Halloween is a time of costumes, decorations, and spooky fun for humans but it can be a stressful season for many dogs. Every year, I see a slew of social media videos showing clearly scared dogs while people laugh or pull on their leash to force an interaction between the dog and the scary thing. Dogs scared by lawn inflatables, backing away from costumed visitors, barking at moving or noisy decorations, or giving skeltons the side-eye and all these humans thinking it is funny.
It is not.
As I’ve written before, fear is not disobedience. Fearful dogs do not need corrections, they need help feeling safe. Dogs do not understand your intent and marching a scared dog up to an inflatable to show them it is harmless does not make them braver, it just increases their stress. Forcing an interaction like this is called flooding and it will do more harm than good. You won’t prove to your dog the thing is not scary but you will prove to them that you’re part of things that are scary.
This holiday season, let’s make an effort to protect our dogs, learn how to read their body language, respect it and reduce the risk of bites. Dogs understand safe and unsafe and they get to decide which is which. What seems harmless to us, like decorations, costumes, or noisy toys, may be scary to them. And the dog gets to decide what’s scary, not us. Your job as a guardian is to help them feel safe, not laugh at their fear.
Remember: No is not a behavior. Scolding or correcting a fearful dog only teaches them that communicating fear is wrong, which can lead to more serious problems. Focus on behavior modification, not suppression.
5 Ways to Help Protect Your Dog This Halloween
- Skip trick-or-treating: Leave your dog at home where they’ll feel safer and less overwhelmed by costumes and crowds.
- Post a sign on your door: Ask visitors not to knock or ring the bell to reduce stress and barking. Grab my free downloadable sign here.
- Use a baby gate: Place one at the door threshold if you’ll be handing out candy to prevent door dashing or accidental escapes.
- Create a safe zone: Set up a quiet space away from the door with a noise machine, cozy bedding, and long-lasting enrichment like a stuffed Kong or lick mat.
- Stay calm and comfort them: Don’t yell if they’re barking. And yes, you can comfort them if they’re afraid.
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Happy training!
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