06/30/2025
4th of July tips!
1. make sure your dogs microchip information is up to date with your contact information. add an emergency contact.
2. exercise your dog early in the day, multiple times. exercise lowers a stress hormone called cortisol and will put your dogs “baseline” lower in the evening
3. even more important than exercise is enrichment. allow your dog to sniff on their walks, play scent games, and provide them with ample distractions come night time. you might find your dog has no interest in stuffed Kongs/puzzle feeders if they’re too stressed, this is normal! that being said…
4. don’t be afraid to pop your dog some meds. help them out. medication will help your dog get to a level where they feel comfortable enough to enjoy their enrichment toys and sleep through the worst of it. call your vet for meds NOW, not july 4th at 2 pm. keep in mind that if your dog hasn’t had a wellness exam within the last year you might be denied meds.
5. your dog does not need to partake in the festivities. no, really, it doesn’t. keep your dog home in a safe, dark, quiet environment (their kennel, a blocked off room, etc) with noise blockers and their enrichment toys and go have fun.
6. dog proof the exits of your home with baby gates and baby locks
7. lastly… understand that you are not a bad pet owner just because your dog is afraid of fireworks. fireworks suck. it’s completely understandable that dogs and other animals are terrified of them. give yourself some grace!
