Pumpkin Costumes, Acorn Fails and Trick or Treating: A Greyhounds Guide to Halloween

Hi friends! It’s me, Graham, the cutest, friendliest greyhound you’ll ever meet online! (Okay, maybe I’m slightly biased… but hey, if you’re not your own biggest fan, who will be?) Anyway… it’s cold. Like, officially “coat season” cold. I overheard Mum telling Dad she was putting the heating on because she “wasn’t living in layers.” Well folks, the second the warm air came on I flopped beside the metal heat-giver, legs in the air, feeling like a perfectly toasted marshmallow. Happiness is now achieved. 

Now, autumn also means Mum is obsessed with “family walks in the woods”. Can’t complain, as that means longer adventures and endless new smells. Honestly, my brain is now a full encyclopaedia of woodland scents: deer wee, rabbit poop, mystery mud… you name it, I’ve sniffed it. Ava and Danny stomp around in their wellies, collecting these little brown balls they call ‘conkers’. They were even singing about collecting them! Mum says I can’t touch them because they’re poisonous. Sounds suspiciously like a brown onion to me. 

But then, tragedy struck - the unthinkable happened. One minute I was trotting through the crunchy leaves, the next... BAM. Something leapt out, grabbed my paw, and shoved a boulder into my toe beans. Friends, I thought my paw was gone forever. Each step made the “boulder” feel bigger until I could barely hobble. I was limping with so much fear. Luckily, Mum - my hero, my saviour, my wizard, swooped in. She lifted my paw, worked some sort of hocus pocus magic, and pulled out the so-called “acorn” as she said it was. (I think that is human translation for biggest boulder ever.) She gave me a magic rub and I was cured. Honestly, someone get this woman a medal. 

Drama over, we carried on, spotting squirrels and other dogs. I must say, I was clearly the most handsome hound in the woods, especially in my brand-new dinosaur fleece. Mum calls me “Graha-saurus.” A little rude, but since it earns me custard creams, I let it slide. (Fashion week scouts, if you’re reading this, sorry, I’m booked). Custard creams come first. Always. But recently, I discovered the humans have another excuse for treats: Halloween! 

Apparently, you go to strangers’ houses demanding either tricks or treats. Naturally, I was in it for the treats, preferably custard creams. Mum decided I should dress up… as a pumpkin. Yep. An orange fluffy coat and a stalk hat. I looked ridiculous. Mum squealed “you’re adorable, I can’t cope!” Well, Mum, if you can’t cope, maybe don’t turn me into garden produce? On the plus side, it was warm and comfy. 

The pumpkin festivities continued when Mum made some homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte for herself and a doggy friendly one for me. Mine had no coffee or chocolate and lots and lots of whipped cream on top... basically a pumpkin flavoured Puppachino. Honestly friends, it was 10/10 I would recommend. Check Greyhound Homing UK’s socials for the recipe – it was chef’s kiss. 

When the big spooky night arrived, Ava and Danny spent ages with Mum and Dad getting dressed all scarily. Ava dressed as a scary witch and tried to turn me into a frog (the nerve). She kept saying “Graham I am putting a spell on you, you're a frog” Ermmm Ava? I am a greyhound, the noblest of dog breeds you’ll ever meet! Don’t call me a frog! Danny went low-effort as a ghost (bedsheet chic - respect). And me? The pumpkin king himself. After some family pics, off we went, trick-or-treating!  

First stop: Nanny’s house. Ava and Danny yelled “trick or treat”! Nanny jumped like they’d scared the life out of her, and Grace peeked round the corner laughing at my pumpkin get-up. Joke’s on her though, while the children got sweets, Nanny handed me an ENTIRE pack of custard creams. (Mum only let me eat one, but still. Victory is mine.) 

We went door to door and, honestly, nobody tricked us! Just treats! I scored gravy bones, a pumpkin toy, and enough admiration to last me until Christmas. By the time we got home I was completely zonked. Being this cute is hard work. 

So, friends, that’s my October update. I’m officially a Halloween fan and already counting down to next year. 

Until then, love and licks, 

Graham x