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A video of a dog appearing frightened by Halloween decorations has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was posted by @monte_the_golden, the TikTok account of a golden retriever called Monte, and has 1.2 million views since it was shared on September 23.
A message overlaid on the video reads: "He's not a fan of spooky season."
The footage shows a man leading a golden retriever on a leash up some stairs outside a home. Different costumed figures could be seen along the stairs, including a skeleton wearing a hooded red coat. The dog is later seen immediately turning back and heading down the stairs.
A caption shared with the post simply reads: "Immediately no."
Why Do Dogs Get Scared During Halloween?
While Halloween might be a fun event for both children and adults, the annual holiday can be "particularly spooky" for some of our canine friends, veterinarians Ryan Llera and Lynn Buzhardt said in an article for VCA animal hospital chain.
The veterinarians advise it's best to leave your dog at home, instead of bringing them along for trick-or-treating with your kids.
Llera and Buzhardt said: "Even kid-loving dogs, intimately familiar with their normal exercise route, can be thrown off by extra people on the street and may become agitated. Scary-looking costumed humans that approach for a friendly pat on the head may frighten your dog.
"This fear reaction can be unsettling for dogs and downright dangerous for trick or treaters. Scared dogs, even the nicest ones, may growl and bite when they feel threatened."
Halloween Safety Tips for Dogs
Those who do want to bring their dog outside during Halloween should be sure their pet is kept on a non-retractable leash, keeping them close to you "at all times," Llera and Buzhardt advised in the aforementioned VCA article.
"Be vigilant as you observe your surroundings and assess people approaching you. Guard against friendly, excited children who want to pet your dog. Too much physical contact from strangers who do not look like normal humans, combined with the natural desire to protect his owner, can instigate an aggressive reaction from dogs," the veterinarians explained.
Dog owners should also be mindful of Halloween decorations as well as any costumes they wear or put on their pets.
Be careful when carving out pumpkins because while they may not be toxic, "pumpkin and pumpkin seeds can upset a pet's stomach, especially when consumed in large quantities," Llera and Buzhardt noted.
"Fall-colored corn cobs are pretty, but they can obstruct the intestinal tract and often require surgical removal," they added.
Any decorative lights and power cords should be kept out of your pet's reach to prevent them from nibbling on any electrical cords. The candles placed inside pumpkins also pose as fire hazards if they're toppled over by your dog.
Costumes placed on dogs should not be restrictive but also not be too loose to avoid trip hazards. Owners should also beware of any buttons, loose strings or other small parts of their dog's costume as well as any their wear themselves that can potentially be chewed off and swallowed.
'Hate Being Scared'
Several TikTok users were understanding of the dog's reaction in the viral clip.
Madeline love simply wrote: "Poor baby."
Barry Marshall331 said: "I don't like it either buddy."
User hutton agreed, saying: "I am with you buddy, hate being scared."
User jmp7631 wrote: "Oh yeah, my dog HATES Halloween decorations. Going for walks in October is a challenge."
User caitlin_garman said: "My golden is the same lol scared little babies."
Dani Dillig also shared: "Our golden is scared of everythiiiiiiing!..."
Elsa Nelson said the dog was a "Good boy, he sense the creepiness."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email. This video has not been independently verified.
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About the writer
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in Read more