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The
Sunday Fetch
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Edition 20
Halloween |
The week in dogs, with a spooky twist.
Good morning, dog lover.
With Halloween just days away, we’ve been thinking about
how differently dogs experience our favorite traditions.
For Sputnik, it means another starring role in one of
his mom’s wonderfully elaborate creations. For others,
a quiet evening away from the doorbell is much more
their style. This Sunday, there’s room for both.
Pour yourself something warm and settle in for our
second helping of Halloween, with a little wonder,
a few laughs, and a happy ending worth staying for.
The Lead · Halloween Special This Dachshund Has a Halloween Wardrobe You Need to See Sputnik's first Halloween costume was a homemade cosmonaut suit. It lasted less than five minutes before puppy energy brought the mission to an early end. But his mom wasn't giving up. She was only getting started. Since then, she's transformed her little dachshund into movie icons, dinosaurs, and some wonderfully unexpected creations. Her imagination brings the costumes to life, while Sputnik supplies the priceless expressions. And some of these photos really have to be seen to be believed.
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Quick Fetches
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01 |
An astronaut, a trash can, and a Knicks star walk into a dog parade... The Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade returned to New York City, and the costumes were something else. Hundreds of dogs showed up in their Halloween best, but one little basketball star took home the top prize. See the costumes that stole the show → |
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02 |
This dog probably has better Halloween decorations than you. Teddy the golden retriever's doghouse got a full Halloween makeover, complete with a ghostly pillow, his own portrait, and even a dancing skeleton in the fish tank. His human clearly understood the assignment. Take a look inside Teddy's spooky doghouse → |
Dog Science
Can dogs really smell fear?
Ever noticed your dog watching you a little more closely when you're nervous? They might be picking up on something you can't even notice yourself. When we're stressed or frightened, the smell of our breath and sweat changes. And dogs can detect those changes, even when we haven't said a word.
In a 2022 experiment, four specially trained dogs were given scent samples collected from people before and after a stressful task. They correctly identified the stressed samples in 93.75% of the tests. Other research suggests that smelling human stress can sometimes make dogs more cautious, although not every dog reacts the same way.
Of course, your dog isn't reading your mind. They might notice you're nervous without knowing why. So while you may be able to hide your nerves behind a smile, your dog's nose might be a little harder to fool.
Explore the science behind it →Halloween Safety
Is the Halloween doorbell stressing out your dog? Here's how to help.
For some dogs, the hardest part of Halloween starts before anyone even opens the door. Between the nonstop ringing, unfamiliar voices, and strange costumes, the evening can quickly become overwhelming.
The good news? You don't need to teach your dog to love Halloween. A few simple changes at home can make the night much calmer — and help prevent a frightened dash through the front door. Here's a practical four-step plan you can put together before the trick-or-treaters arrive.
| Get the 4-step Halloween plan → |
The Heartwarmer A tiny dog vanished into Yellowstone. For 34 days, no one could catch her. On September 10, 10-year-old Luna slipped out of her family's vacation cabin and disappeared into Yellowstone National Park. The little terrier was suddenly alone in a vast wilderness home to bears, wolves, and coyotes. For weeks, park employees caught glimpses of her crossing roads and wandering near lodges. But whenever someone tried to help, Luna ran away again. Her family had returned to California, winter was approaching, and rescuers were running out of time. Then rescuers made one surprisingly simple change to their plan. What happened next brought an extraordinary 34-day search to an end.
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The Pack Has Spoken
Last week, we asked what scares your dog most on Halloween. The doorbell ringing nonstop led with 62.5%, followed by people in strange costumes at 25%.
The verdict: Halloween's scariest sound isn't a ghostly whisper. It's "ding-dong"... for the fifteenth time.
This week's question
Is your dog dressing up for Halloween?
Cast your vote. The Pack verdict returns next Sunday.
One last thing before you go.
Some dogs have a Halloween wardrobe worthy of a magazine spread. Others would rather spend the evening in a quiet room while someone else handles the door. Wherever yours falls, we hope there’s something in this edition for both of you. And after following Luna’s story, an ordinary evening with your dog safely beside you sounds pretty wonderful, too.
See you next Sunday. Until then, give a dog you love our compliments on their Halloween look, whether they’re wearing a homemade masterpiece, a crooked bandana, or absolutely nothing at all.
