Hallowe'en advice
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If you frighten a child... that child will then decide to come to you anyway ........or not right? One house skipped won't hurt their amount of candy! It will be rare though.  Even the kids that were scared... were still dying to touch our dog ...just not actually come close to do it. Yuki ALWAYS goes trick or treating with us. Last year we just passed out candy and she's the "treat" it seems like!!! You'd think with so many kids in the street, people would hate if someone brought their dog (leashed of course) ...but I actually don't think anyone thought that since she was controlled ...although anyone we walked by WANTED her to come to them. Yuki is our very aloof dog, so she's really not interested in going to people. So that was a bonus. ...so OF COURSE I think that is a great idea!!! I wouldn't if your dog did come off wild and too eager to get to the children before the children can get "to you." That comes off scary imo.  I also would keep your dog a few seats away from the candy too. Just seems more welcoming to a child I would think??TAKE PICS!! |
| No, my guys don't like Halloween so we lock the front gate and don't participate. As for Mady, how about a run thru? Ask some kids to stop by, in their costume, at night while you sit out with her. Have them pretend it's Halloween and to the "Trick or Treat" call. See how Mady behaves. The girl has a few things to over come, people coming out of the dark, masks, excitement. She may not be ready this year. Worth a try. If you can get her her own costume, princess for sure, that would be cute. |
| The run through idea is a good one. I think you said you have lots of nieces and nephews so maybe you can enlist them. Buy some masks now and wear them yourselves and make a game of it. Last Christmas I bought Tiggy one of those fairy costumes they make for little girls. The wings have elastic loops for kids arms so I put those over Tiggy's front legs. I had to let the skirt out a bit to fit it round her tummy  So I sewed some pink ribbon to the "let out" bit and tied it in a big bow on her back. The little halo thingy looked really cute. Tiggy won our obedience school's Christmas breakup best dressed prize.  |
| Last Halloween was our first in a neighborhood with trick or treat-ors. Tonks and Luna are trained to sit on the sofa when the doorbell rings. Poor things were on and off, and on and off that sofa for the first 20 minutes or so. After that, we called them to the door so when we opened it, the kids were greeted by two wiggling sheepdogs. For us it was a no-brainer: the girls love kids, and many of the neighborhood kids have come over to play with the dogs. So we had little fear it would be a problem. It was also a great way for our new neighbors to meet not only us, but our dogs. I'd try a dry run; I thinkMim may be onto something with that idea! |
We dressed our first sheepdog, Quincy, as a vampire, figuring he already had the fangs. I bought a human vampire cape, with a stand-up collar, cut it down to size, and voila, Count Quincula! We would sit out on the driveway with Quincy (leashed) and hand out candy. We had TONS of kids in that neighborhood, and I don't remember anyone skipping our house because of the dog. Many parents took pictures of their kids with him. He was a rock star....... (I still miss my Quincy Bear.......)  Oscar is way too freaked out by quick movement to ever be out on Halloween. So I have retired the cape, and our "Count" days are over. Laurie and Oscar |
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| Last year we had the candy in a bowl on a table outside the gate so the kids could come up and take it without coming in. The dogs were dressed with devil ears and did get rather excited running up and down by the gate as the kids came. I stood there to insure no one put their hands inside the gate - just in case. BUT even the best trained dogs, accustomed to kids, etc van become freightened with the costumes and kids runing up to them. Last thing you want is your dog jumping on a little child and hurting them - by accident of course,, but that is not usually how parents will see it. It is ALWAYS seen as the dogs fault. Of course, alwasy beware that chocolate can be poisonous to dogs so be sure kids don't feed your dog.... |
| We very often have kids approach and want to pet our sheepies at our outdoor fairs, and Ive noticed one circumstance that can cause problems: too many at once. My dogs both adore kids, but can become overwhelmed when large numbers of them (more than 4 or so at a time) come at them from all sides. Add costumes and candy to that and I could see a very overwhelming situation. I'd definitely try it out with some kids you already know, and be careful about large groups. Otherwise, this sounds like fun! I wish we got trick-or-treaters...our home, sadly, is just to remote and inaccessible  . |
Mim wrote: The run through idea is a good one. I think you said you have lots of nieces and nephews so maybe you can enlist them. Buy some masks now and wear them yourselves and make a game of it. Last Christmas I bought Tiggy one of those fairy costumes they make for little girls. The wings have elastic loops for kids arms so I put those over Tiggy's front legs. I had to let the skirt out a bit to fit it round her tummy So I sewed some pink ribbon to the "let out" bit and tied it in a big bow on her back. The little halo thingy looked really cute. Tiggy won our obedience school's Christmas breakup best dressed prize. And the pictures are where? |
| reading this and smiling, thinking about many years of 400 to 500 kids for halloween and how truly enjoyable it was. our dogs were put away because we just thought it was too overwhelming for them. they were both great socializers. i've got to mention though how hats and glasses alone can throw off a dogs perception, let alone masks and costumes. not so much with children as adults. 2 of our 5 dogs who had never shown anything but mild manners were aggressive with adults in full uniforms. so, on a test run, you may wanna check an adult in costume. otherwise, have a blast.  boy, do i wish i had pictures. |
Simon's Mom wrote: Mim wrote: The run through idea is a good one. I think you said you have lots of nieces and nephews so maybe you can enlist them. Buy some masks now and wear them yourselves and make a game of it. Last Christmas I bought Tiggy one of those fairy costumes they make for little girls. The wings have elastic loops for kids arms so I put those over Tiggy's front legs. I had to let the skirt out a bit to fit it round her tummy So I sewed some pink ribbon to the "let out" bit and tied it in a big bow on her back. The little halo thingy looked really cute. Tiggy won our obedience school's Christmas breakup best dressed prize. And the pictures are where? Grrrrrr dont get me started. It was hubby's job to take pics. He took a few shots from the front so you cant see her outfit. And then spent the rest of the day eating sausages and hamburgers!  |
oh dat wayne!!!  |
Mim wrote: Simon's Mom wrote: Mim wrote: The run through idea is a good one. I think you said you have lots of nieces and nephews so maybe you can enlist them. Buy some masks now and wear them yourselves and make a game of it. Last Christmas I bought Tiggy one of those fairy costumes they make for little girls. The wings have elastic loops for kids arms so I put those over Tiggy's front legs. I had to let the skirt out a bit to fit it round her tummy So I sewed some pink ribbon to the "let out" bit and tied it in a big bow on her back. The little halo thingy looked really cute. Tiggy won our obedience school's Christmas breakup best dressed prize. And the pictures are where? Grrrrrr dont get me started. It was hubby's job to take pics. He took a few shots from the front so you cant see her outfit. And then spent the rest of the day eating sausages and hamburgers! Are you sure your Wayne isn't my David's long lost twin?? |
| We dont usually do Hollowene here but one year I did. Brie as "Hairy Potter"  Easy costume, wizard hat was el cheapo, added a bit of Hat-elastic so it went under the jaw to keep the hat on, a party mask with sparkles and you cant see in this photo a piece of black material with a bit of elastic around the neck to make a cape, she accepted her mom doing this to her, I really think she loves "Dress Ups" |
Mady wrote: Are you sure your Wayne isn't my David's long lost twin?? That's quite possible they both have a Y chromosome!! |
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