If your dog's least favorite holiday is Halloween (with the possible exception of July 4th), you are not alone!
As much fun as Halloween can be for humans and especially children, it's loaded with all kinds of scary surprises and loud noises as well as safety concerns for our dogs.
But just like humans, dogs experience anxiety for all kinds of different reasons, negatively impacting their well-being and happiness. Understanding how to calm your anxious dog is crucial to helping your dog feel truly well both emotionally and physically.
Let's face it, dogs thrive on humans' being predictable and making them feel safe. How can you build in predictability and calm to help your dog during a holiday that's designed to be anything but?!
Let's jump into exploring the many tricks and techniques you can use to get on top of Halloween to support your dog.
What's your dog's anxiety all about?
While some dogs may take all things Halloween in stride, others need a little help to get through it. Your dog might find many reasons to feel anxious during this aptly named "spooky season."
Dogs are sensitive characters, and their anxiety can stem from various sources. Two of the most common types of anxiety are noise anxiety and social anxiety, and both can pop up frequently around Halloween (and other stressful, everyday moments, of course).
- Noise anxiety - triggered by loud or unusual sounds like thunderstorms or fireworks or even unfamiliar voices outside your home, causing fear and panic
- Social anxiety - triggered when dogs feel uneasy around strangers and other dogs or in unfamiliar settings, resulting in frightened flight or fight behaviors
Identifying the type of anxiety your dog is experiencing is the first step toward finding an effective solution that works for your dog.
Your dog's anxiety is about feeling insecure. It has nothing to do with the fact that your dog actually is physically secure under your watchful eye. It has everything to do with how your dog feels -- an emotional not rational reaction. That's the key to understanding what you can do to keep your pup comfortable and confident.
How to spot signs of anxiety in your dog
With dogs, anxiety signs can be obvious or not so straightforward since they can vary from one stressed dog to another. Common signs include excessive barking, pacing, panting, and trembling. Some dogs may exhibit destructive behavior, such as chewing furniture or digging excessively. Others might become withdrawn, showing a lack of interest in play or food.
You know your dog -- and what is usual, happy behavior, or not. Be sure to observe your dog's behavior closely to identify any patterns or triggers that could be causing anxiety. Understanding these symptoms will help you address your pup's needs more effectively.
How to help your dog feel secure and calm
For many dogs, maybe even most dogs, people coming and going at the front door is already kind of a big deal 365 days a year. The sheer volume of visitors on Halloween can be a LOT for our dogs emotionally, especially when it comes to the dreaded doorbell. Add costumes to the mix, and you have a confused and possibly very anxious dog.
Note: Is your dog anxious when you leave on a normal day? If yes, and if you and your dog are dealing with any level of separation anxiety, Halloween is obviously not a good time to leave your dog home alone with so many sound and visual triggers happening around your home.
A few questions to consider around Halloween...
A Halloween stroll or just stay happily at home?
Taking your dog for a Halloween walk around the neighborhood may seem like a great idea (and for some dogs, it could actually be fun), but for many dogs, encountering so many unfamiliar and masked figures can truly be stressful. The scary noises and many masked people streaming by could leave your dog with constant anxiety throughout Halloween.
What other "fun things" might trigger anxiety for your dog?
From a dog's-eye view, Halloween decorations are often big, overwhelming, and strange-looking. Sometimes they're even designed to emit frightening noises or make unexpected movements - essentially the perfect recipe for fearful reactions in a potentially anxious dog!
Is your dog's body language a yay or nay on wearing costumes?
Who doesn't find dogs in costumes irresistible?! Actually, maybe your dog. Plenty of costumed dogs show all the signals of stressed, fearful behavior: tucked tails, pinned ears, wide eyes, tightly closed mouths. Obviously, you don't want to do anything to add to the stress of an already highly-charged time. If all that sounds like your dog, go for an adorably festive and comfortable bandana, shirt, or sweater instead -- your dog will thank you!
Setting your dog up for success to feel safe and secure
The key is to be proactive and take the necessary steps to ensure your dog's safety and comfort during these times. Below are some tips on how you can help your dog cope with the loud noises and scary surprises of Halloween, and really all events with loud sounds and frightening situations.
Get those evening walks in early, and prepare enrichment activities to keep your dog busy in the evening. Giving your dog his/her own comfortable space away from the commotion can be a welcome relief.
Create an easy-to-access safe haven in your home for your dog
- A safe and quiet space in a separate room is great or even a baby-gated part of a room can be a huge help in managing your dog's fear of loud noises and help create an environment to help your pup stay calm
- You can also have very quiet music playing (many dogs prefer classical music for its calming effect) or use a little white noise to help stifle some of the ruckus and help alleviate noise anxiety.
- Remember positive reinforcement and counter-conditioning with your pup's favorite dog treats or chews throughout the evening to reinforce the positive feelings surrounding your dog's safe space.
What can calm dogs: 3 tried-and-true answers
1) Natural calmers
Natural remedies are a gentle and effective approach to managing dog anxiety. They're a great inside-out option on the list of what can calm dogs effectively. Natural calmers can take the edge off your dog's nervousness and anxiousness in a range of situations.
That's why we created vet-formulated Mighty Calm Chews, blending the power of melatonin, chamomile, and L-tryptophan to promote relaxation and calm for your dog. They're formulated in bacon-flavored chews so your pup will love them as a treat -- and feel happily relaxed at the same time.
2) Mental stimulation
Mental stimulation is another excellent way to ease anxious dogs. Providing interactive toys, puzzles, and lick mats can distract your dog from stressful situations. Engaging your dog's brain shifts their focus away from anxiety-inducing stimuli. Remember, a mentally stimulated dog is often a happier, calmer dog.
A few favorites, designed to work with your dog's instinctive self-soothing and happy-endorphin-releasing act of chewing and licking:
- Yak cheese chews - all-natural long-lasting chews that can help with anxiety and stress by giving your dog the mental stimulation all dogs need. Added bonus: they naturally clean teeth, reducing plaque and tartar to keep your dog's teeth healthy!
- Grass-fed cow knee caps - another long-lasting chew, single ingredient and all natural. High in protein, the meat attached to the kneecaps enhances chewing enjoyment, while the kneecaps themselves are recreational chew bones for prolonged entertainment and mental stimulation.
- Multi-textured lick mat - a great way to help your dog self-soothe with your pup's hardwired love of licking for relaxation. Pro tip: spread it with a dog-healthy peanut butter like our Bark'n Butter that's 100% peanuts, no sugar, no nothing added for a safe and healthful treat.
3) Physical relaxation
Physical activities and techniques can work wonders to reduce anxiety in your dog.
Massage is a simple method that helps relax muscles and reduce tension to calm an anxious dog. Begin with gentle strokes along your dog's back and gradually incorporate circular motions on areas where tension is stored, like the neck and shoulders. Gently massaging your dog's earflaps and area between paw pads (both full of nerve endings) also releases feel-good endorphins and soothes your pup.
Bonus: both you and your pup will love the closeness and quiet bonding time.
A good walk -- especially a sniffari walk where your dog can take all the time in the world to sniff all the sniffs -- also goes a long way to exercising both your dog's body and brain to release energy and settle in calmly after.
Remember Halloween safety concerns
We should all be vigilant about the dangers of chocolate and xylitol in candy, and keep it well out of reach of our dogs. It's also important to be mindful that young dogs especially can easily chew and swallow inappropriate items like decorations or can get snagged and hurt when in costumes while they're unsupervised.
And the big scare: trick-or-treaters often means the front door opening and closing many times, a heightened risk for dogs who might be a flight risk. Another good reason to set up your dog's safe haven at home in advance.
Whatever plans you make around Halloween or any festive event, the main thing is being sure your dog is having fun and feeling safe. After all, isn't that what life with your dog is all about?
Happy, calm Halloween!
At Mighty Paw, we believe in helping all dogs live their healthiest, happiest, and fullest lives by our sides. That's why we're dedicated to finding ways to help you bring more joy, calm, and security to your dog as you enjoy every day and every adventure together.
We're committed to providing high-quality products that are safe, healthful, and practical for everything you need to keep your pup happy and enjoying life with you.
