👻 Top 7 Tips for a Collie Safe Halloween 🎃

1. Staying Safe Indoors 🏠

🎃 Plan to be at home on Halloween night
🎃 Finish your dog walk before it gets dark
🎃 Trick-or-treaters can look scary and sound potentially threatening so it’s best to get home before Halloween activities start
🎃 Close those windows and draw curtains to avoid outside noise drifting in and unsettling your collie
🎃 If you’re opening the door to trick-or-treaters, make sure to keep your collie in a room away from visitors to avoid negative reactions or them bolting past in fear

2. Toxic Treats Out Of Reach 🍫

🍭 Make sure all sweets and wrappers are kept well away from your collie
🍭 Chocolates are toxic for all dogs (it contains a toxic chemical called theobromine), and sweets are generally bad too
🍭 Please be aware that the sugar substitute Xylitol (birch sugar) is extremely dangerous and causes rapid liver failure
🍭 Check the ingredients should your collie ingest anything they shouldn’t
🍭 Have your vets number to hand – have it in your mobile phone so you can ring them immediately should you have a problem
🍭 Also keep the Animal POISONLine Helpline in your phone: 01202 50 9000
🍭 Animal POISONLine website address: animalpoisonline.co.uk

3. Potentially Dangerous Decorations 🎃

👻 Check your decorations/ lights are safely out of your collie’s reach
👻 Collie pups in particular like to explore things with their mouths – Halloween decorations can prove dangerous choking hazards
👻 Plus those decorations can also cause serious blockage problems if eaten
👻 Candle-lit pumpkins can singe curious collie whiskers – keep them safely out of the way
👻 Once your pumpkin has performed its spooky duties, make sure it gets disposed of properly as gone off or mouldy pumpkins can cause tummy upsets should a greedy collie ingest them

4. Dressing Up Dilemma? 👗

❌Unless your dog is used to a dog coat or jumper, they’ll probably find wearing a Halloween costume stressful
✅ Should your children feel the need to include your collie in the Halloween festivities then how about they teach them a new trick instead?
✅ Some ideas: Speak, Hi-Five or Playing Dead

5. Communicate to Trick or Treaters 📢

🔔 If you know your collie is going to find the doorbell or knocking stressful, make a sign to ward off potential trick-or-treaters
🔔 Here’s some ideas of what you can say: “Trick or Treat! Please do not ring or knock – scared dog/s inside. Please help yourself to something sweet! Please be kind and leave some for the other monsters!”
🔔 If you’d like to show willing to Halloween visitors, you could leave the sign with some treats for trick-or-treaters 
🔔 Make sure your treat box has a secure lid so any wildlife or other pets in the area can’t help themselves and become poorly as a result

6. Veterinary Intervention 🥼

❓Is your collie particularly noise-reactive?
❓Consult with your veterinary surgeon about situational medicines that are fast-acting, temporary and specifically designed for noise-related anxieties

7. Name Tag & Microchip Details 🏷️

✅ It’s worth checking that your collie’s name tag and microchip details are up to date
✅ You can get a new name tag from lots of companies online, or in store at most big pet shops
✅ Not sure which company your microchip details are registered with?
✅ Pop into your vets and ask them if they can scan your collie’s microchip – they should be able to help you work out who you need to contact

BONUS! Building a Den 🔨

🛋️ Building a den like area for your collie to curl up in if they’re feeling worried is a great idea
🛋️ If they like using a crate then you can sound proof it to a degree with things like heavy blankets
🛋️ Otherwise a space under a table/ chairs/ behind a sofa can all make good hiding spaces for collies who want some space