Hey guy’s, Andrea Arden of Dogs 101 is a big fan of the Dog Files and I asked her if she could write an article about dogs and their fear of fireworks. As you can see below, she happily obliged! Thanks Andrea!

– Kenn

For most people the thunderous roar of fireworks and the cheers that follow elicit a sense of prideful patriotism. The Fourth of July is a day for parties, laughter, and celebration comparable to few other days of the year. It is also a day to celebrate that Summer is in full swing! Unfortunately, many canine citizens of the U.S.A. often have a very different reaction to the brouhaha that goes on. In fact, for some dogs, the Fourth of July is a day dreaded as much as those filled with thunder and lightning.

For those dogs which are reactive to fireworks (or their cousin…thunder) I suspect they experience something similar to what Tom Cruise faced in War of the Worlds. It seems a terrifying end is coming nearer and their only hope is to find a spot to hide, be it under a sofa, in a closet, or in most cases in a tiled bathroom. For our canine companions, shaking, panting, and drooling are the typical outward signs of falling apart inside (unlike Tom Cruise who makes it a habit to face his fears and save the day).

So, what is a family to do when worry for their dog’s well being squelches their hopes of celebrating this special day? As with most behavior modification, it is advisable to break things down into a two pronged approach. Of utmost importance is managing your dog’s environment and time in such a way so as to set them up for the best chance of making it through the night without incident. It is also wise to work on helping your dog become less reactive to loud noises.

You can help your dog to settle in by placing their bed or crate in a room that is as far removed from windows and doors as possible. This will help muffle sounds in addition to having a radio or television playing. Note, many dogs do best in a bathroom with tiling. Be sure your dog is securely contained indoors as the onset of fireworks induced panic can give dogs Superman strength and a Houdini-like drive to escape.

Plan to provide your dog with plenty of appropriate play time (i.e for their health and age) earlier in the day so they are ready to rest as you head out to celebrate.

You might also consider a calmative such as Rescue Remedy, melatonin, or Comfort Zone with DAP. This product mimics the pheromone a nursing mother dog releases to support bonding and comfort and to reassure her puppies and may help your dog cope in challenging or worrying situations.

The anxiety wrap is also an option. It provides a degree of subtle, maintained pressure across your dog’s torso which can help increase the calm factor.

If your dog has a rough go of it this Fourth of July, plan to work on the issue more thoroughly in the coming year so that next Fourth of July they can be most ready to express their patriotic pupness and experience fireworks fear free. Get a recording of fireworks and play it at low volume when your dog is eating, playing with you or their toys. Gradually increase the volume so as to desensitize your dog to these sounds.

If you are lucky enough to have a dog without firework fears, it is still highly advisable to keep them indoors when fireworks are ready to rocket. The loud, blaring sounds, and general over the top excitement of people can send even the calmest dog into an elevated state of arousal whereby their ‘normal’ behavior deteriorates. Further, fireworks are potentially dangerous for people, but are even more so for dogs. Goodness knows there are surely a few enthusiastic hounds out there who might chase sparks about and end up getting burned.

As a final word of caution, be aware that fireworks debris can be hazardous to your dog. So, keep an eye out for leftover parts and be sure to collect and dispose of them to protect your dog as well as other neighborhood animals and wildlife.