave, even if it is just to continue with the walk.
If you have a pup that is nervous of guests in the home or likes to alert the whole block that they have a guest, you can try some of these tips to make it easier for your pup. You can place them in another room with something to occupy their time and have a TV or radio on to help buffer the noise. If your pup is a door-dasher, you could use baby gates to limit their access to the front door.
If your pup likes to counter surf, be sure that any candy or other off-limits items are kept out of reach from your pup. You can use baby gates to limit access to certain rooms when you are not around to watch. This will ensure that your pup does not eat anything that is hazardous for them.
Be patient with your pup if they are struggling with the decorations or costumes. Remember, they don’t understand why we humans love to dress up once a year. Have a safe and fun holiday!
Tasha Suda is the Lead Dog Trainer for the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA Behavior Department. For more information, please visit www.phs-spca.org, call 650-340-7022 x314 or email tsuda@phs-spca.org.