Fireworks & Pets: Tips for a Low-Stress Holiday
This is a guest post by great Dogster friend Molly Kenefick, founder and manager of Doggy Lama Pet Care
Independence Day is almost here, and while we humans may love a good fireworks display, our dogs (and other pets, too) may feel as if those loud, unpredictable sounds signal the coming of the end of the world. Our dogs may suddenly do things we’ve never known them to do, but with a little preparation and forethought, we can make our nation’s birthday a relatively safe, easy, and relaxing holiday for us and our pets. Here are some tips to help ensure you and your dog have a low-stress holiday:
- » Never take your dog to a firework display.
- » If at all possible, be home with your dog when you think fireworks will be going off. No one wants to be alone when they’re afraid.
- » If you can’t stay home with your dog when fireworks are scheduled to go off, bring him inside. If your dog is terrified, he may be able to perform amazing feats of strength and agility—he may climb a fence you didn’t think he could climb, or dig underneath one when he’s never shown interest in digging before. Don’t take that chance.
- » To help drown out the sound of the fireworks, put on a classical music radio station, which is much more soothing than television. Start to leave that station on now when you go out—before the holiday—so that he gets used to it.
- » Make sure you leave plenty of water out. A stressed-out dog needs to drink extra water to stay cool.
- » Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise on the days around the fourth of July—a tired dog will be less anxious than one with plenty of energy and no way to express it.
- » Take your evening walk a bit earlier (before it gets dark)—you’ll be less likely to be caught outside your home or yard when there are fireworks going off in your neighbor’s backyard.
- » If your dog has an anxiety attack because of fireworks, do not soothe and comfort your dog. That sounds cruel, but rewarding an anxious animal with lots of touch and love is just reinforcing anxious behavior. It’s better to be cheerful and seem in control—that encourages your dog to think that whatever is happening is not a big deal.
- » Make sure your dog is wearing his identification at all times. Some owners remove collars when their dog is in the house. That’s usually fine to do, but a terrified dog may uncharacteristically bolt out the door when given an opportunity to do so. If your dog ends up on the street or in the pound, you want him to be wearing his identification. (Pets should be micro-chipped as well as wearing up-to-date identification tags.)
- » Have some Bach’s Rescue Remedy on hand. This is a safe, anti-anxiety flower remedy. Put a few drops in his water twice a day. (If possible, give your pets filtered water—an inexpensive Brita water filter is fine. Make sure you wash out pet food and water bowls at least every other day to reduce bacterial growth.) Another popular holistic remedy is a plug-in product, “Comfort Zone with Dog Appeasing Pheromone,” or D.A.P., said to reduce stress-related behavior.
- » Make your dog a cozy dark den to hide away in. Some dogs will follow their owners around the house and others will need to hide away. Put a blanket and a favorite toy in a closet in case your dog falls into the latter category.
- » If you’re home with your dog when fireworks are going off, you can try to entertain and distract your dog. You might break out the treat-filled Kong, the extra-special toys, or play hide-and-go-seek.
- » If you know a dog very well who isn’t afraid of fireworks, schedule an inside-at-night sleepover play-date with him. Your dog will get the message from the other dog that it’s not a big deal, and, coupled with your calm and confident behavior, will be much happier than otherwise. (You should only do this with a dog with whom you already have a very solid relationship with.)
Keep in mind that our neighbors and surrounding towns may be setting off fireworks in the days leading up to the Fourth of July and past that date. For that reason, pet-owners need to be vigilant for the days and nights surrounding the holiday.
Here’s wishing you and yours a wonderful and safe holiday!
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Fantastic article!!! I hope that everyone in America with a dog afraid of loud noises reads this.
Desensitizing your pooch by playing special CD,s with various sounds on can be very helpful. We use them quite often in our dog obedience sessions. Start out playing them softly while playing with your dog and gradually increase. It can really be helpful getting over the big boomer days of thunder or Fourth of July celebrations.
This is a really good article. I like Bach’s rescue remedy and use it all the time. I’ve even used it. Fireworks not only affect two of my four dogs but me as well. I’m a veteran and have served in noisy combat areas as medical personnel. Fireworks affect me too! I hit the ground and cover my head. I don’t think that fireworks should be allowed in residential areas for the reasons of pets and veterans and anyone who has PTSD for a variety of reasons. I don’t mind if they have a community based display in parks or professional displays but people in my residential area are idiots with fireworks.
Great article, but I’m not sure if the last one would work or not, it could make the other dog anxious to see the familiar dog acting that way, I’ve seen this happen in veterinary clinics (though of course it wasn’t anxiety over fireworks). We won’t be setting off fireworks this year as there are several dogs on the block and enumerable feral and owned cats that we don’t want to terrify, I did the same last year, I don’t want to be responsible for sending someone’s pet into a panic.
Good idea’s. People get so stupid with firework’s and are careless. They don’t think of anyone or pet’s.
Great post!! We needed these tips. Hannah is terrified of fireworks. Thanks!!
Stormy was terrified of fireworks and thunderstorms from an early age and every year it got worse & worse for her. As with most neighborhoods the fireworks seem to go on and on for weeks. Stormy was beyond scared, it was pure panic. She would pace, drool, whine, try to rip the flesh from my arms & legs by clawing at me to help her, it was so awful for her and not easy on me either. We tried every drug, prescription & all natural. (I hated the prescription drugs, made Stormy into a drooling comatose noodle) We tried crating her, which we learned quickly made it so much worse, even when we covered the crate. Nothing worked. Stormy would get so panicked we had to fear for her safety. One year she got stuck behind the hot water heater with her tail just an inch from the flame, the next year wedged under the back board of the waterbed. Our solution, we took Stormy downstairs in my Husband’s office, where there were no windows, turned on every light, turned up the TV and just let her be. That is what it took to make Stormy feel safe & sound. As the years went on, when the fireworks or thunderstorms started, Stormy would get panicked and I would just say, “Go Downstairs”. As long as I turned on the lights and TV she would settle right down into her bed and all was good in Stormy’s world.
For those of you that use invisible fencing and have a dog fearful of fireworks, please realize that fireworks do go off during the daytime as well as night during this holiday. Some children & young adults think it is “Fun” to see how a dog will reacted to having a firework thrown at them. Sad, I know, but it happens all the time. One loud boom and your dog will be long gone. Even the best behaved dog will get spooked, my friend learned this the hard way when the neighbor’s children lite some firecrackers, scared her dog as they walked to her mailbox, her dog ran for her life, right down the street into traffic. The best policy during this time of year, keep your dogs inside unless you can be outside with them. Why take a chance???
This is a great article since my dogs are inside dogs and the puppy is afriad of fireworks! I’ll try to do all the suggestions! Fantastic!
I agree with Sadie Boo…little petsters get confused and may run off when the firecrackers go off. We lost our catmate Gypsy on the 4th so Mimi keeps us inside during this time. Also, dogs can smell fear and anxiety… hoomans need to stay calm and not get upset with the noise. This is a great article. I hope everone with fearful pets will read it. We used to dread New Years and July 4th, but not anymore.
Very good article, bringing your dog to a place filled with bright sky and loud sounds is a bad idea from the start. Dogs are very sensitive to sounds, and are unpredictable when they feel uncomfortable.
It makes me sad that we are still being told we cannot comfort a frightened dog. There are some very very good behaviorists that disagree. You can reinforce behaviors but you cannot reinforce fear.
Where humans go wrong is that they do things THEY would find comforting instead of what their dog finds comforting. I can’t fuss, coddle and “oh you poor baby” Misha, that stresses her out more. But I CAN sit with her and offering gentle neck scritches and ear rubs visibly relaxes her. This year I also added some massage I learned during our Control Unleashed class.
Unfortunately we have tons of opportunity for desensitization here as there is lots of thunder this year and the stupid fireworks go off for weeks in our neighborhood. For her the best way to do that is offer tasty treats if she is relaxed enough to take them – Extra good stuff that takes time to work on like watered down liverwurst or peanut butter spread thin all over a plate. Homemade Frosty Paws are a great distraction too.
This is our third thunderstorm/firework season together and of course there’s still room for more improvement but I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made by comforting her and working on desensitization.
Last night we had our town firework show, for the first year since we have gotten Mya we but our lawn chairs on the front lawn positioned to watch the fireworks, Mya laid at my feet once the show started and she watched with us, it was great. I think she would have been more affraid had we locked her in the house. She didnt bark once get nervous or anxious I think she is truly confortable in any situation. I think you have to know your dog and be able to read their body language. There are a lot of great tips here for dogs who are affraid.
Miley does not like firecrackers. She’s terrified of loud sounds. I have decided to stay home this 4th of July in order to make sure that she’s comfortable. I plan on turning on the AC early and watching movies so that she knows it will be ok.
It helps that there are videos of firework displays not only for the dog but the owner as well. With all my dogs in the past I always played movies of fireworks before the 4th and on the 4th. If you do not make a big deal of the noise they get used to it and ignore it. Adam Chewbacca is not afraid of fireworks or thunder but he knows it bothers me cause of my migraines. When there is thunder close by he growls at it like go away till it stops. To him the 4th and New Years are just a normal day except that places are closed so mommy spends more time with him. My other dogs got used to it after a few years and did not get upset either but I had to work with them.
Lori and Adam Chewbacca
Peanut is deathly terrified of fireworks, but he is comfortable with thunderstorms..Maybe it’s because I love thunderstorms and I consider them comforting. I am very calm during fireworks and I pretend to ignore them so he doesn’t freak out. Tonight he followed me through the house and pitched a fit when I closed the bathroom door with him on the other side. There were several moments that I wanted to go outside and shake the heck out of my neighbors for setting off the firecrackers and scaring my poor baby. I will not ignore him when he is upset, I pat him and give him tummy rubs. It is too painful for me to see him upset and I can not touch him.