Tips to Prepare And Keep Your Dog Calm During Fireworks Displays

Summer is here! Time for picnics, summer fun, and fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July. For us, fireworks are a time of excitement and awe. However, for our dogs, this can be a terrifying experience. So what should you do if the sound of fireworks scares your dog into hiding or an anxious frenzy? Read on to find out! 

 

Why are dogs afraid of fireworks? 

 

They’re loud. 

 

Dogs have no idea what fireworks are or that as darkness approaches, their sensitive ears will soon be bombarded with explosions in the sky. Dogs’ sense of hearing is way more acute than ours, and the loud noises can hurt their ears. 

 

They’re unpredictable

Fireworks are shot off with different timing intervals and without warning. Sometimes a single boom, and sometimes clusters of booms, this is part of the excitement of the display for us. But for our dogs, they have no idea when the loud noise will happen, so they can’t expect it to happen to try to prepare themselves. 

 

They could be perceived as a threat. 

 

With many loud bangs coming from nowhere, dogs can perceive this noise as a threat, causing an increase in anxiety and trigger their flight or fight response. This primal response can cause them to run and hide, seeking out a small space to help them feel safe. A dog may also whine, whimper, or bark in response to their increased anxiety and fear. 

 

How to prepare and keep your dog calm for fireworks. 

• Make sure your dog has ID tags on its collar.

 

More dogs run away on the 4th of July than any other day of the year. Make sure that your dog’s collar is on and secure and that his ID tags are clear and readable before this summer holiday. If you know your dog is fearful during fireworks, you may want to get him microchipped before the holiday. If your dog happens to escape the house during the holiday, you want to make sure if someone finds him, they can return him home safely. 

• Keep your dog inside. 

 

If you know your dog is fearful, taking him for a walk or out to potty during the fireworks display is not the best time. Keeping him inside will lessen the risk of him running off or pulling out of a collar or lead if he gets scared. Extra caution should also be taken when opening doors to prevent your dog from finding his way past your legs and outside. 

• Create a safe place. 

 

Dog’s tend to gravitate to small spaces when they are scared. If your dog is crate trained, make sure that it is open and available for him to hide in. Adding his favorite toy to play or chew on may also help him feel more comfortable. 

 

If your dog isn’t crate trained, you can prepare a safe place in a bathroom or closet by adding his bedding or favorite toy to that area. Playing white noise, music, or the TV may also help drown out the fireworks’ noise and help him relax. 

• Play with your dog. 

 

A pre-holiday walk earlier in the day when you’re less likely to encounter a barrage of fireworks is a good way to tire him out and burn some energy. Be cautious of midday walks, though, as the heat in July can be high. Once dusk hits, keeping your dog inside is the best practice. 

 

To further tire out your dog, you can do some training sessions or play a game with him. As the fireworks start to go off, you can work on more training commands and offer other play diversions and treats to keep his mind occupied and off the loud noises. 

• Try an anxiety vest. 

 

Some people swear they work, and others don’t see any difference at all. The theory behind them is like a swaddle for a baby. The added pressure around the torso is thought to help calm the nervous system and reduce the anxiety experienced by your dog. 

 

There are a lot of options for helping your dog reduce his fear during fireworks. From the calming techniques to anti-anxiety treats and the vests mentioned above, the options are many. 

 

However, nothing is guaranteed to help relieve your dog’s fear, so invest cautiously. If you’ve tried the above calming methods without success, you may want to consider hiring a trainer. 

 

At Sit Means Sit, we can work with your dog through various distractions and noises to help him become accustomed to unpredictable noises. We can also help you learn to implement calming techniques with your pup to help him through this stressful summer holiday. 

 

To learn more about our training options, call us today!