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Whether for the Fourth of July, New Year鈥檚 Eve, or another celebration, many dog owners deal with howling, barking, and generally anxious dogs during fireworks. It鈥檚 even largely believed that Independence Day is the day when the highest number of dogs run away. But just what are the dogs afraid of?
鈥淚t can be the smell. It can be the noise and the flashes of the light,鈥� says Woodstown, New Jersey-based Dr. Judy Morgan, DVM, of Your dog may 鈥渢remble, shake, shiver, howl, and bark 鈥� some of them get frantic.鈥�
If you are unsure of how your new dog might react, Morgan says that dogs that don鈥檛 cope well during thunderstorms are likely to get scared of fireworks. The good news is that there are steps you can take to help your dog. Here are some expert-approved tips to prevent your dog from freaking out during fireworks.
Keep Your Dog Away From Fireworks
鈥淔irst of all, don鈥檛 take your dogs to fireworks shows,鈥� says Morgan. 鈥淎nd don鈥檛 leave them outside during fireworks.鈥� Keeping your dog inside on the evening in question is the best idea, especially if you fear they might not react well.
Make Sure Your Pet Has Proper ID
Ensure that the information on your pet鈥檚 is current and make sure your dog is microchipped and has a . 鈥淚f they escape, there鈥檚 a better chance they鈥檒l get returned,鈥� says Morgan.
Create a Safe Haven for Your Dog
Morgan recommends creating a place where your dog will hopefully feel comfortable. 鈥淵ou should get your pet used to a calming environment beforehand. Dogs are den animals 鈥� they鈥檙e looking for that cave to get away from it all,鈥� she explains.
Try setting up an area in a quiet space away from windows, such as a basement or a larger closet. so that they can鈥檛 hear or see fireworks. Use a if that鈥檚 where your dog feels safe, and make sure to provide them with familiar and . Morgan says she likes to freeze bone broth in ice cube trays as a summer treat.
Play White Noise
You can try leaving a fan, TV, or on to help mask the sounds of the fireworks. 鈥淭here鈥檚 some classical music called 鈥楾hrough a Dog鈥檚 Ear鈥� that has been shown to have calming effects for dogs,鈥� says Jenn Stanley, certified behavior consultant and professional dog trainer, and co-owner of Awesome Pawsabilities Pet Training & Behavior Consultations, based in North Carolina.
Comfort Your Dog
If you can, try staying home with your dog or leaving them in the hands of a trusted person. One of Morgan鈥檚 relatives usually stays with her dog in the closet to help soothe the animal.
鈥淵ou absolutely can and should comfort your dog if he鈥檚 afraid,鈥� says Stanley. 鈥淭he key here is in how you do so. It鈥檚 important to remain calm and use a soothing, even tone. Petting them can be comforting 鈥� long, slow, firm strokes along the length of their body are typically very soothing.鈥�
The one thing to avoid? Seeming frantic in any way, says Stanley. Rapidly saying, 鈥淚t鈥檚 OK, it鈥檚 OK, it鈥檚 OK鈥� in a higher-than-average pitch may make your dog think that there really is something to fear. Try your best to remain calm and reassuring to help your canine companion.
Walk Them Before the Fireworks Start
Head out for your long walk before the sun sets to increase the chances that you鈥檒l avoid the sounds. When you do go out, you鈥檒l want to ensure your dog is secure on a before your walk.
鈥淒ouble-check the fit of your dog鈥檚 collar or harness before going outside. A leash, even if you have a fenced-in area, is a great added safety measure to help keep your dog close to you and under control should they get startled,鈥� says Stanley.
Desensitize Your Dog to the Sounds of Fireworks
If you suspect your dog will freak out at the sound of fireworks, try playing sounds of fireworks (softly) so your dog is used to hearing them. Stanley suggests pairing a video of the sounds of fireworks with a treat your dog likes. This process is called counter-conditioning.
鈥淭he volume should be low enough that your dog can notice it, but does not show signs of stress like panting, pacing, leaving the area, or trying to hide,鈥� says Stanley. 鈥淲e call this keeping the dog 鈥榖elow threshold,鈥� and it makes it possible for learning to take place. If the dog is overwhelmed, they鈥檙e looking to escape the situation and are not going to be nearly as capable of learning that it鈥檚 not a threat.鈥� Her other tips including increasing the volume gradually, varying the source of the sound, and using different recordings.
To help dogs cope with the noise of fireworks, you can also try using . The random and unexpected nature of fireworks鈥� sounds can cause stress in dogs, but headphones can comfort your dog by muffling these sounds and providing ear protection.
Talk to Your Vet
If your pet鈥檚 anxiety is severe, consider booking an appointment with your vet well in advance of the holiday so you can discuss a medication that could help soothe your dog鈥檚 anxiety. 鈥淚f you have a dog that is bad enough and you haven鈥檛 done any prep work, and you know your pet is going to be in panic, try true therapeutic treatment,鈥� says Morgan. You can also ask about trying over-the-counter CBD, ,听辞谤 .
Consider Hiring a Trainer
If fear is negatively impacting your dog鈥檚 life, consider enlisting the expertise of a trainer, says Stanley. 鈥淵ou can work with a trainer or behavior consultant to desensitize your dog to fireworks or other fears gradually 鈥� it鈥檚 never too soon to start planning for next year.鈥�