SDTI Monthly Newsletter
October 2025 Edition
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Happy Halloween!
Featured Resource This Month
Nailed it! Confidence Games for Owner-Trained Service Dogs
Part of our Advanced Training courses, for Public Access.
Ideal for the Halloween Season, this classes teaches you how to prepare your dog how to ignore or deal with many common situations they will encounter in their working life.
ACCESS
24/7 for 2 years
FORMAT
Self-study
Regular Price: CA$75
Special Price: CA$37.50
Use this coupon code when registering:
nail50off
Mini Quiz Challenge
When considering a Halloween costume for your service dog, what’s the most important thing to remember?
1.Themed gear, like a festive bandana and colored harness, can be fun 🎃
2. Keep it simple so it doesn’t interfere with their work or cause others to distract your dog 🐕🦺
3. Use pet-safe, washable dye for a festive look instead of a full costume 🎨
4. All of the above. 🐾
Did You Know?
…that many sugar-free candies and gum hide a scary secret ingredient called xylitol? 👻 While it’s sweet for humans, it’s bone-chillingly toxic for dogs—causing blood sugar to crash and even damaging their liver.
…that plain pumpkins (no sugar, no spice-fresh or canned) make a fang-tastically healthy treat for your service dog—no tricks, just tasty treats in moderation? 🎃🐾 Add them to your favorite training treat recipe.
…that reflective or glow-in-the-dark gear can turn your service dog into a glowing ghostly guardian on Halloween night—keeping them and you safe from passing cars in the dark? 🌙👻
…that dogs have a reflective layer in their eyes called the tapetum? 👀 That’s what gives them those spooky glowing eyes at night—shining in eerie shades of green/blue or gold! 👻✨
Featured Resources
Video: Desensitize Your Dog to Household Sounds
There are many unexpected sounds at halloween events. Start with simple things at home and build from there.
FREE Blog Post: Preparing Your Service Dog for Night Time Outings
Going out at night, especially on halloween can be a very unusual experience for a service dog.
FREE Blog Post: How to Desensitize Your Dog to Scary Costumes (for Halloween and Disney visits)
Following a Step by Step process can be fun for you both, and prepare your dog for strangers in costumes.
PAID Blog Post for Training Professionals: 40 Insider Holiday Preparation Topics for Service Dog Teams
The holiday season—whether it’s Halloween, fireworks on New Year’s Eve, or family gatherings around Thanksgiving—can present some of the most unpredictable and challenging environments for service dog teams.
Training Tips
Plan Ahead
Begin preparing weeks in advance so your dog has time to build skills and desensitize gradually. Trying to cram right before Halloween only adds stress. If you can’t, then leaving your dog at home might be the better option. Plan for next year.
Crowd Readiness
If you’ll be walking through busier neighborhoods or going to parties, practice loose-leash walking and settle in progressively busier places before the big night.
Safe Space Training
Teach your dog to settle in a crate or quiet room as their “haunted hideaway” if Halloween gets too overwhelming. 👻 Choose a location away from the front door and windows, where knocks and spooky sounds are muffled. Practice using the space well before Halloween so your dog already feels calm and comfortable retreating there when the big night arrives. Consider playing music or white noise to cover some outside sounds.
Emergency Exit Plan
If you are attending parties, haunted houses and other events, always know where a second exit point is and plan a shorter visit especially if it’s your dog first few times attending. What for subtle body language signals they’re getting overwhelmed. It’s better to end the night early than push past your dog’s comfort zone.
Events This Month
FREE QA Chat
Date: Sat. Oct. 11 at 1pm Pacific
Topic: Ghosts, Goblins, and Guidance: Halloween Survival for Service Dogs
Share your own experiences, creative solutions, or Halloween hacks with the group! See what has worked for others and pick up new ideas for your team. community.
The QA Chat will be recorded and added to the library so if you cannot attend, it will be available. At just CA$11 per month (~US$8.25), it’s a great way to support us. Sign up for a day, get access for the month. Cancel anytime!