Trick or treat? This year, forget the treats. Halloween is one of the most unsettling nights of the year for lots of dogs: a doorbell that never stops, strangers in strange outfits, the first fireworks of the season and a house full of sweets. The good news is that a few simple tricks make a real difference. Here are ours.

Why do dogs get scared at Halloween?

From your dog's point of view, Halloween turns a normal evening upside down. The doorbell rings again and again, and every time it opens there are new people on the step, often in masks or costumes that change how they look, sound and smell. Even dogs who love visitors can find that alarming. Add the first fireworks of the season, a later dinner and a change to the usual routine, and it is easy to see why so many dogs find the evening hard work.

If fireworks are the bigger worry for your dog, our guide to Bonfire Night and Halloween covers planning for the whole season through to New Year's Eve.

How can I tell if my dog is scared?

Fear does not always look dramatic. Watch for panting when they have not been exercising, pacing, trembling, a tucked tail, ears pinned back, lip licking, yawning, showing the whites of their eyes, hiding, clinging to you or barking at the door more than usual. Some dogs go quiet and still, which is easy to mistake for calm. If you spot any of these, the tricks below will help.

Trick 1: Get the walk done in daylight

Walk your dog before it gets dark and before trick-or-treaters and fireworks get going. A dog who has been well exercised and had a chance to go to the toilet is far more likely to settle for the evening, and it saves you a walk through busy, noisy streets later on.

Trick 2: Set up a quiet room away from the front door

Choose a room at the back of the house, with their bed, water and a few familiar things. Close the curtains, put the TV or some music on to soften the noise from 

outside, and settle them in before the doorbell starts. The aim is somewhere that feels normal and safe, not somewhere they feel shut away.

Trick 3: Give them something to do

A job takes a dog's mind off what is happening outside. A lick mat spread with WITHIN wet food, a stuffed chew toy or a snuffle mat keeps them busy through the busiest hours, and licking and sniffing are activities many dogs find settling. There are more enrichment ideas in our back to school routine guide.

Trick 4: Answer the door on your terms

Every open door is a chance for a frightened dog to bolt. Keep your dog behind a closed door or baby gate whenever you answer, and check their ID tag and microchip details are up to date. If your dog really struggles, leave a bowl of sweets outside with a friendly note so the bell rings less often, or switch the porch light off, which is widely understood as a sign that you are not taking trick-or-treaters this year.

Trick 5: Keep the costume simple, or skip it

If your dog is happy wearing something, keep it to a bandana or a loose, lightweight top that leaves the eyes, ears, nose and legs completely free, with no small parts that could be chewed off and swallowed. Never leave a dog in a costume unsupervised. And if your dog is already nervous about Halloween, skip it. A relaxed dog without a costume beats a stressed one in a full outfit every time.

Trick 6: Make your decorations dog-proof

Swap candles in pumpkins for battery-operated LED lights, and keep anything with batteries, glow sticks, fake cobwebs and streamers well out of reach, as they can all cause harm if chewed or swallowed. Carved pumpkins go mouldy quickly, and mouldy food can make dogs unwell, so put them in the bin once they start to soften.

Trick 7: Think beyond tonight

Halloween is only the start of fireworks season. If your dog finds this time of year hard every year, WITHIN Advanced Calming Chewssupport relaxation without drowsiness. They work best with 4 to 6 weeks of daily feeding at the dose for your dog's weight, so if you are starting now, think of them as support through to New Year's Eve rather than a quick fix for Halloween night itself.

Which Halloween sweets are dangerous for dogs?

And now the treats, which is where the real tricks are hiding. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and dark and baking chocolate are the most dangerous. Xylitol, a sweetener found in many sugar-free sweets, chewing gum and some baked goods, is particularly dangerous even in small amounts. Grapes and raisins are toxic too, and mini boxes of raisins are a common trick-or-treat handout. Wrappers and lolly sticks can also cause a blockage if swallowed.

Keep sweet bowls up high rather than on a coffee table or by the front door, check what the kids bring home before any of it reaches the floor, and tidy wrappers away as you go. If your dog wants to join in, stick to their usual food or a small amount of something made for dogs.

When should I call the vet?

Contact your vet, or your out-of-hours vet, straight away if your dog has eaten chocolate, xylitol, grapes or raisins, a battery, or pieces of a wrapper, glow stick or decoration. Do not wait for symptoms. Note what they ate, roughly how much and when, and keep the packaging to show your vet.

Even a few stolen sweets that are not toxic can upset a dog's stomach for a day or two. Sticking to their usual food helps, and every WITHIN wet and dry recipe contains FormulaBiotics™ to help maintain a healthy gut microbiome. If vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day, gets worse or your dog seems unwell in themselves, call your vet. It is also worth talking to your vet if your dog's fear of Halloween or fireworks is severe or getting worse each year, as there is more they can do to help.

Halloween does not have to be a night your dog just gets through. With a daylight walk, a quiet room, something to do and the sweets well out of reach, plenty of dogs will settle and sleep through it. Those are the only tricks you need.