If your dogs are anything like mine, they’re not thrilled about the sound of fireworks. The 4th of July is this weekend and that means fireworks for most of the weekend. Let’s go over some ways you can be prepared!

De-sensitizing The Sound

I recently saw a tip from Chelsea Bartsow, that I’d never thought of before, and I want to share it with you. She said one way she prepare’s her dogs for fireworks is by playing the firework sounds throughout the year. I think this is an absolutely amazing idea. To do this you’ll want to search youtube for firework shows. Once you find a video you like, start to play it throughout the day for your dog. Start out with the video softly playing in the background of your everyday activities. You’ll then want to slowly increase the volume as your dog gets used to the noise. 

Now it may take a few days to get your pup used to the noise of them playing in the background. Patience is key with this. Your pup may not be ready for full volume the first day or two. Don’t worry, you can work your way up depending on how they’re doing. You’ll also want to start off with the sound playing as you are cooking or cleaning or have the tv on in the background as well. This makes it so it’s a nice slow introduction and the video will be more like background noise. 

Checking The Times Of The Firework Shows In Your Area

It’s always a good idea to check the times of the bigger firework shows in your area. Unfortunately, this won’t account for small fireworks that are set off locally by neighbors, but it will help you prepare for the longer shows. You can usually find the times and rain dates for your towns’ fireworks online, or  you can call the municipal building. Knowing the times beforehand can help you get your dog distracted before they even start. It can also help you gauge when to give your dog any calming aid they may need one. 

Find A Comfortable Place For Your Pup

Making your dog comfortable can help ease their anxiety during the fireworks. If your dog is comfortable in their crate, it is a great place for them to be. To make them more more comfortable you can add an extra blanket or two. This will help create a comfortable dark space for them to feel secure and the cover will help block out some of the noise.

 If they don’t have a crate, a bedroom, bathroom, or anywhere they feel safe can be a great place to have them while the fireworks are going off. Thundershirts can be a great option to helping ease your dogs’ anxiety. If your dog likes to hide under the bed or in a closet somewhere, it’s ok! That’s where they feel safe in the moment. Just follow the steps to help block out the noise and do whatever else you can to help make them feel comfortable, including staying in the room with them.

Blocking Out The Noise

Investing in a sound machine can be beneficial to buffering out some of the noise. If you don’t feel like buying an actual sound machine, there are several apps you can download right on your phone or tablet. Having your tv on during the fireworks is also a helpful way to help block out the noise. To be on the safe side, you may want to start with the noise canceling right before it gets dark. Doing this will make it so your pup may not even hear the fireworks in the first place. 

Calming Aids

Always speak to your vet before using any sort of calming aid. If your vet says it’s ok, you can look into options to give your dog over the counter supplements. These may include, melatonin or cbd oil to help keep them calm. Diffusing essential oils can also help to relieve their stress. Before using essential oils though, please do your research and consult with your vet as some can be harmful to dogs. 

Checking Your Fence And Microchip Information

Did you know that more pets get lost on the 4th of July than any other day of the year? It’s important to take as many precautions that you can ahead of time to keep them safe. You’ll want to Check your fence for holes beforehand, and make sure your gates are closed. This can help to make sure if your dog is outside and gets spooked they can’t escape the yard. Even if you’re traveling with your pup during the holiday, you want to check the area they will be in to ensure they will stay put.

Some dogs will hear the fireworks and get scared and take off. Making sure that the area you are in is secure is a vital part in keeping your dog safe. The last thing you want is for your pup to run off into the dark while they’re already in an anxious state.

Keeping your dog inside during these times is best. You also want to avoid taking your dog to any firework shows as well. They may not react well, and again can easily get lost if they run off. Checking that their microchip information is up to date in case they do get out is also an important step.

A Tired Dog Is A Happy Dog

Getting out some extra energy before the fireworks start can help your dog calm their nerves. Make sure you take your dog outside before it gets dark out. Take them for a nice long walk or play fetch with them in the yard. Tiring them out beforehand will help keep them calm. Taking them out before it gets dark also means they won’t be outside in the middle of the fireworks as well. 

Enrichment Toys

I’ve mentioned enrichment a bunch on here already, but it really can be so beneficial to keeping your dog distracted and occupied. Giving your dog something that will require them to focus will help ensure they are distracted enough to not pay attention to the noise. In this case, you’ll want to break out the long lasting enrichment toys. Such as the west paw filler. I also have a muffin tin enrichment you can use as well. I also found a bunch of enrichment ideas on Chelsea’s page too, mentioned in the beginning of the video. Feel free to check them out alongside mine and find out which one fits your pup’s needs the best!

Leaving Your Dog Home Alone

If you know you’re going to be out during potential fireworks you want to make sure you follow all the necessary steps before leaving. Make sure your pup is already in a comfortable location when you leave. During the time you’re gone a covered crate is an excellent place for them to be. Or in a particular room of the house. Make sure the tv, radio, or sound machine is playing at a decent volume before you leave the house. Also try to tire them out as much as possible before heading out. If you have spoken with your vet about calming aids, right before you leave is the time to give it to them. 

I hope these tips help your pup stay nice and calm during the firework holidays! I just want to add as a quick note, all these same tips can be used for thunderstorms too!!