Some dogs are scared of fireworks
The 4th of July is a fun filled day. the days leading up to the fourth are often busy with planning BBQ's or going to events, the last thought sometimes can be your pet. Regardless if you are celebrating at home or elsewhere there are some considerations you should take before night time arrives.
Sometimes people accidentally leave doors open or your pet will dart out the door when someone is leaving or coming in the door. It is important your pets collars are on and a identification tag.
Planning ahead
When the fireworks start to go off when the sun sets, it can trigger stress and anxiety for many pets. Take the extra preparation time to make sure your pet is relaxed and safe from the loud sounds of the fireworks. one of the ways you can help your dog relax is with a calming aid, like the one pictured below.
the easiest and low cost way to do this is to move your dog in a spot away from windows, where the sound will be mitigated the most. This could be a basement or a bathroom. If you have kennel trained your dog, so they know their kennel is their 'safe space' you can put their kennel in the bathroom and then drape a blanket over the kennel.
Depending on how much anxiety your dog has, you can distract them with a treat. My go-to approach is to fill a kong with treats and peanut butter then freeze it. This will typically keep your dog occupied for a few hours.
another option if you don't have a place for your dog is an anxiety jacket. These jackets give your dog the sensation of being held, so it helps relieve their stress.
Prepare for the unexpected
if you are having guests over, be prepared that your dog may run away. According to the American Kennel Club, more dogs go missing on July 4th and 5th than any other day of the year. Inform your guests that you have intentionally locked up your dog, and not to let them out. If you think your dog my run away consider an apple tag, where the GPS tracker can help you locate your pet.
