October 27th, 2009
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Taking your dressed-up dog out to trick-or-treat can be a lot of fun. Children love to dress up thematically with their dogs and only-pet families can join in the fun and meet the neighbors. Houses and apartments in dog-loving neighborhoods usually have a box of milk bones near the door for the canine trick-or-treaters. (What, you don’t? Shame!)
Just have make sure the canine costume doesn’t hang too low or it could trip your dog or get tangled in the leash. It’s hard to see what’s happening in the dark, and a hampered dog could get badly wound up in fabric and that retractable leash cord. Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, and click here to follow them on Twitter. |
Personally, I never use those retractable leashes, and never recommend them. They do not offer the same control that a simple flat nylon lead does, and pose a hazard to dogs and passersby alike, since they are all but invisible in the daylight, (a child racing by on a bike could result in injury to dog,owner, cyclist or all three!)let alone at night!
As a professional pet sitter, Pet Care Instructor, and pet owner, I really don’t think it’s a good idea to dress up your dog and take him out on one of the craziest nights of the year. Strange people in strange clothing, jumping out and yelling “BOO!”, and heightened excitement everywhere is just simply NOT the place to bring a dog, no matter how well trained or well behaved he is. If your dog believes that you are threatened, he could become aggressive towards another person in his desire to protect you. Do your beloved pet a favor and provide him with a quiet, secure place to spend Halloween!
And, I absolutely agree with Barry and his post about retractable leashes – they are dangerous during the daytime (both to dogs and walker) but at night, they are simple too hazardous to use. We use light reflective braided nylon 5 foot leads on all of our night walks.
Ah, c’mon guys lighten up. Some neighborhoods are crazy and some are pretty calm on Halloween. Where do you guys live anyway? And as for the retractable leash… well if you let it play out while you walk your dog in traffic and among cyclists- naturally that’s stupid. Who does that? Up here toward Framingham, Mass we have some lovely neighborhoods that are totally dog friendly on Halloween and my rottie and I have a lot of fun going about … no cyclists, no crazyness. You dudes get rabid over nothing. Chill.