Calming Your Dog on the 4^th of July

The fourth of July is an exciting time of the year for Americans.  The fireworks, firing up the barbecue, and gathering with friends and family, is cause for joy.  But for your dog, it could very well be the scariest day of the year!  Is there anything you can do to ease their anxiety?  In today’s blog I’d like to offer up a few calming tips that may be of some help to you.

1. Exercise your dog early in the day, before the fireworks begin.

2. Bring your dogs inside before the fireworks go off.  Not only will it help to have you around them, but the air conditioning will serve them well too.  Many dogs runaway on the 4^th out of fear, so keep them indoors.

3. Give them a safe place to hang out, and they usually prefer small enclosed areas like a crate.  They will likely prefer a place like the closet, or bathroom where there are no windows.  Your presence will soothe them as well.

4. If you can, keep your doors, windows and curtains closed.  You can also cover the crate.  Our goal is to remove as much visual stimulation as possible, and lessen the very loud noise.

5. During scary situations I like to give my dogs something they love like a Kong filled with delicious treats.

6. There have been a lot of studies on sound therapy and it can help.  You can look for specially designed music to help reduce their anxiety.  You can start the music before the fireworks start when your dog is already calm.  This will also drown out some of the scary noises.  At the very least turn on the Television or Radio. It’s also helpful to condition and desensitize your dog to the sound of fireworks.  Seek a qualified trainer on how best to do this.   The dog is exposed to the recording at a low enough volume that the dog doesn’t react or show signs of stress.  This is done while giving the dog his/her favorite treat or toy.  Over time the sound level is increased, being careful that the dog at no time goes over-threshold.  The same can be done with flashes of light.

7. You might also consider a Thundershirt or DAP.  It’s been effective for many dogs.  In some cases anti-anxiety medication is advised and can be given before the fireworks begin.  Consult your Vet to explore this option.