Surviving The 4th Of July With Your Scaredy Dog
The 4th of July is one of the scariest nights of the year for even the most confident of dogs. Fireworks are loud even to human ears, and dog ears are much more sensitive than ours. Nearby fireworks may actually cause pain and discomfort to sensitize dog ears, not to mention the ground shaking with each explosion. Some dogs are fine with fireworks, but others consider it the doggy-pocalypse.
In fact, the 5th of July is the busiest day of the year for animal control, picking up pets that panicked and bolted during the night. Whether you go out or stay at home, please make sure your dog cannot get out of the house! Make sure your dog is wearing his tags, and this is a good time to update your microchip information if chipped. If you are unsure of anything in this guide, have trouble recognizing your dog’s signs of stress, or your dog fear-bites or lashes out, make sure to consult with your vet and/or a professional trainer or behaviorist.
Preparing for the 4th:
Desensitizing your dog to the sound of fireworks beforehand can help your dog considerably. If you Google or Youtube “Fireworks”, you can play fireworks noises at a low volume while giving your dog something fun to do or yummy to eat, like a stuffed Kong. Do this every night for the week leading up to the 4th, increasing the volume a little bit every night. By this time, your dog will hopefully become so used to the noise, he won’t even notice the real fireworks on the 4th.
Sitting the fun out? Here are some tips:
Distract him:
Play a game with your dog, give him a stuffed Kong or another toy to keep him entertained, hang out with him in a small quiet room (like a bathroom, pantry, or closet), preferably in the middle of the house to muffle the sound.
Tether or leash your dog to prevent pacing:
If he panics on a leash, drop the leash immediately, and do not leave your dog unattended while tethered.
Muffle the noise:
Play calming music or turn on the TV.
Sit and talk to him:
Pet your dog slowly, giving long soothing strokes down the chest and back, while talking to him in soothing tones.
Make use of natural anti anxieties:
Give your dog turkey for dinner, put a drop of lavender oil on his ear tips, raid the calming aisle of your pet store for calming treats, pheromone sprays, diffusers, or collars, or do all of the above. If your dog has a severe fear issue, ask your vet and/or consult a professional trainer or behaviorist.
Wear him out:
Take your dog for a long walk or an extra-long play session before the festivities start. He’ll sleep right through it.
Invest in a harness:
A snug wrap-around harness or sweater sometimes has a calming effect on dogs, similar to swaddling a baby. A harness also saves your dog’s neck from injury if he panics while on a leash.
Ear plugs and ear muffs:
Believe it or not, they do make ear plugs and ear muffs for dogs! These are usually used for working dogs, such as hunting dogs and military dogs, because they’re exposed to so much gunfire noise. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t buy some and train your dog to accept it. This is the same gradual desensitization process that is used with any kind of equipment – see my guide to muzzle training for more information.
Going out for the night? Try these:
The 4th of July is a fun holiday to enjoy and that might mean you plan to be out for the night. Depending on your plans, you might consider boarding your dog for the night. Boarding can be a very stressful experience for dogs and you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons on this one because each pet is different. If you choose to leave your pet home, you can confine your dog securely, attempt to distract him with a long lasting toy, muffle the noises natural anti-anxiety methods or wear him out. You might even find using a combination of these suggestions will best suit your pet for the night and can learn more about these options by reading ‘Options for your dog when going out for the night‘.
Please remember, none of the above listed suggestions are a substitute for training. These are survival tips and will not help your pet be less scared the next time 4th of July rolls around.
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