Halloween almost here and now is the time to start plotting this year’s festivities! This holiday can be an enjoyable occasion not only for you, but for your four legged friend as well. A dog costume can be a fun way to get your pup in the Halloween spirit but if your fur baby is a puppy or is new to the idea of wearing clothing, a costume could cause discomfort and distress if not properly introduced. One of the key things to remember when choosing a costume for your canine is to ensure that it will fit correctly. Ill fitting costumes aren’t only uncomfortable; they could also be dangerous! A costume that is too small will cause discomfort and could cut off circulation; a costume that is too big could get caught on objects or cause your dog to trip while walking. The best way to ensure a good fit for the costume you pick out is to take your dog’s measurements and then compare them to the sizing chart for the costume.
Once you’ve chosen a costume, you can begin introducing it to your dog. The amount of time this takes varies dog by dog, so it’s best to start a few weeks before Halloween. Star by placing the costume on the floor where your dog can check it out. When you see your dog sniffing it, praise him and give him dog treats. Do this periodically for a day. Once he’s begun to associate the costume with acquiring treats, advance by laying part of the costume over his back for 10 seconds at a time and shower him with praise and treats each time. Do frequently over the course of a couple of days, slowly increasing the amount of time it’s left on his back. Once your canine companion is accepting of the idea of the costume touching him with no fuss, go ahead and dress him in it for a short time, reassuring him with treats and praise. Only leave it on for a minute and then remove it. Do this every couple hours, leaving it on for a slightly longer every time. Persuade your pooch to walk on a leash with the costume on if you plan to take him trick or treating. This will assure him that his new costume will not hinder his movement. Enlisting a friend to assist you is a good idea. Have your friend give your pup treats when he’s wearing his costume, so that he’ll affiliate strangers with food and praise. If you’re planning on dressing up too, you’ll need to acquaint your dog with it as well, using a similar approach. Dogs not only establish friendly people by scent and their voice, but also by appearance and the way they walk. Your pup might not recognize you in your costume at first. Let your dog sniff your costume and get accustomed to it before you try it on. Put it on a couple different times and talk to your furry friend and offer him treats so that he also associates your costume with positive reactions.
Some dogs, despite how patient you are and how cautiously you proceed, just simply will not tolerate a costume. If your dog shows signs of distress or discomfort, please do not force them to wear a costume anyway. This could be very traumatic for your pup. There are other options to get your dog into the Halloween spirit other than costumes alone. A Halloween dog bandana or matching collar, leash and harness are great low stress choices, since they are items that he is already used to. If your canine is fine with dog shirts and tanks but refuses a more cumbersome costume, a Halloween themed dog tee could be the answer. No matter what Halloween finery your pooch dons, stay safe and have a spooktacular Halloween!
No comments:
Post a Comment