Costume Training 101: A Pet-Friendly Guide to Halloween

If you want your pets to join in the Halloween fun and be a cute pumpkin this year, now's the perfect time to start getting them comfortable with their costume! Start slowly by pairing the costume with positive rewards—like a yummy treat. Treats are not created equal; every pet has a different opinion as to what is worth their effort.

First, reward your pet with a tasty treat for any interaction with the costume, this can be as little as looking at it. Keep doing this until your pet is comfortable and relaxed with this interaction….ALWAYS go at your pets pace. Then, hold the costume up, and continue to reward any interaction with the costume. Next, hold the headpiece open, and have a treat held just on your pet's side of the headpiece. This encourages them to get their nose close to the opening of the headpiece…just reward them here a few times without trying to get the headpiece over their head…we are always building trust! Gradually move your hand so they have to gently stick their nose through the opening to get the treat. Keep doing this at their pace. If they are fearful or suspicious, allow them more time to sniff and interact with the costume while not being held up.

Once they're comfortable with the headpiece, you can start introducing the rest of the costume in small steps. This slow process helps your pet feel safe and get used to this new, funny thing their human is doing. We ask a lot from our pets!

It’s a good idea to make sure that your pet is comfortable with this and not feeling overly

excited, anxious, or stressed. Have a solid routine in place for when people come to the

door. This holiday can be extra challenging to our pets as the visitors often don’t look like people at all…they are monsters and vampires and all sorts of other things! Our pets don’t understand the concept of a costume….they just know that the thing has a familiar smell but doesn’t look the same. This can be unsettling. You may consider having a place, such as a kennel or a bedroom, that your pet is familiar with spending time in, a place that they feel safe and secure, so that they can relax with an enriching, calming activity. This avoids any stress that may be caused by all the commotion and makes handing out candy much more peaceful!

And of course, keep all that Halloween candy out of your pet’s reach—safety first! Happy Halloween fun ahead!

Jill KuderaCPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer

Licensed and Insured

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified

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