07/01/2023
Please, keep your dog safe during the Fourth of July. Most dogs experience, severe anxiety when it comes to fireworks. There are some things that you can do to help.
Place your dog where (hopefully) they will feel comfortable. You should get your pet used to a calming environment beforehand. Dogs are den animals — they’re looking for that cave to get away from it all.
Try setting up an area in a quiet space away from windows — such as a basement or a larger closet — so that they can’t hear or see fireworks. Use a crate if that’s where your dog feels safe, and make sure to provide your pup with familiar toys and treats freeze bone broth in ice cube trays).
Whether for the Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, or another celebration, many dog owners deal with howling, barking, and generally anxious dogs during fireworks. It’s even largely believed that Independence Day is the day when the highest number of dogs run away. But just what are the dogs afraid of?
“It can be the smell. It can be the noise and the flashes of the light,” says Woodstown, New Jersey-based Dr. Judy Morgan, DVM, of Dr. Judy Morgan’s Naturally Healthy Pets. Your dog may “tremble, shake, shiver, howl, and bark — some of them get frantic.”
If you are unsure of how your new dog might react, Morgan says that pups that don’t cope well during thunderstorms are likely to get scared of fireworks. The good news is that there are steps you can take to help your dog. Here are nine expert-approved tips to prevent your dog from freaking out during fireworks.
1. Keep Your Dog Away From Fireworks
“First of all, don’t take your dogs to fireworks shows,” says Morgan. “And don’t leave them outside during fireworks.” Keeping your dog inside on the evening in question is the best idea, especially if you fear they might not react well.
2. Make Sure Your Pet Has Proper ID
Ensure that the information on your pet’s collar is current and make sure your dog is microchipped and has a GPS device. “If they escape, there’s a better chance they’ll get returned.
Try setting up an area in a quiet space away from windows — such as a basement or a larger closet — so that they can’t hear or see fireworks. Use a crate if that’s where your dog feels safe, and make sure to provide your pup with familiar toys an freeze bone broth in ice cube trays).
4. Play White Noise
You can try leaving a fan, TV, or radio on to help mask the sounds of the fireworks. “There’s some classical music called ‘Through a Dog’s Ear’ that has been shown to have calming effects for dogs,” says Jenn Stanley, certified behavior consultant and professional dog trainer, and co-owner of Awesome Pawsabilities Pet Training & Behavior Consultations, based in North Carolina.
5. Comfort Your Dog
If you can, try staying home with your dog or leaving them in the hands of a trusted person. One of Morgan’s relatives usually stays with her dog in the closet to help soothe the animal.
“You absolutely can and should comfort your dog if he’s afraid,” says Stanley. “The key here is in how you do so. It’s important to remain calm and use a soothing, even tone. Petting them can be comforting — long, slow, firm strokes along the length of their body are typically very soothing.”
The one thing to avoid? Seeming frantic in any way, says Stanley. Rapidly saying, “It’s OK, it’s OK, it’s OK” in a higher-than-average pitch may make your dog think that there really is something to fear. Try your best to remain calm and reassuring to help your dog to stay calm!
If you can talk to your neighbors, and maybe have one designated area for fireworks, rather than all over the neighborhood. Every year, my dog is so severely affected by fireworks that he begins to vomit, get some spaces that I can’t even find him. This is so sad and unnecessary. We need people to realize that animals are very sensitive to those and to use common sense when lighting fireworks. another issue, seems that people feel the need to light fireworks to in three days after the Fourth of July. Yes, please… Think about the animals.
Enjoy the holiday, but please… Please… Think about these innocent animals that are absolutely terrifying. cte
