Prepare your dog for little visitors.  Begin touching your dog in ways a child might - pet his ears, touch his face, massage in between the pads on his feet.  If your dog is used to being touched in these places, it won’t be as startling when a child visitor does so.

November is KIDS & DOGS month!  During November, we will be posting tips relating to the interaction between kids & dogs.  As the holidays approach, most people will either travel or welcome visitors.  Either way, this can be a very stressful time for your dog.  And one interaction you need to be prepared for is between small children & your dog.  Bringing your dog with you into a new environment that has children presents one set of issues, while having children as visitors in your dog’s home presents a host of others.  So visit us often to learn some helpful tips & tricks to make hits holiday season joyful for every member of your family!

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When trying to figure out what size costume to get for your dog, it is usually best to bring them into the store to try the costumes directly on.  If you are unable to do this, take measurements of your dogs length, girth and neck.  This will help you and the sales clerks figure out the right size for your pup.

Not all pets enjoy being dressed up, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get them into the spirit.  There are many other options to show off your pet holiday spirit such as pet nail polish, festive collars or bows and ribbons in their hair.

Keep your candy bowl in a safe place.  Not only do some candies contain ingredients that are unsafe for pets, the wrappers can get stuck in the pets digestive track and make them ill or even cause death.

Watch your pets around Jack-O-Lanterns.  The excited swing of a happy dogs wagging tail, or the curious paw of a cat reaching in the mouth of the pumpkin to catch the flickering light is not only dangerous to your pet, there is a serious danger of a fire being started through out your house as well.

Do not leave your dog alone in the yard during Halloween.  Many kids play jokes on Halloween and you may be leaving your dog vulnerable to harassment, abuse, theft, or worse.  It is your job to keep your pet safe.

With all the strangers coming around in strange costumes, even the most confident dogs get spooked and can become fearful and/or aggressive.  If you think the festivities may spook your pooch, put  them in another room during Trick Or Treating hours.  Your better off safe than sorry!

When teaching your dog a new behavior,  teach the actual behavior before you put a word, or name, to it.  This will help to put a clear connection between the behavior and the command.  Also, give your dog time to figure out what you want them to do.  If they do not perform the correct behavior immediately, give them a chance to try and figure it out.  After all, no matter how wonderful and smart they are, they cannot read our minds!