Halloween with dog
Halloween with your dog: The best costumes, pumpkin recipes, and tips for a stress-free spooky night
Reading time: approx. 6 minutes
- Halloween costumes for dogs: creative, comfortable and safe
- DIY pumpkin recipes for dogs
- Pro tip: Chop up Snoggos snacks and mix them into the food as a healthy addition
- Halloween with your dog: 4 tips for a stress-free spooky night
- Conclusion
Spooky times are upon us, Halloween is approaching, and little ghosts and witches are stalking the streets everywhere, hunting for candy. But while we humans enjoy the fun of scary costumes, Halloween is often less enjoyable for our four-legged friends. Loud noises, strange figures, and unfamiliar excitement can quickly trigger stress. In this blog post, we'll not only show you dog-friendly costume ideas, but also delicious pumpkin recipes and helpful tips so your dog can enjoy Halloween just as carefree as you do!
Halloween costumes for dogs: creative, comfortable and safe
While it's tempting to dress your dog in an elaborate costume, your four-legged friend's comfort always comes first. Halloween costumes for dogs shouldn't just look scary, funny, or cute, but above all, they shouldn't restrict your four-legged friend's freedom of movement, give him enough room to breathe, and don't impair his senses. Therefore, choose light, loose-fitting costumes that are neither too tight nor too heavy to ensure the fun is enjoyable for both parties. Well, let's dive into the world of scary and cute costumes for our four-legged friends.
Bandana with Halloween motifs
A bandana is a simple yet comfortable way to get your dog in the Halloween spirit without any restrictions. Featuring eye-catching Halloween patterns, it gives your four-legged friend a cute yet festive look while still allowing them to move freely and comfortably. It's the perfect choice for dogs who don't like elaborate costumes but still want to be part of the Halloween fun.
Superhero cape
With a fluttering cape, your dog will become the brave savior of Halloween night! Tied loosely around the neck and resting slightly on the back, it won't interfere with your four-legged friend's romping. This cape creates the ultimate superhero look without compromising your dog's comfort.
Glowing collar
With an LED collar, your dog will be the shining star of Halloween night! The soft light not only provides a great visual effect, but also ensures safety by keeping your dog clearly visible in the dark. The perfect accessory to give your dog a magical look without disturbing them – allowing them to move freely while still being seen by everyone!
ghost costume
A loose, white cloth with cut-out eyeholes can transform your dog into a friendly ghost. Make sure your dog can see, breathe, and move freely. This costume is only suitable if your dog accepts it easily and feels comfortable in it. If your dog shows signs of discomfort or is bothered, it's best to remove the costume and choose a more comfortable alternative.
DIY pumpkin recipes for dogs
We love the month of October—not only is Halloween just around the corner, but pumpkin season is also in full swing! Below, we'll give you valuable pumpkin-related tips and show you delicious recipes you can easily recreate at home for your four-legged friend.
Pumpkin – a true superfood for dogs
Pumpkins are not only perfect decorations for spooky evenings, but also a true nutritional bomb for dogs. Rich in vitamins, fiber, and minerals, pumpkin is the ideal ingredient for offering your four-legged friend healthy treats this fall. A true superfood for dogs.
Here are some benefits of pumpkin for your dog:
- Fiber: Supports digestion and helps with constipation or diarrhea.
- Vitamins: Contains vitamins A and C, which strengthen the immune system.
- Low in calories: Ideal for dogs who need to watch their weight.
- Hydration: Helps provide your dog with additional fluids.
Varieties like Hokkaido, butternut, bishop's cap, nutmeg, and spaghetti squash are ideal for delicious dog recipes. However, the Hokkaido squash is particularly popular because it can be used with its skin intact and doesn't require laborious hollowing.
Most edible pumpkins are safe for dogs and can be fed raw, cooked, steamed, baked, or pureed. However, to optimize nutrient absorption and ease digestion, we recommend gently cooking, chopping, or pureing the pumpkin. Important: Make sure to remove the seeds. Dogs love all kinds of pumpkin—try different recipes and find out what your four-legged friend enjoys best.
Now that we've learned about the numerous benefits of pumpkin for dogs, it's time to get in the kitchen! We'll show you two simple and healthy pumpkin recipes that you can easily recreate for your dog at home. Whether as a main meal or a snack, your four-legged friend will love these pumpkin treats!
Pumpkin soup for dogs
Ingredients:
- 1 Hokkaido pumpkin
- 1 carrot
- 1 liter of water
- Optional: boiled chicken or beef
Preparation:
- Cut the washed pumpkin and carrot into pieces and simmer in water for about 30 to 40 minutes.
- Puree everything and optionally add meat and some pumpkin seed oil.
Pumpkin meat stew
Ingredients:
- 1 Hokkaido pumpkin
- 250 g beef or chicken
- 1 sweet potato
- 1/2 tsp celery salt
- 500 ml water
Preparation:
- Cut the pumpkin, meat and sweet potato into small cubes.
- Bring the meat to a boil in a pot with 500 ml of water and cook for about 15 minutes.
- Add pumpkin and sweet potato, stir in celery salt, and simmer for another 20 minutes until tender.
- After cooling, serve the meat stew as a main meal.
Pro tip: Chop up Snoggos snacks and mix them into the food as a healthy addition
After preparing the food, you can chop up our functional snacks and sprinkle them over the food as a topping. This not only gives your dog an extra dose of nutrients, but also makes their meal even healthier and tastier. A perfect addition to pumpkin recipes!
Want to learn more about our plant-based snacks? Click here .
Halloween with your dog: 4 tips for a stress-free spooky night
Now that you're fully equipped with creative costumes and delicious pumpkin recipes for your dog, there's only one thing missing: How do you ensure that Halloween is a relaxed and stress-free night for your four-legged friend? After all, all the excitement, loud noises, and numerous costumes can be overwhelming for our dogs. That's why we've put together four helpful tips to make the spooky night as pleasant as possible for your dog. Let's get started!
Walks before the hustle and bustle
Plan your walk early in the evening, before the Halloween festivities get underway. Give your dog plenty of time to really work out the energy—a longer, active walk helps burn off excess energy. This way, your dog will be relaxed when the noise and costumed people appear on the streets. Choose a quiet route away from busy areas and avoid noisy or crowded areas. A relaxed dog will be better able to handle the evening hustle and bustle if they've already had enough exercise.
Create a safe place to retreat
Set up a quiet place in the house for your dog to retreat to if the Halloween excitement gets too much. A cozy corner with his favorite toy and a blanket can help reduce stress.
Dampen noises
Halloween can be loud—doorbells, children's voices, and spooky noises. Close the windows and doors and play calming music or turn on the TV to mask the outside noise.
Do not feed Halloween candy
Make sure your dog doesn't get access to sweets on Halloween; chocolate and sugary snacks are especially dangerous. Chocolate contains methylxanthines, which are toxic to dogs and can cause symptoms such as restlessness, vomiting, or diarrhea even in small amounts. In severe cases, it can even lead to seizures, nerve damage, or even death. Other sweets, such as candy or chewing gum containing xylitol, are also dangerous and should be kept out of reach of dogs. Instead, feed them delicious pumpkin dishes so your four-legged friend can also be safely pampered.
Conclusion
Halloween with your dog can be a wonderful experience, as long as you keep their comfort and safety in mind. With the right comfortable costumes, delicious and healthy pumpkin recipes, and the right preparations like long walks and a safe place to retreat, stress can be avoided. This will make Halloween not only a relaxing but also an unforgettable experience for both of you!