A Howling Good Time
How to have a safe and fun Halloween with your dog—and kids, too.
For many, Howl’oween is the most popular event on the pet calendar. Going trick-or-treating is a wonderful way to have some family fun and spend good quality doggie time together. But let’s get real; it’s not about the tricks, it’s all about the treats.
During the festivities, it’s essential that you keep an eye on all the treats—both coming and going— to prevent your pets from eating anything that could potentially make them sick. You also need to ensure your pets can’t access the kids’ treat stash when no one is looking. (Chocolate is toxic for dogs and candy is as bad for canine teeth as it is for humans.
Fortunately for your canine companions, most doggy bakeries go to town for Howl’oween, making biscuits in all sorts of appropriately festive shapes—witches, bats and ghosts. It is also really easy to make your own. You could even turn the baking into a fun pre-Halloween family event. No doubt your dog will be only too happy to be on hand to taste test.
Author/chef Cheryl Gianfrancesco has a new book called “Doggy Desserts” (CompanionHouse Books) and it features some fun recipes that your dog and neighborhood pooches will enjoy. Below are two of them.
Trick-or-Treating Safety
Children should never be in charge of the dog during their neighborhood outings; there are far too many distractions. Holding a flashlight and a candy bag is probably all they can handle. Instead, make sure your dog is on a strong leash with an adult on the other end. You should also be careful about letting your dog go up to a front door in case the resident pooch is not amenable to visiting canines.
In addition, remember that not every dog will like to dress up in full costume, some of which can be really stifling. A fun bandana or a glow-in-the-dark collar and leash are good alternatives for dogs who don’t like wearing a getup but enjoy getting into the spirit of the occasion.
Lastly, be sure to take plenty of water along for your dog to lap up in route and double check that he’s wearing ID.
About the Author: Sandy Robins is the 2013 winner of the “Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contribution to the Pet Industry Award.” Her work appears on many of the country’s leading pet platforms, such as MSNBC.com, MSN.com and TODAYShow.com. She is a regular contributor and columnist in multiple national and international publications, including Catster, as well as the author of the award-winning books “Fabulous Felines: Health and Beauty Secrets for the Pampered Cat” and “For The Love of Cats.” Learn more about Sandy on her website or Facebook page. #welovecats
Even though stores have been displaying Halloween-themed items since August, we’ve finally reached the holiday’s home month, which is why I’m giving you a look at some of the fun new costumes that are available for all kinds of pets.
The Tarantula made video news last year when a man dressed his small dog up as a giant spider and terrorized those out for their evening walk (don’t do that; it’s a good way to get your dog seriously injured). Instead, try out a startling lifelike fuzzy tarantula from Zack & Zoey. If also offers other creepy costumes, such as a scorpion, as well as a plethora of adorable ones (mermaid, dragon, owl, giraffe and more). You can find Zack & Zoey costumes at Amazon.com, BaxterBoo.com and other online retailers as well as several independent pet stores.
Your dog might also make a great dinosaur and if that’s the case, check out the range of costumes by Animal Planet. You can dress up your dog as a stegosaurus, raptor or triceratops. And if dinosaurs aren’t your thing, you could select from a wide variety of critters by Animal Planet, including bats, butterflies, whales, sharks, tortoises, zebras, etc. The costumes are available from Amazon.com and other online retailers.
New this year for dogs is the Troll costume, which will also be the star attraction in theatres this fall. The Troll is part of the new AKC Pet Costume line by BH Pet Gear, which features a variety of fun, adorable, comfortable and safe dress-up options, including an elephant, shark, monkey, pumpkin, wonder dog and devil. All the AKC-brand costumes are available online and in independent pet stores.
If you’re not sure your dog would enjoy wearing a costume (and many dogs are not interested in doing so), then don’t force them. There are many other options, such as specially designed paint for pets from 
Cats rarely submit to wearing a costume, but there are some who willingly (or grudgingly) accept playing dress up. There are a few costume options for those of you with obliging cats. 
If you cannot get your cat into a costume without risking bodily harm, consider dressing yourself up with your cat as a prop. You could have your cat on hand for picture or two and then replace her with a stuffed animal while you’re at parties or out roaming the neighborhood. One of my favorites is Alice in Wonderland the Cheshire Cat. You could even pick up a 
