Think Twice About Putting Your Pooch In A Costume This Halloween

Yes, we know it looks cute, TikTok and Instagram are full of examples, but putting your dog in fancy dress at Halloween may not be the coolest thing to do.

Vets believe dog costumes, and even those cute little tweed coats you think are keeping them comfortable, could cause painful rubbing against a dog's skin, as well as causing them to potentially overheat and get stressed.

Even The British Vet Association said costumes can prevent some pets from regulating their body temperature and breathing freely.

Dressing up dogs in some cases can also prevent them from expressing their natural behaviours and from using their body language to communicate.

Halloween is already quite a stressful time for some dogs, with excited children, people looking different in costumes and masks, and lots of unfamiliar people coming to the door. It's always best to try to keep pets calm and reassured, rather than to add to any anxiety and discomfort by dressing them uptoo.

Take a minute to ask yourself “does dressing up my dog offer any tangible benefits for it?

And don’t forget Halloween is closely followed by that another stressful time of the year for our furry friends, that being Fireworks Night!