06/30/2025
Happy (almost) July 4th!!! ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ
Well .... except that for some (maybe many!) of you and your dogs the season of big booming fireworks is not so happy ๐ฒ๐ฒ
In fact, fireworks are unpredictable and super scary for lots and lots of dogs ๐ซ
Please don't wait for the booms to start happening - get your fireworks plan together now, and here are some tips to get you started:
- Don't bring your dog to fireworks displays (we know, duh!) or to parties where people (including neighbors) might be setting off fireworks.
- If you have your dog out and about with you on leash, be sure their equipment is fitted properly. Dogs can become real escape artists when frightened. We can't say enough about using a martingale (no-slip) type collar that is fitted properly to help prevent escapes.
- If you are traveling or visiting with your dog during this time, keep her leashed to prevent her from getting spooked and running off (ugh! we HATE reading these stories!). Yup, even if she is in a fenced yard ... dogs can scale BIG fences when spooked!
- Keep your dog leashed when outside even if your yard is fenced (see above!) ๐
- Be sure your dog's collar, harness, and other equipment fit well so that your pup can't squirm out and run away. Consider using a martingale/no slip collar to prevent escapes.
- If you leave your dog home, consider closing the hatch to your doggie door to eliminate the possibility of fence jumping/scaling if your dog gets spooked. Also, consider closing windows and any other openings your dog might jump through.
- Create a "safe space" in your home complete with bedding and things to drown out the noise (loud music, tv playing, air conditioning fan on high, etc.). Some dogs prefer basements, closets, or bathrooms while the boom show happens. If your dog has a space that she has chosen as her "safe space" let her stay there and just make her as comfortable as possible.
- YES! You can totally sit with your fearful dog and comfort them. Your dog needs support just like a toddler would if they were truly afraid of something.
- Consider driving your dog away from the action if you live in a location where there is a big fireworks display. For many years, we lived near the Swampbats field where Keene's display gets shot off from, so before all started we loaded the dogs up, drove out of town, sat in the car and read a book, and then headed back into town when it was all over. Our dogs, who got more sensitive as they aged, never knew the boom show even happened.
- If you dog is pacing around and having a hard time settling down, consider using a leash in the house to prevent her from working herself up. Leash her and keep her with you with a bed to lie down on or a Kong to clean out.
- For dogs with extreme fireworks/storm fears, medication is a GREAT solution. Check in with your vet and discuss the options. Better to medicate than let a super fearful dog suffer through an anxiety spiral.
We hope some of these tips help.
If you have things that have worked for your dog, please share in the comments below! ๐
Please share this with your friends and family!!