🐕‍🦺 Trainer Tip Friday: When the World Gets Spooky — Helping Your Dog Handle Scary Sights 👻

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When was the last time your dog saw a clown… a pirate… Spider-Man… or the Grim Reaper?
For us, those are just funny Halloween sights. But for dogs, they can look like aliens invading their world — and that can trigger fear, barking, or reactivity.

This week, let’s talk about how to help your pup handle external scary stuff — people in costumes, spooky decorations, or anything that suddenly looks out of place.

🎃 1. Start Early, Start Easy

If you have costumes at home, bring them out before Halloween night.
Let your dog see one at a time from a distance. You can even set it on a chair or have someone wear it while standing still — nothing dramatic yet!

Keep the atmosphere calm and do short, positive sessions just a few minutes at a time.

🦴 2. Train Around It — Don’t Just Expose

Use familiar drills: “Watch Me,” “Touch,” or any of your regular owner-focus exercises.
Your goal isn’t to make your dog face the scary thing, but to help them check in with you around it.

Every calm glance back at you deserves a “Yes!” and a treat — that’s how we build resilience and confidence.

👻 3. The Three D’s — Distance, Duration, and Distraction

Once your dog is more comfortable, remember to layer in the third “D”: Distraction.

When trick-or-treaters come by, they’ll be moving, laughing, and full of energy — and so will you!
Help your dog prepare by practicing this ahead of time:

• Start with distance and short duration while movements stay slow and predictable.

• When your dog handles that well, become a little more animated — wave your arms, walk around, or speak in a playful tone.

Whenever you increase one “D,” keep the others lower. That balance keeps your dog from getting overwhelmed while still helping them learn that spooky sights and sounds are no big deal.

🧠 4. Respect Your Dog’s Feelings

Even with preparation, no dog will be calm about everything — and that’s okay.
If your dog reacts, it’s not about being “bad.” It’s communication. They’re saying, “I’m uncomfortable.” That’s a sign of trust, not defiance.

A few things to remember:

• Don’t scold or correct your dog for being scared — suppressing those emotions can backfire later, leading to bigger reactions.

• If it’s too much, remove them from the situation. Bring your dog indoors or to a quiet room away from the action.

• Use calming tools like a frozen treat, snuffle mat, or lick mat to help them self-soothe and lower their heart rate.

• Play soft music (classical or gentle acoustic) to help mask outside noise and keep the environment calm.

This helps your dog reset emotionally — and lets them know you’ll always have their back.

🧡 5. Celebrate the Wins

If your pup handles a new costume or spooky yard decoration like a champ, celebrate it!
A calm dog isn’t just “behaving” — they’re learning to trust you as their safe place, no matter what’s going on around them.

Remember: Every spooky sight is a new training opportunity. With patience, positivity, and a little bit of distance, your dog will learn that even Pennywise can’t ruin their focus.

🦮 Want help building confidence in your dog? Join us for classes at Zoom Room Colorado Springs — where every day is a chance to turn “scary” into “silly.”
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