Happy Halloween From Pooch & Mutt!

Alfie dressed as 'Dracula' & Milly as his bride. Picture courtesy of Julie Roberts

Halloween is a great opportunity to get dressed up and have a good time, and providing your pet can tolerate it why not get them involved too?

Every month at Pooch & Mutt we have a photo competition and this month we have received some fabulous Halloween themed pictures that we couldn't resist sharing with you.

September's 'Photo of The Month' winner Julie Roberts submitted the picture above of her Staffy Alfie dressed very smartly as 'Dracula' with his 'Bride of Dracula' friend Milly the chocolate Labrador. Whilst the picture below features Trig hanging out with his pumpkin buddies.

Have you got a picture of your dog to share? If so, why not get involved and submit a picture of your pooch getting into the Halloween spirit. The winner will receive a Pooch & Mutt prize!

Submit your picture to our Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/poochandmutt

Closing date for October entries is Monday 31st.

Despite Halloween being enjoyed by many the world over, it can be quite a distressing time for a number of humans and animals, dogs included.

Here are some tips to prevent your dog from having a hellish Halloween:

1. If you're thinking of dressing up your dog make sure they are can tolerate it. Ensure the costume is safe and does not constrict your dog’s movement or their ability to breathe freely. 

2. Keep your dog indoors if possible. Some trick or treaters can get a little silly and end up playing pranks on animals, leaving them scared, hurt or worse.

3. If you are having an indoor party, place your dog in a room where they won't be disturbed. They will be more comfortable in a quiet familiar place, away from loud noises and groups of people.

4. Leave a TV or radio playing in the dog’s room to help mask loud noises. The constant ringing of the doorbell can sometimes be very upsetting for dogs. 

Trig says "Happy Howl-O-Ween!" Picture courtesy of Sylvia Hall Shimkus

Howl-o-ween

Pug spiders, superman jack russells, darth vadar chihuahuas, greyhounds in tatus...welcome to the world of doggy Halloween!

Its all a bit of harmless fun but if you do decide to include your mutt in a bit of dressing up this Halloween take note of his/her level of comfort.

Remember that Halloween is great fun for us and our children but it could become quite distressing for our precious pooches so it’s important to put yourself in the frame of mind of a dog and look after your pets on the 31st. Here are some tricks to take some pup precautions for Halloween. Here are some pup precautions to get you through Halloween.

1. Know what your dog is comfortable in when it comes to costumes, sweaters or any type of outfit. If they look stressed or scared, take it off. If your pet doesn't mind a costume, make sure it doesn't impede its walking or eyesight.

2. If you decide to light a pumpkin or some candles to decorate the house make sure your dog doesn’t accidentally knock them over or cause any harm to him/herself. Puppies and young dogs are very curious and may not be able to sense danger yet.

3. Don’t let anyone feed your dog chocolates or sweets, these human treats are like poison to pets. Instead buy some Halloween dog treats before the big night. If you suspect that your dog has eaten human treats contact your Vet immediately particularly if you see symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, excitability or drooling.

4. Keep animals safely separate from peak trick or treating hours as this may cause them stress. Kids love playing pranks and tricks on one another and you may scare your dog if you get caught up in one of these out on the street. Try and take your dog on his evening walk as early as possible!

5. Take care that your pet doesn’t scamper out into the street when you open the door to trick or treaters. It’s a good time to check and update your pet id tag.

6. Some dogs can become quite territorial especially when they are met with strangers coming in and out of the house. This protective instinct can cause ‘fear aggression’. Make sure that you warn visitors not to approach your dog if you are unsure how he/she will react especially if you have adopted your dog and are unaware of its past.

Finally just for the fun of it we have picked up some funny clips over the web...Have a happy Halloween!

Why dogs hate Halloween

Dont dress the dog dress the car!

Black dog tails

Pet cemetery?

Enter this month’s pooch and mutt prize draw to win a spooktastic treat!