A Trainer’s Perspective: How to Prepare Your Dog for Halloween
Sage, Megan's cattle dog
Halloween and Our Dogs
By: Megan Thrasher, Professional Dog Trainer
Okay y’all, one of my favorite months is coming up—October! That means we’re going to have so many more opportunities for chaos… I mean, training! The decorations, the costumes, the falling leaves and ACORNS, giant trash bags of leaves on the curbs (sometimes with faces), haunted houses, loud noises, costume parades, and so many other spooky distractions appear almost overnight. I absolutely love it all—but my dog, Sage, has historically not loved it. She’s had to overcome a few of these challenges to be where she is now.
Sage is a cattle dog, which puts her into the herding category. Herders often like to feel in control of their environment, and Halloween is definitely not within the normal parameters of control. Sage used to respond to these situations with pure avoidance. If she couldn’t avoid it—like when she was on a leash—her next move would be to charge and bite the thing. Fine (ish) for decorations. Not fine for children in costumes. So, we started training.
Sage’s response isn’t limited to cattle dogs. Halloween can affect all dogs in some way, whether it’s encountering the ghosts and goblins at Lowes or having trick-or-treaters show up at the front door. Our dogs don’t know what Halloween is, so it’s a big surprise for them! We can’t expect them to just “deal with it.” Our dogs are resilient and intelligent, but we can help them navigate all the spooky stuff by preparing them ahead of time. So what do we do about it?
Step 1: The Crate
For at-home experiences, my first go-to is the crate. Most dogs prefer their safe, comfy crate over social situations, especially when the world suddenly feels strange. If trick-or-treaters are coming to your door, or you’re expecting guests, the crate is a great way to give your dog a calm, secure space away from the chaos.
Petey
Step 2: Train for It
Beyond the crate, it’s important to train for these situations. I like to make scary things less meaningful by engaging in play when possible—whether it’s around decorations, costumes, or loud noises. If play isn’t possible, treats work well too, or simply moving through the situation calmly. If you pet your dog to comfort them, try stroking up the front of the chest rather than downward on the head. Petting is my last choice in these situations, but if you do, this technique can help ease their anxiety.
How to Train: Scenarios, Setups, and Real Life
Here’s a practical way to train for Halloween:
Set up spooky decor. Grab some jack o’lanterns, lights, and masks. Place them on the floor and leave them there. Reward your dog for showing curiosity or minimal interaction. I like to treat for a nose touch at first.
Watch for confidence. I love seeing dogs approach, sniff, then ignore the spooky item and re-engage with their human. If your dog is social, you may need fewer rewards. With puppies, especially in the 8-16 week window, make it a task to seek out these scary things and positively associate them throughout the month.
Use treats or play. Play is my favorite way to build positive feelings, but if that’s not possible, food rewards work just as well. As your dog gains confidence, you can phase out the treats or play and simply use a verbal cue to move through the situation.
Face fears calmly. Try not to avoid scary things or turn the other way when your dog is nervous. If you need to create space, do so calmly and walk parallel to the object, while gaining distance to limit a flight response. We want to face fears head-on & with reward!
Step 3: Teach “Leave It” for Halloween Candy
Team Member Abby with Zoey
One of the biggest concerns during Halloween is candy. Each year, dogs end up at the vet after getting into a stash of candy, so it’s crucial to supervise or crate them to prevent this. My preference, though, is to teach an implied “leave it.” This takes more time, but it’s the long-term solution, teaching your dog to make the decision not to ingest something when they find it.
Implied response training requires well-timed rewards and an effective way to say “no” when your dog makes the wrong choice. Whether you choose training or management, both approaches are effective. If you have limited time, management techniques (like crating or supervision) may work better. If you have time to commit to daily one-on-one training, teaching the implied “leave it” is a great option.
Step 4: Don’t Purposely Scare Your Dog
Please, do not purposely scare your dogs (or any animal). They’re already in a world that’s about to get even stranger. Don’t be the reason your dog struggles with fear or mistrust.
Story Time: My Mistake with Jade
I’m not proud of this, but I share it because it’s important. This story is about my first dog, Jade—a 75lb German/Australian shepherd mix with aggression issues. One day, I discovered she was afraid of a hairbrush, and as a 20-year-old, I thought it was funny. I responded by chasing her with the brush a few times and laughed as she ran or growled.
What happened next? Jade spent her entire life avoiding hairbrushes, especially if I was holding them. Our relationship was damaged, and I carried that guilt into my thirties. What I thought was funny at 20 became heartbreaking at 30. I learned from that mistake and now try to pass along the lessons I’ve learned, so others can avoid similar regrets.
Sage
Final Thoughts: Strengthening the Bond
Halloween can be a great opportunity to build trust with your dog, not break it. Our goal should be to help them learn what to do when things scare them, not reinforce their fear. If your dog is out with you, remember they love being with you more than anything else. Protect that bond by being patient and supportive.
Let’s set ourselves and our dogs up for success this Halloween. Who knows? We might learn something about ourselves in the process, too.
Happy Howl-o-ween!