Here comes the spookiest night of the year, but it'll be fine for Max and Fluffy if you exercise some prudence and common sense. Dogs naturally love sugar and are interested in all candy, but candy is bad news for a couple of reasons. Depending on the size of your dog, chocolate can literally be lethal, and artificial sweeteners commonly found in some candies and gum are often highly toxic. And Max will happily wolf down a handful of candies, but will not likely bother to unwrap them. (No thumbs.) So candy wrappers pose a big choke hazard, not to mention the possibility of upsetting his tummy or causing a gastrointestinal blockage. If you suspect Fluffy has ingested something toxic you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.  

If Max doesn't dig wearing a costume, give him a break and don't make him wear one. Some dogs really do love it, but for those who don't, it can cause undue stress. If you do dress him up, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict his movement or hearing or impede his ability to breathe or bark. And be sure to try it on before the big night. If he seems distressed, allergic or shows any kind of weird behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.  When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that Fluffy and Max don't have a chance to dart out. And make sure they have proper identification just in case. A collar with tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver. 

Finally, all but the most social dogs and cats should probably be kept in a separate room away from the front part of the house during peak trick-or-treating hours, as constant doorbell ringing and frenetic front door activity can be really stressful for many dogs.

A native of Louisiana, SRQ Daily Columnist Gregg Flowers owns Dog's Best Friend Dog Training Services here in Sarasota, where he "teaches dogs and trains people." Gregg became fascinated by our relationship with dogs as a boy in the '60s, and by 1985 had developed his own unique style of working with dogs and their humans