Masks and costumes are scary! - Part of the celebration of this time of the year are the masks and costumes.  Take great care when getting dressed up for the holiday.  Masks and costumes are just as scary for dogs as they are for human. Some dogs will react to them by hiding, barking, or attempting to rip them to shreds.  It's always best to keep them away from your dogs whenever possible.  I know I don't like it when my kids are scared! 

No candy for Fido - Just like Christmas, there is an abundance of candy and chocolate in the house.  Remember, chocolate is deadly for dogs of any size, so take extra precautions to make sure all candy is out of the reach of your beloved dog!   

Scary visitors - If you have trick or treaters come to your home, this is a good time to crate your dog in a room away from the joy of kids getting candy and trying to scare you.  Remember, the masks and costumes are scary and you don't want your dog to get injured or injure anyone else out of the fear they have over little feet, little hands, scary costumes, kids singing, yelling, or crying or the noise from those large treat bags.  

The doggie in the costume - I admit it....and am as guilty as everyone else....I love to dress Sassy, Coffee, Patches and Maggie up in Halloween costumes.  Yes, they are insulted but tolerate my being a mom.  To this point, be sensitive to your dog and their reaction to doggie costumes.  Some of them are clunky and noisy while others are simple t-shirts.  For those costumes that are obviously a real pain in the tail for the dog to wear, you may want to limit the time they are in them.  So parents, dress them up, take the picture and give them a bit of a break.  Most of my kids have t-shirts for the holiday, and since I keep them in shirts during the winter, they are usually fine with it as long as the weather is appropriate.  The easiest rule of thumb.....watch your dog's reaction, be sensitive and act accordingly.  

At our house -  Most of the neighborhood kids love to come to our house for the scary grim reaper that lurks in the bushes, the candy and the remote control spider.  Additionally most of the kids who come to our home know we have dogs.  We crate Gabbie so she doesn't scare them at the front window.  The others get to lounge on the furniture and look out the window if they wish or they get to go to and from the bedroom.  Occasionally the little kids will peek in the window and Coffee will dance for them on the couch.  To keep everyone safe and happy, I don't take my kids to the door for occasional pats on the head.  I don't want them to get scared and run away from me or any of the guests who come to my home.  On a side note, we do have doggie trick or treaters who come to our home....for them I keep an extra supply of doggies treats on hand.