PSA: Dogs and Halloween!

About now you are all going to the store and bringing home candy for the children who come trick or treating in your neighborhood. Here are some safety tips.

If you have a dog who counter surfs or gets at food in the pantry you might want to stick with a non chocolate candy this year. The rule of course is that the darker the chocolate the more toxic it is. That being said an entire bag of peanut butter cups or fun sized snickers will leave any size dog with quite a stomach ache and the potential for worse. IMHO I don't feel the risk is worth it. Not that any candy is healthy for a dog to eat but candy corns and gummies are a lot less toxic then chocolate.

Leave the dogs home on Halloween in a safe and secure room in their crate.You don't know if a kid will be wearing a costume that will freak out your dog and the reaction is either going to be fight or flight. Plus with all the crowds you don't want them to get stepped on by accident. Walk them in their costume during the day so the neighbors can see and comment everyone will be happier especially your dog.

Halloween night make sure to have the dogs in a safe and secure location preferably in their crate before you take the candy out and the first kids come by. Wouldn't want the dog to run out the door by accident when you open it for a group of kids. Even the best trained dog could forget themselves and put their mouth in the treat bowl or run out the door with all the commotion and excitement.

If this is your pets first Halloween with you this is not the time to show off to your neighbors by having a giant dog barking on the other side of the door or a stressed out little one who wants to run and hide. If you are having a party at your house and people will be dressed up or there will be a lot of kids running around put the dog away in a room with a sign on the door saying something like sleeping baby so no one tries to go in and play and the next thing you know your dog is missing.

If you have kids who are going around make sure the candy is in a dog safe container the minute it comes in the door. Best if it goes on a top shelf in the pantry or the fridge or freezer and given out by an adult. Any extra candy that you have from passing out should be stored the same way.

Walking your dog after Halloween. Take a flashlight along with you and a pocket full of appropriate treats in case they find something half eaten or still in the wrapper on the ground so that you can make a trade your treat for the one they found on the ground. All it takes is a second because they can smell it before you can see it. Keep dog treats in your pocket for several days after Halloween for when you are out walking you will be surprised at how much candy you find out there now that you have a dog to walk and keep away from it.

Everyone including your dog can have a safe and Happy Halloween you just need to plan ahead.

Felissa is an Independent Stella & Dot Stylist located in Miami, Florida. She facilitates Trunk Show for women and their friends all over South Florida.To view the jewelry or book an event visit www.stelladot.com/felissahadas or email her Felissahadas@gmail.com