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 A
party with both dogs and kids can be lots of fun. Here
are some party tips that will help dogs and
kids stay safe during your Halloween festivities.
Set
up rules and guidelines with parents and children
prior to the party.
Require RSVP of children. Get ages so that proper
activities are available.
Let
attendees know that children will be attending so that
if their dog is not comfortable with children then they
can decline.
Set
up structured activities that the kids can do. Examples: a
coloring contest (get a large sheet of paper and have
all the kids draw pictures of all the dogs at the
party). Try the Doggone Crazy Game (www.doggonecrazy.ca
<http://www.doggonecrazy.ca/>
),
Have
kids judge dog contests.
Have
a trivia quiz or game show focused on dog safety to
get the kids thinking early in the party about dog
safety. Tell the group that if each child can share a
dog safety tip, they all get a treat bag.
Know
all the dogs attending the party. Keep
the number of attending dogs low.
Supervision of both dogs and children must be
constant.
It is
best if dogs are leashed at parties with children.
Dog to dog interaction can turn ugly quickly and it is
too easy for children to get
caught in the middle.
Plan
any unleashed activities and interaction in a
designated area that the kids are not playing in.
Prior
to the party have a Dog bite prevention presentation
for kids. <http://www.doggonesafe.com/>
www.doggonesafe.com
Running and screaming children can be overstimulating
for many dogs and can trigger predatory responses in
others.
Halloween costumes disguise human appearances and
often make dogs uneasy. This is very important to keep
in mind for comfort and safety for both dogs and kids.
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