Dog costumes silly? Yes, and sometimes unsafe: Tips for pet owners - The Denver Post

 This timely article may help prevent injuries to your pets so read it carefully...


Dog costumes silly? Yes, and sometimes unsafe: Tips for pet owners


Updated: 10/02/2012 07:02:13 AM MDT

By Susan Clotfelter
The Denver Post






English bulldogs were among dozens of canines wearing silly costumes as owners treated themselves to a dog costume party at the Omni Interlocken Golf Club in 2008. (Photo by Brian Brainerd | The Denver Post)






Think pet costumes are silly? Do $370 million worth of that thinking.

That's how much the National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend on pet costumes this year, up nearly 20 percent over last year.

Eileen Proctor is fine with silly. In fact, she's mulling putting together some Mutt Romney and Bark Obama dog costumes. Like many dog businesses in the metro area, her boarding, day-care and training facility will host a dog Halloween party.

But safe and secure trumps silly — especially during Halloween month.



English bulldog Sophie is dressed like a princess at a 2008 dog costume party in Broomfield, Colorado -- but notice that she's costumed safely, with nothing obstructing her eyes, ears or nose. (Photo by Brian Brainerd | The Denver Post)


"Don't assume that just because a company is selling a pet costume that it is a suitable costume for pets," she warns. And don't make the mistake of assuming your dog will enjoy human trick-or-treating, in costume or out.Proctor, owner of Villa La Paws in Castle Rock and a consultant to pet entrepreneurs, says pet owners must make this their cardinal costume rule: "If the dog looks miserable, he probably is." For those pets, just use a festive bandana instead, she says. (Cats generally have less need to please owners and will make their disdain patently obvious.)

If your pet doesn't seem to dislike costumes, here are Proctor's top Halloween safety rules:
• Don't restrict movement. The dog should have full mobility, including ability to walk and sit down without discomfort. Use nothing that digs in the dogs' armpits. Check the fit of the costume long before you expect your dog to wear it — and if it doesn't fit, return it.

• No masks that cover the eyes, ears or nose. "If you stop their ability to be present in the moment, that's when dogs really start to get fussy," she says.

• Impeding breathing? That should be a no-brainer; your dog could actually suffocate. But it's especially important for flat-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers or Pekinese, who "have a hard enough time breathing to begin with." Costumes that make breathing any harder for these dogs could cause potential cardiac distress, she says.

• Your dog should always be supervised while in costume. That means your eyes, on the dog, all the time. Strings, Velcro, elastic parts can pose danger if chewed or ingested — and if the dog is at all uncomfortable, it will probably chew to free itself.

• If you're going to dress your dog (or cat) up for an occasion, ease into it early with praise and short sessions. Get him used to having something on his neck or back. Do a five-minute try-on several times, weeks before. "Don't just spring it on him," Proctor warns.

• Watch your own costume and the overall environment around your pets, as well. Odd sights, odd sounds, odd smells are all part of the season. Your dog may be tempted to ingest something it shouldn't (candy, liquor, decorations) or startle at a masked party guest and react badly.

On the big night — whenever trick-or-treat night is in your neighborhood — the best thing you can do is have your pet well-exercised and well-fed and keep them indoors in a safe, calm environment with a favorite toy or chew. (That goes double for black cats, who can become targets of animal abusers.)

But don't dogs take them with you on human trick-or-treat trips. With its masks and menace, this activity is just too rife with situations dogs can misunderstand.

So what can a pet owner safely do to have some Halloween fun?

Proctor recommends having a pooch party in broad daylight, with canine pals your dog knows and trusts. Bob for weenies (turkey hot dogs are the healthiest, she says). Have a scavenger hunt with squeaky toys or treats hidden in the yard or house.

Offer up some special treats made with canned pumpkin — dogs love the taste — made by hand or purchased at your local pet store or dog bakery. "They're not going to care about the shapes," Proctor says, "that's all for us." But if Halloween-shaped dog treats delight you, there's nothing wrong with that.

And absolutely have fun dressing your dog up for a photo session or other supervised pet party, she says. "Celebrate the great times you're having with them."










Look for more Halloween pet tips in Saturday's Home section.

Susan Clotfelter: 303-954-1078, sclotfelter@denverpost.com or twitter.com/susandigsin



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Dog costumes silly? Yes, and sometimes unsafe: Tips for pet owners - The Denver Post