For many, Halloween is a time of costumes and parties, playing the occasional trick and, for both children and the child-at-heart, going out for trick-or-treating.
It's a time to deck out your houses in cobwebs and skeletons, with witches and their cauldrons of bubbling brew and with zombies and fountains that gurgle streams of fake blood.
It's a time to scare and to be scared.
Depending on your area, you may live in a town or a city that goes all out for Halloween, or you may find yourself in a milder atmosphere.
And for many of those with four-legged companions, Halloween is a time to show off your creative canine costumes in costume contests and around your neighbourhood.
But in order to have a safe Halloween - and for your pet, a happy 'Howl-o-ween' - there are some general guidelines that should be considered.
Here are the Big 6.
1 Costumes - Keep an eye on your dog's posture.
Does s/he seem to be moving comfortably? Is the costume fitted properly, allowing a full-range of movement and ensuring it doesn't restrict breathing or sensory abilities? Look out for a tucked or stiffened tail, flattened or 'twitchy' ears, a frequent shaking of the head - if your costume involves a headpiece - as all of these signs express the dog's discomfort.
Many dogs also have very expressive eyes and faces, so pay close attention to your dog's expression; you should be able to read whether or not the costume is uncomfortable.
2 Trick-or-Treat - Candy is for Halloween, not Howl-o-ween.
If you're passing out candy this year, make sure to keep it out of your dog's reach.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs and other candies and gum can also be harmful.
If you choose to take your dog out trick-or-treating, make sure you keep an eye out for spilt candy and crumpled up candy wrappers; make sure your dog has a relatively reliable 'leave it!' before taking him or her out to prevent your dog from snatching anything up that he or she may sniff out.
3 Trick-or-Treating - Taking your dog out for trick-or-treating, costumed or not, is a contentious issue among animal enthusiasts, and many animal venues, such as your local animal shelter(s), discourage this act.
Though it may be tempting to flaunt fire fighter Fido or 50's girl Fifi, be sure to keep their best interest in mind.
Many people partake in the 'trick' aspect of Halloween and pets are occasionally the mark of these acts; some dogs are easily spooked, even when not the targets of a prank scare.
Any dog taken out trick-or-treating needs to be reliable around other people - both adults and children.
Not only might children be amped up on sugar, but a dog in costume is tempting; even children who ask permission to pet the dog may initially run up, which could startle a skittish dog or even provoke fear aggression.
Your dog should also be reliable around other dogs.
Going door-to-door, you're likely to run into at least one dog who's there to greet you right along with that bowl of candy.
Even if you're not going door-to-door, you still run the risk of running into other dogs who are out trick-or-treating with their families.
As mentioned earlier, a reliable 'leave it!' is important.
4 Pumpkins - If you participate in the festive carving of pumpkins, make sure to keep your pumpkins out of your dog's reach.
Consider keeping pumpkins on the porch instead of indoors; keeping pumpkins outside not only reduces the risk of a singed nose, the tipping of candles or even the spilling of hot wax, you get to show off your creations to eager trick-or-treaters! 5 Safe Haven - If you're passing out candy, consider keeping your dog in a back room.
Depending on the number of people in your area, you're likely to be opening and closing your door late into the night, giving a sneaky pet many opportunities to slip out of the house.
If you have a shyer dog that gets nervous round strangers, consider not only keeping your pet in a spare room but also providing your dog with comforts, such as a warm crate filled with your dog's favourite blankets, soft or classical music playing in the background and a bone or a peanut-butter filled Kong to provide your dog with a distraction.
6 Identification - Make sure your dog is wearing both a collar and tags.
In the unfortunate event your dog does slip out, IDs will ensure your dog can be returned to you safely once he or she is found.