Halloween is coming round the bend

September 30, 1:55 PMCleveland Pet Training ExaminerRachel Friedman

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Bean wonders why I am humiliating him with devil ears.

     I know I know it's still September as this is written BUT October rings in tomorrow and I have to admit it's one of my favorite months of the year. Not only do we often get stunning foliage in this part of the world (Cleveland, OH), but when we're very lucky we get Indian Summer, plenty of mouth watering and diverse apples for picking and golden orbed pumpkins to boot. And pumpkins means Halloween and Halloween means FREE CANDY if you're willing to dress up and trudge about participating neighbors' walkways for the freebies. Or mooch from your kids!

     But to dogs, Halloween can ring up there with fireworks, thunderstorms, parades, heavy machinery that goes DING DING DING when put in reverse and other natural and man made horrorshows for dogs sensitive of temperament or undersocialized.

      If your dog is a nutcase when the letter carrier comes, might I suggest you practice two options.

1. Going the management route and spending a bit of time each day putting your dog in a quiet and safe place (perhaps with a radio or tv on to provide some white noise and distraction) so that while you're doling out the goodies and oohing and ahing at the parading costumed visitors, your dog will be quietly resting and being calm.

2. Going the more fun but training route and teaching your dog a routine that can be employed for the trick'n'treaters -- sitting calmly for petting, waving "hi", holding the candy basket or just laying low as you jump up and down to give out the goodies. If you're on walking duty with the kids, bring your dog along on a leash and allow him or her the chance to be part of the festivities. Use reflective tape on leashes or costumes and be sure the ghosts, goblins, or masked Sarah Palin's don't scare your dog.

     Keep an eye on the candy and keep it away from your dog but don't forget being part of the festivities can be your canine's real treat! Enjoy the season.