How to Keep Your Dog Calm During Fireworks
Boom! Crackle! Pop! The Fourth of July is a spectacle of sights and sounds that is fun for humans but can be stressful for dogs. A few caring steps leading up to and during the fireworks can make a big difference in helping your dog keep calm through the noise.
Exercise Your Dog
Give your dog extra playtime and walks before the first kaboom. Tiring a dog with pre-fireworks activity will help settle it down in time for the fireworks.
Keep Your Dog Indoors
Your dog should stay home and inside during the fireworks, especially if you suspect it will not react well to the activity and loud noises. When the fireworks start, ensure your dog is in a quiet room and, if possible, away from windows. Closed window curtains will help muffle the fireworks.
Help Your Dog Feel Secure
If your dog feels secure in a crate or kennel, place it in one with familiar, everyday items like blankets, toys, and treats. Portable and expandable, the Precision Pet Products Double-Door Wire Pet Crate is easy to use and transport.
For dogs that love to snuggle, before the fireworks, bond with your dog in a blanket. With enough time and snuggling, the blanket will become special to both of you, which will help your dog feel safe even when you’re not there. Good options available at Murdoch’s include the Demdaco Dog and Me Foot Pocket Blanket and the Sutton machine washable weighted blanket. A weighted blanket can also be draped over a crate, offering a more silent, secure safe space for your pooch.
Keep it Calm
White noise in the room with your dog, such as a television, radio, or fan, can have a calming effect. You can also try over-the-counter medicinal products that promote relaxation and help your pet keep calm during stressful situations. Good options found at Murdoch’s include NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Drops, and Pet Releaf HempOil 1700, an organic full-spectrum hemp oil.
Comfort Your Pup
During the fireworks, if you’re at home, check in on your pet and give lots of pets and scratches. And, through it all, keep calm. Your dog is watching you. If your verbal or body language is anything other than calm, it can add stress to your pal.
Extra, Extra
If your dog needs extra help around loud noises, a dog anxiety vest puts pressure on your dog’s torso that feels comparable to swaddling for infants. For the vest to be most effective, be sure your dog is used to wearing it before the fireworks start. For a pet with severe anxiety, consider talking to your vet.