5 Ways To Prepare Your Dog for the Fourth of July Fireworks
It’s that time of year again! The smell of barbeque in the air, the sound of the neighborhood kids playing outside in the sprinklers. But what comes with all this great weather and good moods, comes the loud booms of fireworks.
It’s very common for dogs to be scared of fireworks. The loud noises and flashing lights can be very frightening for them, but there are things you can do to minimize their stress levels.
Here are 5 tips to help your dog during 4th of July fireworks.
1. Identification
In the event your dog is scared and get free, make sure they are microchipped and have an identification tag on them. No matter how much training and exercises to prevent anxiety that come with fireworks, there's still a chance they can become frightened and run off.
Another great way is to get a GPS tracker like the Fi Smart Dog Collar or an Apple AirTag.
2. Desensitization
One of the ways we helped Kevin not to be so jumpy with fireworks is by getting him used to the sound through what experts call “desensitization”.
Desensitization is the process of exposing the animal to a stimulus beginning at a very low intensity to change an unwanted behavior.
A simple way to do this is to find firework sounds. You can find tons of them by searching Firework Desensitization for Dogs on YouTube.
Start out by playing the sounds low and increasing the volume with each short training session. Keep treats handy to reward your pup when they are doing a good job by not reacting to the sounds.
3. White Noise
White noise or background noise is a great way to help your dog stay calm. It helps muffle the loud noises by providing constant noise in a comfortable room in the house. Play soft music (our favorite is Jazz for Dogs), or white noise apps.
4. A Little Help From Your Vet
If you have a great vet, ask them for advice. Since they already know your doggo and their health history, they can suggest natural, over-the-counter, or a prescription to ease anxiety. Options could include CBD, Benadryl, or a mild sedative.
5. Cuddle Time
The last tip is Kevin’s favorite. I mean, who doesn’t love a good snuggle session?! When Kevin is feeling stressed or anxious, he finds relief by being near my human. A good hug from his human helps ease his worries.
When humans can’t be close to their dogs, you can try a Thundershirt. The idea is similar to swaddling an infant, and provides gentle, comforting pressure around a dog's torso.
Summertime and the Fourth of July is a fun and exciting time of the year. Kevin wants all of his friends to know they have options to help them and their humans enjoy it to its fullest!
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