Halloween Pet Safety: 7 Tips to Protect Your Puppy!

The spookiest time of the year is upon us! Are you prepped for your new puppy’s first Halloween?

Halloween is a fun time for the whole family but it does present some unique hazards for our pups that we need to prepare for! Costumes, chocolate, candy, decorations, plus an influx of strangers stopping by -- there are plenty of opportunities for young puppies to get into some trouble.

In this blog, we’re covering the top Halloween safety tips for puppies along with Halloween dangers for pets to be on alert for!

1. Paws Off the Treats: Protect Your Pup from Halloween Sweets

An unattended or low, easy-to-access bowl of candy whether it is outside or in your entryway, is a possible target for curious and eager pups! During Halloween pet poison hotline reported over one thousand cases of pet poisoning due to ingesting chocolate, 98% of those cases were dog specific!

Aside from chocolate, hard candy, gum, chocolate-covered raisins, certain nuts, and other sugary treats can be toxic for puppies. And young pups especially will get up to all sorts of tricks (i.e. counter-surfing!) to get their paws on unsupervised candy bowls. Keep your treats well out of their reach, preferably stored in a puppy-proof container, to avoid your pup potentially getting sick from ingesting things they shouldn’t eat. 

And don’t forget to throw away any candy and chocolate wrappers! Cellophane and tin foil are two of the most common wrappers for candy and chocolate, and they’re irresistible to puppies! If ingested they can create a blockage in your pup’s airways or digestive tract and be lethal. If you do suspect that your puppy has ingested something harmful, reach out to your veterinarian immediately or Animal Poison Control Center.

2. Halloween Hazards: Decorations Can Pose a Threat to Your Pup

Part of Halloween festivities includes getting the house prepped with frightful decorations, but these items can pose particular harm to our pups. Since most Halloween activities occur at night, you may be utilizing electrical cords, batteries, and candles around the house. Curious pups can easily chew on an exposed wire or sniff too close to candle flames resulting in burns. And an excited wagging tail could easily knock down lit candles and pose a fire risk. Make sure to secure all cords and restrict access to areas that may increase the chance of your pup getting into something they shouldn't!

Another item that easily can be forgotten but is prevalent especially during an outdoor walk are glow sticks. While the fluorescent liquid is not toxic, it has a bitter taste that can put your puppy in distress and even make them vomit. Be mindful of glow sticks in your house, keep them away from your puppy, and store them somewhere your puppy can’t get to them. 

3. Dress to Impress: Finding the Perfect Halloween Costume for Your Puppy

The Puppy Academy student, Bear!

A puppy in a costume, who doesn’t love that?! As fun as it is to come up with ideas to dress up your puppy, some of the costumes out there can be restricting and have a few safety concerns. Full-body costumes could result in overheating and difficulty breathing if it’s constricting on their body or around their neck. Before you buy one at a store or click purchase, take some time to measure your pup and find something that’s comfortable and easy for them to move around in. If your puppy is young and you’re purchasing ahead of time, keep in mind to buy something that will fit them later on as they grow! 

Accessories on costumes like elastic bands, beads, sparkles, buttons, ribbons, or other dangling add-ons are immediate chew targets that could create a blockage in an airway or intestine if swallowed. As with many things related to growing pups, make sure to supervise them when they’re all dressed up! 

But looking out for hazardous puppy costumes isn’t the only thing to keep in mind. Pups don’t just naturally love costumes and much like harness training your puppy, it might take a few attempts before they feel comfortable in their costume! A few days before, start easing them into their costume, offering plenty of treats to make the experience a pleasant one. 

Of course, your puppy’s comfort and safety are the number one concern during Halloween! If your puppy really doesn’t take to wearing a costume, you can always opt for a cute collar or bandana that shows off their festive side without making them uncomfortable!

Check out our TikTok video on puppy costume Do’s and Don’ts! 

4. Prepping for Halloween: Familiarizing Your Puppy with the Spooky Season

If Halloween trick-or-treating is a popular activity in your area, the influx of visitors ringing or knocking on your door could be another stressor to puppies. Socializing your puppy with doorbell and knocking sounds, and teaching them that these are normal everyday occurrences before Halloween can help your puppy feel more comfortable. 

It can also be scary the first time they see someone dressed up and cause some unnecessary stress. That’s one of the reasons that we emphasize socializing your puppy to different people and even different outfits throughout your puppy’s early growing phases and throughout the first year of their life. It may seem silly but spending a few days beforehand dressing in different accessories for example can help your puppy learn that costumes aren’t scary at all!

We spend the month of October with our students at The Puppy Academy desensitizing them to door bells and door knocking, as well as Halloween sounds, masks and costumes to help prep them!

For more help with socializing your puppy and desensitizing them to noises for Halloween check out The Puppy Academy Online School for step-by-step training instructions, fun activities, and personalized advice from our trainers that you can practice at home right away! 

5. A Howl-o-ween to Remember: Ensuring Your Puppy's Safety on Trick-or-Treat Night

It’s easy for a young puppy to get spooked and make a run for it. If you know you may have trick-or-treaters coming by your home most of the night or if you’re hosting a Halloween get-together, secure the doors so your puppy doesn’t have the opportunity to run out. You might even consider keeping your puppy in another part of your home, place them in their crate or playpen, or have them on-leash with you.

Pro tip: Make sure that all of your puppy’s identification is up-to-date, and that your puppy has their tag or some form of ID secured to them.

If Halloween trick-or-treating is happening in your area this year and you plan to have your puppy tag along, think safety first especially on a dark street! Add a light-up collar or a reflective vest to your puppy’s costume to make sure that oncoming cars and cyclists can see them, and you!

Being out amongst dressed up strangers, tons of Halloween decorations, plus sweet-smelling food is highly stimulating and distracting for a puppy. Don’t expect that your puppy will be on their best behavior walking beside you with all these new elements! Keep your puppy on a leash and watch them to ensure they aren’t running up to decorations, or on unsuspecting trick-or-treaters, or munching on candy they found on the walk.

6. Tricks to Keep Your Pup Calm on Halloween: Safety and Relaxation Tips

If Halloween isn’t really your puppy’s thing, these extra measures can ensure they stay happy and safe. Make sure your pup gets some good exercise by walking them and practicing some training routines throughout the daytime when it's more calm. This way they can both physically and mentally release any excess energy, which can help them settle in at home during the Halloween activities happening later at night.

Create a space for them whether it’s a cozy room, their crate, or a playpen where they can relax. You can block out the lights and sounds from outside by drawing the shades or curtains, placing a blanket over their crate, or even playing white noise for your puppy. 

And most importantly, keep them company! Hanging with them, playing with them, or just being present around them can help keep your puppy be much more relaxed during Halloween. If you plan on going out with your kids or to a party, scheduling a puppy sitter to come for the evening is a great alternative.

7. Guardianship Guidelines: Why Supervision is Crucial on Halloween

Growing puppies are similar to young children that can get into all sorts of tricks! The key is not to leave them alone, especially when there are more irresistible treats and curious-looking decorations around the house. Whether you’re at home or out trick-or-treating this year, keep your puppy close and be on the lookout if they are getting into something that they shouldn’t. A little added attention during Halloween can ensure your pup is kept safe and that everyone enjoys the holiday to the fullest!

Safety Tips at A Glance:

Save and share with a puppy parent!

Have more questions about a puppy training schedule for your puppy? Ask our trainers LIVE every Wednesday at 1 pm PT on our Instagram @thepuppyacademy during our Ask A Puppy Trainer Show! All replays are posted afterward, and you can catch up on our last ones on our YouTube channel!

Become a Puppy Academy VIP (Very Important Puppy) to get our latest puppy training tips direct to your inbox, for free, each week!

Have a Happy Howl-o-ween! Tag us on your Instagram and TikTok posts @thepuppyacademy so we can see your adorable pups in their costumes!

Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more!

Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners: Advancing Your Puppy’s Outdoor Experience!

Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners: Tips to Master Walking Outside with Your Puppy!

Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners: Dos and Don’ts of Exercising Your Puppy!

Help! How Do I Get My Puppy to Sleep Through the Night?!

New puppies are such a wonderful addition to any family! There’s nothing like playing and cuddling all day long...but all night long? Here’s how you can help your pup (and you!) get some rest!

The Puppy Academy student: Cookie!

You brought home a new puppy and the first day went on without a hitch! Now it’s time for bed so you place your pup in their bed, turn off the lights, and head off to your bed when suddenly --- that sweet calm pup breaks out into a full-blown orchestra of whining, yowling, and barking! 

Pup parents, is this happening to you? With a new baby or puppy, it’s expected that those first few nights will be tough and sleepless. And before you continue forward, it’s important to establish that there isn’t a guaranteed way to stop your puppy from whining or sleeping completely through the night, just as there isn’t for a human baby. It’s a natural part of growing up! But luckily where a pup’s case is concerned, there are ways to help cut down the number of sleepless nights and teach your puppy to feel safe and confident to sleep on their own!

Create a Daily Puppy Schedule

One of the first things we share with all our students’ parents of The Puppy Academy is the importance of getting your puppy on a structured schedule asap! This is an invaluable tool that you will use while your puppy is growing up and learning the routines of the household. In our “Create a Daily Schedule for Your Puppy” blog we give you step-by-step instructions on what you need to include from feeding times, playtime, potty breaks, and naps. Use it to help create your own!

When a young puppy comes to a new home for the first time, they are trying to understand and adapt to their new environment and family. Establishing a schedule is especially important when potty training, promoting good eating habits and sleeping routines, plus it encourages their confidence and bond with you. Having a daily routine makes your puppy’s world more predictable so they instinctively relax more, knowing what’s coming up next.

Give Your Puppy Enough Playtime AND Naptime

In your puppy’s list of daily activities, make sure they have enough playtime and training exercise to help stimulate their minds and burn off some of that excess puppy energy! Young pups need A LOT of sleep, roughly eighteen hours, so interspersing their playtime throughout the day will help manage their bouts of energy and provide ample opportunities for them to get their needed rest. If you notice your puppy exhibiting behaviors like becoming more nippy, barky or whiney during play, that can be a sure sign that they are overtired and need a nap! When possible, try ending playtime before this begins to happen to help your pup settle down and fall asleep faster, as opposed to trying to calm them from a more amped up state, which can make it more challenging.

Nighttime Potty Breaks

Puppies are still developing and can’t hold their potty for long periods of time. Even though during the evening their potty frequency isn’t as high as during the day when they are active, you should still preplan your pup’s nighttime visits outside ahead of time, if you’re dealing with a younger pup. A good general guideline is to take your puppy out at night before bed, then once more in the middle of the night, and again first thing in the morning. Limiting water intake a couple hours before bedtime, along with crating your pup overnight can help them make it through the night as well! If you want to find out more about managing potty training while getting your puppy to sleep at night, check out our “Potty Training Your Puppy: Tips for New Owners!” blog.

Establish a Bedtime Routine

The Puppy Academy student: Hendrix!

A puppy will eventually settle down when they’re tired enough and if they are encouraged to relax. Think about taking the last thirty minutes or so before bed to wind them down. Avoid playing games or letting them play with toys that will keep them very alert, rather give them a chew toy and keep the energy around them more lowkey, which may mean hanging out in another room with less activity going on, if you have a busy family!

Set Up a Safe and Comfortable Sleep Space

Create a space for your puppy that gives them a safe, cozy spot where they can rest and begin associating with relaxing. Whether you’re using a playpen or a crate, set up this area in a spot in your home where your pup will be left undisturbed when sleeping.

We love to set up a “zen room” for pups to help set the stage for a peaceful night’s sleep! Take a look at our “Why and How to Crate Train Your Puppy” blog for more info on creating your own zen room plus tips on how to get your puppy more comfortable with their crate, if you’re using one!

Other Sleep Tips

The Puppy Academy student: Meeka!

A restful vs. a full night’s sleep is the goal here for those first initial weeks! New puppies are adjusting to their new home, new family, and missing their siblings, so waking up to some crying, barking, or for a potty break is completely normal and to be expected in the beginning!

But with the tips we covered, you can start experimenting with what works best for your pup and extend those sleep chunks of time as your pup becomes acclimated and more comfortable with their new environment and routine!

Here are a few more things to remember to consider when getting your pup to sleep throughout the night:

1. When you do need to wake up your puppy to go potty, keep it matter-of-fact. The last thing you want is your puppy to think that it’s playtime and get revved up again! Simply let them out to potty and then bring them right back to their sleeping area and go back to bed yourself.

2. Do your best not to give in to the puppy eyes and whining! It’s hard, we totally understand that, and you want to be there for them. If you do need to remove your pup from their crate or playpen, wait for a few seconds of silence before letting them out, or else they will start associating that making noise equals attention from you! Doing this will help these behaviors to pass more quickly and help curb separation anxiety issues developing down the road.

3. Don’t give your puppy food or water right before they go to bed! It’s a given that if they will need to go out if you do so, but also increases the chance for potty accidents throughout the night.

4. Preplanning is key when it comes to anything puppy related. If you know you're bringing home a new pup, expect some long nights. Consider speaking with your work about getting some time off while you go through this process, especially for the first few days. And if possible, don’t shoulder the responsibility of taking your pup out each night. Rotate the task with your other family members so you can count on getting some sleep on certain nights!

5. Arm yourself with a white noise machine and earplugs. A white noise machine can help soothe your pup but also drown out some of their nighttime cries and barks for you! Of course, the earplugs can add that extra sound barrier for you too!

Lastly, you will get through this! All puppies experience the scary feeling of being someplace new without their mom and littermates. It’s a process of learning that their new home is safe and feeling comfortable in their new space. And every puppy is different in the amount of time it takes them to get through this learning phase. The best thing to do is take it with stride, continue the schedule you established each day, and stay consistent so your puppy becomes comfortable with their new overnight sleeping routine more quickly.

And if you want more 1-on-1 professional guidance with this to get your puppy sleeping through the night faster, join us in our Online Puppy School for step-by-step puppy training help with advice customized for your puppy:

Have more questions about getting your puppy to sleep through the night? Ask our trainers LIVE every Wednesday at 1 pm PT on our Instagram @thepuppyacademy during our Ask A Puppy Trainer Show! All replays are posted afterward, and you can catch up on our last ones on our YouTube channel or Podcast.

Become a Puppy Academy VIP (Very Important Puppy) member to get our latest puppy training tips direct to your inbox, for free, each week!

Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more!

I Got a Puppy Over the Holidays! Now What?!

How to Calm an Over-Excited Puppy!

Puppy Feeding Guide for New Owners!