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Pawsitive Dog Training: Sit, Stay & Succeed
October 2026
October is finally here and that means fall and one of my favorite holidays, Halloween is here too! Let's hope things continue to cool down this month. I am tired of the heat, and I am sure many of you are as well.
Remember to keep candy and chocolate out of reach of Fido! Many candies are toxic to dogs, whether they contain chocolate, xylitol, or birch sugar. These can potentially make your dog extremely sick or result in their death.
If you attend a Halloween Party or go Trick-or-Treating, please consider leaving your dog at home where they will be much happier. Dogs do not understand that we dress up in costumes. For some dogs, it can be horrifying to see a stranger or even someone they know wearing a mask. Trust me, your dog will be much happier at home!
Watch your doors Halloween night when you are handing out goodies to gremlins and witches at your doors. Fido might just take the opportunity to run out. I would suggest keeping any dog living in your home in another room away from the front door with a nice bone to chew on or some other fun activity. The strangers at the door might not give you a fright, but Fido may be worried about them.
Dressing up this time of year is always fun for us but may not be fun for Fido. Remember, clothes are not something your dog may be used to. I would suggest a festive collar, leash, or bow for your best friend to wear. But if they must wear a costume make sure you slowly get them used to it by allowing them to sniff the clothing followed by putting it on and taking it off. Give your dog plenty of treats and praise for putting up with your silliness!
The day of Halloween I would suggest taking your dog for a walk and give them a few enrichment activities to do. When the nighttime festivities begin, they won’t be as stressed and will be ready for a nice nap.
I hope everyone has a very happy and safe October!
Meet the Hellhound
In keeping with the spooky theme of the season, I thought I would introduce you to a mythical breed of dog: the hellhound! This spooky creature is traditionally a guardian or servant of Hell and appears in different forms of folklore all over the world.
The most common dog that comes to mind when one thinks of this creature is Cerberus from Greek mythology. This giant, three-headed dog guarded the entrance to the Underworld.
No matter what part of the world you get your description of a hellhound from, this beast has some common characteristics. This harbinger of death is usually black with glowing red eyes and is supernaturally large and strong.
When you look up some of this dog’s legends, you are sure to find some bone-chilling stories that are sure to cause a fright this Halloween season!
Student Spotlight
This month’s Student Spotlight goes to these two cuties! Bailey (left) is a happy, bubbly puppy who is eager to learn. Sammy (right) is the veteran, helping to show her new brother the ropes.
These two are wonderful to work with. Both are so joyful!
🐾 Dog Days of October 🐾
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and National Pet Wellness Month
October 1 - 7 - National Walk Your Dog Week
October 1 - National Fire Pup Day and National Black Dog Day
October 4 - World Animal Day
October 17 - National Fetch Day
October 21 - National Pets for Veterans Day and Pitbull Awarness Day
October 31 - Halloween and Paws for Community Event
Will your dog be dressing up for Halloween?
Yes
No
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