Preparing for Fourth of July Fireworks

The Fourth of July may mean summer fun for human participants but the loud noises and flashing lights of holiday fireworks spell terror for many dogs. We always plan to be home on the Fourth of July to spend a quiet evening in the house with the dogs, the television drowning out at least some of the fireworks noise.

Bark Busters, the world’s largest dog training company, has just come out with a list of helpful tips for helping your dog on the Fourth of July:

If You’ll Be Gone

• If you are going to a fireworks display, leave your dog at home where he will be the most safe and comfortable.
• If you go to a holiday event, never leave your dog in the car. A partially opened window does not supply sufficient fresh air, and it creates an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
• Consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your dog while you are away from home.

Preparing Your Home

• Don’t leave your dog outside. If you cannot bring him inside, cover his dog house with a blanket to protect him from the bursts of bright lights and loud bangs. A dog’s sense of hearing is acute–about four times more sensitive than humans’.
• Create a special den-like area in your home where your dog feels safe. A properly introduced crate or kennel can be a calming refuge for him.
• Some dogs become destructive when frightened. If you don’t use a crate, remove any items in the room which your dog could destroy or which could hurt him if he chewed them.
• Keep windows and curtains closed to reduce noise and bright flashes.
• Turn on a TV or radio at normal volume to distract your dog from loud noises and help him to relax.
• If possible, stay with your pet during the majority of the fireworks. A dog often reacts more intensely to loud sounds and flashes of lights when you are not with him.

Making Sure Your Dog Doesn’t Run Away

• Always keep proper identification securely fastened to your dog’s collar in case he gets out. Talk to your veterinarian about implanting a universal microchip in your pet, and make sure that your veterinary clinic and animal shelter have your correct contact information in their database.
• Keep your dog away from the front and back doors. Your dog may be under significant stress, which could result in unnecessary injury to others or cause him to dart out the door.

Remember, shelters see a huge number of lost dogs in the days following fireworks displays. Make this a safe Fourth of July for you and your four-legged family members!

Do you have any tips for helping your dog on the Fourth of July? Please share them in the comments section below!

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2. Keeping Your Dogs Safe & Secure on July 4th
3. Keeping Your Dog Safe on New Year’s Eve
4. Preparing for Take Your Dog to Work Day
5. 4th of July Pet Parade, Bandera, TX, July 4, 2009