You can celebrate Halloween with your dog and make it a fun, spooktacular holiday. Whether you want to dress in matching theme costumes or have your pup involved in trick-or-treating, these tips offer fun ways to celebrate Halloween while keeping your dog safe.
And if your pet hates costumes, don’t despair – there are many other ways to celebrate spooky season together. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but my dog doesn’t like to wear elaborate costumes, which helped us devise other creative ways to commemorate the season.
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Pup-tacular Costumes
The first obvious way to celebrate Halloween with your dog is by donning costumes. You can go all out and have a matching costume theme, or each wear your own spooky costume. Some fun theme ideas include skeletons (this one is usually pretty easy with people and dog skeleton hoodies), food costumes (such as tacos, hot dogs, etc.), and movie-themed costumes (such as Barbie, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, etc).
Some of our favorite costumes this year are:
Dog USPS Delivery Driver is a cute and fun way to celebrate that dogs can love the mail carrier. The costume includes a priority mail delivery box and a USPS shirt and hat.
Hotdog Dog Costume is a favorite and highly rated dog costume from Chewy. The hotdog ensemble includes a fully loaded hotdog that your pup can sport for Halloween festivities.
The Sesame Street Cookie Monster Costume is an adorable way to show your dog’s love for treats and steal many hearts in the process.
Try the Happy Cow Dog Costume to allow your pet to try on a different species. This popular spotted cow dog costume is one of the highest-rated costumes on Chewy.
Invoke spooky vibes with this Glow in the Dark Skeleton Dog Costume, a popular and stylish option for the pup who prefers hoodies to costumes.
If your dog is not a fan of costumes, you can still get them in the spirit of #spookyszn with a Halloween bandana or accessory. My dog doesn’t like wearing clothing but has no problem with festive bandanas or leashes.
Bake Some Special Dog Treats
Dogs love treats, which is a big part of Halloween! Bake healthy dog treats for your pup, and you’ll become their superhero for the season. Here are some healthy dog treat recipes for mini-pumpkin pie dog treats, peanut butter “pupcakes,” and spinach-carrot-zucchini dog treats from Best Friends Animal Society.
If you’re short on time, try picking up some healthy dog treats from your favorite pet supplier.
Throw a Halloween Pup Party
Celebrate Halloween with your dog by throwing a spooky pup party. If your dog loves socializing with other pups, this is the perfect way to get in the spirit of Halloween. You can have a costume contest, a party theme, and special treats for all two- and four-legged attendees. Here are some party theme ideas to get your creative juices flowing – Barbie, favorite movie characters, food themes, or animal themes.
Add a trick portion to the party by having fun training contests with each pup doing their favorite trick. All participants can win a treat as an extra incentive.
Greet Trick or Treaters Together
For children-loving pups, allow them to be a part of Halloween night by helping you greet the trick-or-treaters. Make sure your dog is secured behind on a leash and ready to welcome all the spooky visitors.
You can also give healthy dog treats to your stash to hand out when pets come to the door too. And for people with dogs at home, you can even add a dog treat to their bags when they’re at your door. Remember to reward your dog with treats too for doing such a great job at greetings!
Organize a Halloween Treat and Food Drive
You can join forces with your pup to promote a treat and food drive for rescue dogs. It’s a critical time for many shelters, with capacity often maxed out, and sending food and treats can make a big difference for rescue pups. Contact your local rescue to see what supplies they need and then organize a drive.
You can organize an in-person event and collect donations or create an online event where people buy items from shelter wishlists. Either way, your local rescue workers and dogs will be thankful for your help.
Bring Treats to Your Local Shelter Staff
Show your appreciation to local shelter staff by bringing some Halloween treats for them. With so many rescues swamped with animals, the seasonal cheer will be much appreciated. You can bring in sweet treats, pizza, tacos, or anything that will help boost the morale of the staff.
Teach Your Pup a New Trick
Another way to prepare for Halloween is to teach your dog a new trick. You may want to do “paw,” “play dead,” or another fun trick. If your pet has a costume for Halloween, you can even prepare by practicing the trick in costume so your pup can wow everyone on Halloween night.
Attend a Halloween or Fall Festival Together
Many outdoor festivals welcome dogs, and it’s a perfect time to enjoy the fall season with your pup. Find dog-friendly festivals in your area and bring your favorite four-legged friend. Bring a water bowl and food if it’s a long event so your dog stays nourished and energized.
Take a Fall Getaway Trip Together
Another way to celebrate Halloween with your dog is to take a fall trip together. Autumn is one of the best times to get travel deals and enjoy the cooler weather with your dog. Take a day trip and go hiking together, or make it a bigger vacation by traveling with your pup to a dog-friendly destination.
If you’re looking for dog-friendly lodging options and attractions, check out BringFido.com.
How do you celebrate Halloween with your dog? I hope you have a spooky and safe one together!
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