Fall is a great time to get outside, get festive, and enjoy the season. People have plenty of options between apple orchards, pumpkin patches, fall hikes, and much more. But how do we get our pets involved? Here are our favorite fall essentials to get your pet in the season!

Treats

There are plenty of fall flavors we enjoy and, fortunately, there are several ingredients that are also safe for your dog. If you’re not much of a baker, Bocce’s has a selection of seasonal treats for both dogs and cats!

You can also get your pup involved in pumpkin spice season and give them their own Pumpkin Latte. The great thing about these is, not only are they festive and palatable for your pet, but they also support GI health and immune function.

Calming Aids

It may be shocking to some, but fall can be a scary time of year for some pets. Not all dogs find costumes, yard decor, and spooky sounds as entertaining as we do, so we recommend finding the best calming aid for your pets. 

One option is a Thunder Shirt. Thunder shirts are made for both dogs and cats and are meant to apply mild pressure in a way that is calming for your pet. They are most popularly used for dogs during thunderstorms (hence the name!), but Halloween is also a good time to use these if you’re expecting a lot of trick-or-treaters or noise from nearby parties.

If a Thunder Shirt doesn’t sound like a good fit for your pet, there are also calming collars for both cats and dogs. Calming collars allow your pet to have access to a synthetic calming pheromone no matter where they are. So, even if you’re on a walk and are spooked by a new lawn decoration, your dog will be set up for success to react calmly.

If your pet simply doesn’t like collars or shirts but loves treats, a consumable calming aid may be for you. We recommend Chill + Out Calming Hemp Chews for situational stressors like trick-or-treaters or scary sounds from the neighborhood festivities–but always consult your vet before introducing anything new to your pet’s diet!

Items for the Great Outdoors

 Fall is about so much more than Halloween! It’s also a great time to get your pup out in the great outdoors. There are a few essentials for long hikes with your dogs in the crunchy leaves. A long line is a great tool to give your pup plenty of space to run and sniff while still remaining attached to you. Long lines are especially helpful during an enriching sniffari. 

If you’re going on a more focused walk with your dog by your side, you may need assistance in keeping your dog from pulling. While training is important here, a no-pull front-clip harness can be a great help as well. The key is to use the front-clip option so your dog turns towards you when they pull, rather than feeling resistance on their back, encouraging them to pull more in that “sled dog mentality.”

The longer you’re out in the great outdoors, the more likely your dog is to need water. It’s easy to remember water for your pup in the hot summer sun, but it can be easy to forget on a mild fall day. Dog travel water bottles are great for long hikes with your dog in any weather.

Weather Protection

While the weather is typically pretty mild, as fall progresses, it tends to get much chillier outside—especially depending on your location. If you live in a colder climate and have a dog who may not appreciate the lowered temperature, we recommend a sweater for your dog. Just be sure you train your dog to accept clothing and never force dressing your dog. You can even get matching sweatshirts for you and your dog!