Last updated: October 14, 2026
Halloween is often a fan favorite among us humans, but for our pets, all the spooky sights and sounds can feel more fright than fun. Costumes, doorbells constantly ringing, and the steady flow of trick-or-treaters can overwhelm even the most well-behaved, social dogs and cats. The good news? With a little preparation, you can help your pets feel calm, comfortable, and safe.
To help keep your four-legged family members feeling happy and healthy, we've rounded up our top Halloween safety tips for pets. Here's how we recommend ways to enjoy a stress-free HOWL-o-ween with your fur babies.
1. Put Pets Away During Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-treating can be confusing for our pets. Having strangers repeatedly come to the door and leave is not the norm for most households! Even notoriously friendly pets can become stressed, fearful, or protective when faced with people in full costume, creative masks, and props that make noise or light up.
The reality is, pets are safer when they are put away in their own space during trick-or-treating festivities—whether that’s the comfort of their bed or crate, or in a separate room of the house.
Training Tip: This is the perfect time to utilize skills like 'Place' or 'Go to Your Mat.' Halloween night is not the ideal time, however, to try to teach your pet to be comfortable with crowds, people in costume, or strangers approaching your front door. Still, if they are already comfortable with the doorbell or know to go to their 'Mat' or 'Place' when there is a knock at the door, this will make the spooky season (and life in general) a little less scary for your pup and less stressful for you!
Of course, you know your pet best. If you've worked on your dog’s socialization skills—gradually exposing them to different people and situations over time—you can gauge whether they may be comfortable on Halloween night. But if there’s a possibility that your fur baby may feel fearful, skittish, or likely to run away or hide, play it safe! You’ll create a calmer, less stressful evening for your pet by making sure they have their own secure space, away from all the activity.
2. Be Sure Your Pets are Wearing Identification
Halloween is one of the most common nights of the year for pets to go missing (along with Independence Day!) With doors opening and closing constantly to greet trick-or-treaters, dogs and cats are more likely to become stressed or fearful and try to bolt. If you choose not to crate your pup or keep kitty in a separate room, and they do get loose, recognize that a night full of unfamiliar costumes, spooky sounds, and elaborate yard decorations can be scarier for them. Make sure your pets are wearing ID tags with your contact information. (Important Safety Tip: Pets should NOT wear collars when they are crated!) This time of year is also a great time to consider microchipping your pet so that, if they do get lost, it will be much easier to reunite them with their family.
3. Keep Candy Away From Curious Snoots
Many already know that chocolate and certain other human foods can be extremely toxic for dogs and cats, but it’s equally important to recognize that candy in all its different forms is dangerous to your pets. An abundance of processed sugar can cause stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, and other digestive issues for our fur-babies. The non-edible parts of candy treats, like wrappers and lollipop sticks, can also cause intestinal blockages. For dogs and cats with a sensitive stomach or digestive issues, eating a foreign substance can cause a serious medical issue. For more information about what Human Foods Dogs Can and Cannot Eat, check out our free guide.
Always monitor your pets (or safely contain them) when candy or other unsafe foods are out, and store these goodies out of reach of dogs and cats (and even little kids).
4. Practice Safety with Jack-o’-Lanterns
Carving a Jack-o’-lantern for your porch or steps is a fun Halloween tradition; just be sure to stay safe when lighting up your creations! A lit candle inside a pumpkin can be a fire hazard for pets and children (and even adults). It’s all too easy for a dog or cat to accidentally knock over a candle and burn themselves or even cause danger in your home. The good thing is there are plenty of modern electronic options for safely lighting Halloween decor. Try flameless LED candle lights in your pumpkins to keep your home, pets, and family safe!
P.S. You may have heard pumpkin is good for pets, and while that is true, we don't recommend letting your pup or kitty munch on raw pumpkin because it can be hard to digest and can turn rotten quickly. Check out our blog about all the ways to prepare pumpkin for pets if you want to share this seasonal treat with your furry friend!
5. Give Your Pet Something to Keep Them Occupied
While you're busy getting the kids into their costumes, putting out candy, and/or putting out your Halloween decorations, give your fur baby their own activity! If you're going to crate your pet or put them in a side room, give them something fun to do, like a peanut-butter-filled Kong, a snuffle mat, a lick mat, or another enrichment toy. This not only reduces boredom but can also ease stress by giving your pet a fun, positive activity to keep their mind busy.
6. Consider CBD as a Gentle Way to Soothe Anxiety
If your fur baby struggles with anxiety amid the crowds, noises, and general hulla-baloo of the holidays, consider introducing pet-safe CBD supplements to their diet to help take the edge off. CBD for pets has been shown to be a gentle solution, an alternative to medication, that combats anxiety and stress. Many pet-safe CBD products come in easy-to-apply oils and chews.
If your pet hasn't had CBD before, it's best to start with small doses a few weeks before the holiday to allow time for their body to adjust and for the CBD to take effect. For more information or to find out if CBD might be the right solution for you, schedule a free nutrition consultation with our team!
7. Dress Your Pets Responsibly!
Thinking of dressing your furry friend in a costume? Many dogs, and even cats, can comfortably and calmly wear costumes if they've been properly desensitized to wearing clothing. (In other words, Halloween night should NOT be the first time your pup or kitty has tried on an outfit!) And even if your pets are already desensitized to clothing, watch for signs of stress and remove the costume if your fur baby becomes anxious or uncomfortable. Make sure they have a full range of motion and can breathe easily in their costume. Consider lightweight clothing options. Always supervise pets while in costume and be especially cautious of small pieces that can present a choking hazard.
8. Don’t Coddle Nervous Pets
If your fur baby is naturally anxious, fearful, or even reactive, know how you can best support them.
When an animal is in a heightened state of stress, it's especially important not to push or force them past their comfort zone. This can overwhelm and flood their emotions, driving them into a fight-or-flight response, and may also cause them to be more reactive in similar situations in the future. It's equally important not to coddle or "baby" your pet when they are feeling anxious or highly stressed. You may be tempted to cuddle your fur-baby or soothe them in a "baby voice" when they are scared, saying, "It's okay..." but this can actually make them even more fearful because without realizing it, your actions validates their fearful response.
The best response is to calmly and gently lead your fur baby to a space they feel safe—either a crate or a quiet room to themselves where they can self-soothe and manage their stress in a calmer environment.
Have a Happy, Healthy, and Safe HOWL-o-Ween!
This spooky holiday can be a lot of fun, and there are many ways to keep it from causing undue stress for your four-legged family members. Know a pet parent who may benefit from these tips? Share this blog with them to help make sure every pet has a happy, healthy, and safe spooky season.
From our JM Pet Resort family to yours, Happy HOWL-o-ween!
