Halloween is holiday that can be great fun for our trick-or-treaters but can be the source of stress for our pups. And, keeping our pets safe is important and actually quite easy if we keep their needs in mind. The ASPCA makes some simple recommendations for keeping them safe and happy.

Number 1 on their list is the candy:
Candy is for the human trick-or-treaters and can be toxic to our pets. "Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for cats and dogs, and sugar-free candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can cause serious problems in pets. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately." Candy wrappers are a threat as well, causing stomach upset and even deadly blockages.

Number 2 is the decorations
Keep decorations out of reach. While things like pumpkins, corn, glow sticks, etc. aren't big threats, they can cause severe stomach upset.

Number 3 is costumes
I love to dress my pups up for most holidays BUT I watch closely for any indications that they don't like the costume. We do not want to cause unnecessary stress. Costumes should never cause risk or infringe on eyesight, breathing, movement, or being able to express themselves with a bark or meow. Keep it simple. I use a headband or just a holiday scarf for one of my pups.

Number 3 is safety
I always make sure that I have an identification collar or tag on my pups before the visitors of Halloween arrive. I even have reflecting collars on them so they are more visible in the darkness. If they do escape, they can be returned to me more easily. One of my pups needs to be kept in a completely separate part of the house because the costumes are a bit too overwhelming. NO STRESS! NO WORRIES! Our pups depend on us to provide safety, security, and well being.

If your dog has any potential to jump up, nip, or bite, PLEASE secure him or her in another room. We must not only consider the safety of our visitors, but we don't want to encounter the slightest chance of losing our dog in a legal suit.

If you suspect that something is going to create an unsafe or stressful situation, please provide your wonderful and loving pet an alternative. Remember, too, that our deaf dogs need extra security!

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I have had the awesome privilege to have been the human parent of three amazing and loving #deaf #dogs over the past 23 years beginning in 1993. Working with these wonderful #pups has brought clear understanding of just how imperative it is for us to develop solid and loving relationships with all our family members and friends, human and all God's creatures alike. No matter what our particular strengths and weaknesses happen to be, they combine themselves into making us the unique and special beings that we are.

I have also discovered that working with and/or #training our #deaf dogs has not changed, and I begin today to offer tips to anyone who may need or be interested in caring for our very special pups. I shall continue over the course of the next few weeks to give folks my list of tips, one by one. But, today I simply offer a glimpse into our home back in 2007 when my son-in-law, Julius, captured a couple minutes of me and my pups in the kitchen during a holiday festivity communicating with American Sign Language (ASL). You will see: Hogan, the older deaf Dalmatian; India, the elderly Black Labrador who had gone deaf with age; Clarence, the young yellow Labrador who understands ASL; and Georgia, the petite deaf Dalmatian. The two smaller pups are our daughter's; and they, too, have been taught to understand some signs.

I teach all my pups to understand this already-invented form of communication so they can all comprehend what I am saying at any particular time. Of course, being a verbal human, I use the spoken word at the same time which naturally increases my facial expressions and enhances my message. ASL is extremely convenient as well because we have often encountered others outside our home who are familiar or even fluent in signing. It's incredible to watch others interact with my pups in a productive and meaningful way!

But, the message I hope everyone understands first and foremost is that communication is key in our success. We all need to be able to communicate, to understand, and to be understood. Without a solid method of communication our pups, like us, will become frustrated and anxious. I encourage folks to get a pocket-sized handbook on ASL and start! It's not only fun, it's a game changer!!

Tips - Halloween Safety

American Sign Language with Deaf Dogs