Dogs & Fireworks!

Canada Day weekend is upon us and so then are the exciting sights and sounds of fireworks! Exciting for humans – yes! For most dogs fireworks are terrifying!

Why? It can be the smell, the noise, the flashes of light…the big hollow BOOM! Each dog will react differently, some don’t even notice, but for the dogs who fear fireworks, it is important that you do everything you can to help them feel a sense of security and safety. If your dog has never experienced the noise of fireworks before and you are unsure how they will react, there is a good chance they will be scared if they are scared of thunder storms.

So what do we do to help our fur-ends through these scary events?

Keep Your Dog Away From Fireworks

Do NOT take your dog to a fireworks show! Do NOT leave your dog outside during firework ‘season’. This could be any evening during a holiday weekend such as Canada Day long weekend or the 4th of July in the USA. People will set them off all weekend long. Keep your dog inside, preferably in their safe zone – their crate, with a delicious snack  such as a stuffed kong or raw bone that they can get into and not pay attention to the noise outside.

Make Sure Your Pet Has Proper ID

Many dogs escape their yards and homes during the fireworks so make sure your dog has proper updated identification on their collar. If they are microchipped, make sure you have filled out the online information to go with your chip so you can be tracked down easily. You can even put a GPS device on your dog’s collar.  Make sure your gates, doors and windows are closed, so there is no way for your dog to escape.

Create a Safe Haven for Your Dog

I am a huge advocate for crate training and situations like this are proof of why. My dogs love and feel a sense of security in their crates, so when they are not comfortable, they have a place to go to feel secure. Dogs are den animals so seeking refuge in a ‘cave’ is a natural behavior, however, your dog must be properly crate trained first. Don’t just toss them in a new crate thinking they will be okay if they’ve never been in a crate before.

The wire crates are not the best for this, because if dogs do panic they can pull at the pliable wires of the crate and injure themselves or even escape. A hard plastic crate is much safer especially for dogs who get stressed.

You can even move their crate to the basement or room with no windows (large closet?)  to isolate them from the noise. No basement? Cover with blankets to sound proof a bit, but be sure there is still good airflow in the crate! Do not put any bedding or soft toys or anything they can destroy or rip apart in the crate. Dogs wills shred things when stressed.

Play White Noise

You can try leaving a fan, TV, or sound machine on to help mask the sounds of the fireworks. There are also plenty of YouTube channels with calming music. Linked below is calming music for dogs during fireworks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51LrVgWKTQE

Work with your dog

If you don’t care about the fireworks yourself, then stay home and do some obedience training with your dog (in a quieter space if possible - again basements are great). Keeping your dog in a working mindset helps to keep their mind off the scary noise.

Lots of praise and treats when they are working for you, obeying the commands. If they get frantic at the noise, just take a moment and wait for them to calm – don’t react to their reaction. Then try to get them to focus on their ‘job’ again. The mental exercise will tire them out and help them relax as well. If you’re going to watch fireworks, then do some mental exercises with them before you go so they are tired and sleep through the fireworks. Obedience training, search games, food puzzle or snuffle mats are all great ways to mentally tire your dogs mind.

Exercise Them Before the Fireworks Start

Head out for a log walk or run before the sun sets to increase the chances that you’ll avoid the sounds. Make sure your dog is secure on leash in case someone fires them off early and startles your dog. Be careful if you walk your dog on a harness, dogs can easily back out and slip out of a harness. Remember a walk won’t be enough to tire them they will still need the mental exercise suggested in the previous paragraph.

Desensitize Your Dog to the Sounds of Fireworks

If you know or suspect your dog will be afraid of fireworks, then start counter-conditioning them to the sound. I have linked a YouTube video with firework noises, that you can start training your dog with.

Don’t just play it and expect them to get used to it. Pair it with awesome things so your dog understands the sound of the noise gets them amazing treats. Play it on low volume when you feed them their meals or give them a stuffed kong – then turn it off then they are done eating. You are then pairing the noise with something good. Play fetch or tug with them while it plays softly in the background but don’t acknowledge it…act like you don’t even hear it. Then slowly increase the volume as your dog becomes accustomed to it.

Here are a few YouTube videos to help with your training:

This one is a constant firework soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryNlmw8745U

This one is a live firework soundtrack so not so frequent popping sounds. This would be good to sit with your dog in front of you and pair treats to the pops. Pops make treats happen! Louder pops get multiple treats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t6ylsS7RqM

Always start with the volume low so they barely notice  - you are watching for signs of stress like panting, pacing, bolting, cowering or trying to hide. If you see these signs, then turn the volume down and the treats up. You are keeping your dog’s stress level ‘below threshold’ and every dog will have a different threshold level. If a dog is overwhelmed, they won’t be capable of learning that this noise is not a threat.

Using a variety of sounds is always key, because fireworks don’t always sound alike.

Tools to help

There are different products you can use as well:

Thundershirts: I had excellent success with a thunder shirt with my first GSD who dreaded fireworks and thunder. As soon as the shirt went on, he just laid down in his crate and slept.

DIY Anxiety Wrap: If you don’t have time to purchase one then you can also make an anxiety wrap with a scarf! https://post.bark.co/health/diy-anxiety-wrap/

Dog Earmuffs: Believe it or not they even make dog earmuffs but you will have to train your dog to wear them.

Happy Hoody: We use these when grooming so the sound of the dryer is muffled and keeps the dogs calm. They work great!

You will want to get your dog used to any of the things you want to try ahead of time.

Natural Remedies

You can also try over the counter calming supplements, on their own or pair them will the suggestions above.

There are many great supplements you can use such as CBD calming treats, or Bach’s Rescue Remedy for pets or other calming type supplements. Just make sure they are for dogs! Keep in mind some of these supplements need to be given in advance to build up in your dog’s system prior to them being effective.

Talk to Your Vet

Lastly, is medication. If your pet’s anxiety is severe, consider making an appointment with your vet well in advance of the holiday so you can discuss a medication that could help soothe your dog’s anxiety.

~ Mary-Lou Halliday

Owner, Master Trainer

Aloha K9 Training & Pet Resort