Sit Happens’ dog costume contest returns to Halton Hills for its 3rd year

By Fatima Raza, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TheIFP.ca

As Halloween approaches, Sit Happens is gearing up for its third annual costume contest. Dog owners in the Halton Hills and Peel regions are invited to showcase their creativity and festive spirit by submitting photos of their dogs in costume.

The contest has three categories: Best group costume, awarded to dogs and their humans who co-ordinate a themed outfit; Best solo costume, awarded to the dog that receives the most votes for their solo costume; and Most creative costume, awarded to the most imaginative and original homemade outfits.

“I love Halloween and enjoy seeing how creative people can be,” said Britnie Mousseau, founder of Sit Happens. “We’ve had some really fantastic costumes over the years.”

Dog dressed as a ghost from previous dog costume contest.

In its first year, the contest received around 15 to 20 entries, but that number has nearly tripled, with last year’s submissions reaching between 50 and 60, according to Mousseau. “We’re always excited about the contest because we love seeing all the costumes,” she added.

Some of her favourite standout costumes from past contests include a chef and spaghetti duo and another pair dressed as characters from the “Dumb and Dumber” film. “I would love to see someone dress their dog as Freddy Krueger this year,” Mousseau said.

Dogs dressed as Taylor Swift from previous dog costume contest.

Sit Happens is a Halton Hills-based dog training company, which offers training approaches for dogs and their owners that focus on relationship-building, communication and behavioural training. The company provides a variety of programs, including puppy training, obedience training, behavioural training and custom training.

The company’s mission is to reduce the number of dogs re-homed or surrendered to rescue groups by offering affordable activities and education for dog owners, Mousseau said.

The company is dedicated to building strong relationships between dogs and their owners through balanced training. “We accomplish this by taking the stress out of dog training by providing convenient and quality training that gets results quickly,” the company’s website reads.

“A lot of dogs are not aggressive by nature, it’s more or less a matter of overstimulation or lack of structure,” Mousseau said. Their approach emphasizes positive reinforcement and effective communication as a way to reduce stress and promote a healthy home environment.

As Halloween approaches, Sit Happens emphasizes the importance of dog safety during the spooky season. Pet owners are advised to keep their dogs secure and away from the front door to prevent them from running off onto the streets as trick-or-treaters come by.

“If your dog is territorial, it’s a good idea to create a calm space for them away from the door,” Mousseau explained. Owners should also ensure Halloween candy is kept out of reach, as chocolate and other treats can be harmful to dogs.

Dog costume from previous contest years.

Winners of the costume contest can look forward to prizes, which include gift baskets with toys, gift cards and more. Both dogs and their owners can hope to walk away with something special.

Participants can submit their dog’s costume photos via email to info@sithappenstraining.ca until Oct. 27 at midnight. Voting will take place from Oct. 28 to Oct. 30 on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Winners will be announced on Halloween.

For more details, visit Sit Happens’ website and stay tuned on their social media for updates on the contest and future events.