Howl-O-Ween Treats

It is Howl-O-Ween Season and pets everywhere are looking forward to the Treats, but not the Tricks. It is the time of year when we anxiously wait for the inevitable, to be squeezed into the various ridiculous outfits that accompany this season of weirdness, hoping to at least get a decent treat out of our humiliation. So today I decided to focus on a dog’s favorite part of Halloween – treats! Treats can not only brighten the day of your pets but they also help with the bonding process between animal and person. And particularly for dogs like me, they can also be paramount to our training regime, from learning basic good manners to doing somersaults, bike riding, and surfing.

While dog treats will motivate your pup, reinforce behavior and accelerate training, they need to be used correctly. The top three focus point for training your dog through treats (which Second Chance recommends as one of the positive training approaches used to train shelter dogs for adoption) are:

1) Once your dog is reliably responding to your commands, vary the reward. In addition to offering treats, also offer verbal praise, petting, an ear rub or a toss of her favorite toy. 2) Use soft treats and make them small; they can be eaten quickly, keeping your dog focused, and it’s all about quantity from a dog’s perspective! 3) Consider your dog’s total food intake for the day, treats included, cutting back at mealtimes as needed so you don’t overdo it.

And of course, as discussed in past Pet Columns, keep your pets away from the kid’s Halloween “treating” profits of chocolates and candies – as well as chewable and non-digestible Halloween decorations. Your pets will greatly appreciate your attention to this matter.

As for me, the other shelter pets and I are all settling in nicely at our new home at Angel Ridge Ranch and it is time you came to visit us. We enthusiastically invite you to come celebrate Howl-O-ween with us! Second Chance is hosting an Open House Halloween Party to celebrate the success of moving to Angel Ridge Ranch. We’ll be carving pumpkins, bobbing for apples, eating Howl-O-Ween treats, and having an array of Howl-O-Ween costume contests.

Please join us on Saturday October 29th from 1-4 PM! It is a great opportunity to tour the property and see why Angel Ridge Ranch is the perfect new home for Second Chance Humane Society. My name is Benjamin Button – I will be the cute dog in the Brad Pitt costume…

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs. Visit our shelter pets online: www.adoptmountainpets.org. Direct Pet Column questions to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Photos by Real Life Photographs.