While out shopping today, I noticed that the stores are already selling Halloween costumes everywhere. This reminded me to write a post on dressing up your dogs.
There are lots of people who want to make their pets part of the Halloween festivities. I remember as a child I had a small dog that I would dress up in my doll's clothes. The dog didn't mind too much. However, not every dog is as good-natured with playing dress-up as that little dog of my youth.
Here are some things you might want to consider, before you buy that Halloween costume for your dog:

You leave your house and your dog is barking and howling and won’t stop all day. You come home after work and your dog has destroyed the blinds on your living room windows or chewed up your furniture. You put your dog in his crate and he digs at the gate, frantically trying to get out. These are some canine behaviors signaling your dog may suffer from stress and behavior problems when left alone.
Sadly, such behavior problems are one of the most common reasons why owners get rid of their dogs. This is unfortunate because these kind of behavior problems can be treated by implementing a few simple strategies.

Does your dog misbehave on-leash? Is he lunging and frantically barking at other dogs, people, or even cars?

Many dog owners struggle with reactive behavior in their dogs. They are frustrated and anxious because their dog misbehaves on-leash. They walk their dogs at odd hours of the day to ensure they won't meet anyone or they may even avoid taking their dogs out for a walk.

What many dog owners don't realize is that reactive behavior in dogs is not always aggressive.  In many cases, reactive behavior comes out of insecurity or can be caused by hyper-excitement.

I love making my own dog treats and my dogs love to eat them!

Here is a recipe from my canine recipe book "Chew On This - Homemade Dog Treat Recipes" using spinach and rice as the main ingredients.

Dogs need to chew – it’s how they clean their teeth and  release stored up energy.
Just like little babies, young puppies like to explore/experience the world around them with their teeth.

You can give your dog stuff to chew on or your dog will find it for himself. If you leave it up to your pooch, he may choose your carpet or your shoes.

Having your dog chew up things in your home is frustrating and can get expensive, so it is better to go to the pet-store and find some chew toys and chew foods for him. Read on to find out about chew toys and chew foods and why having both is important.

Training your dog to see the crate as a safe and comfortable place is very important. Follow these 5 easy exercises  and your dog will learn to love his crate/carrier.

However, making my own treats isn’t just less expensive, it also offers me the opportunity to carefully choose the ingredients I want to use. I can even add herbs and oils that have holistic properties. If you would like to make your own dog treats, here are some tips to help you get started.