Help your dog's fear of fireworks 🎆
48% of dogs fear fireworks and the 4th is near.
In this Issue
🧯Why dogs don’t like fireworks
❓ Poll results
💡 Sit & Stay Pro Tip
😊The Smile Section
👩⚕️Vet Recommendations
🦴Product of the Week
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Why are dogs so sensitive to fireworks?
Next week is the Fourth of July, and whether you live in a densely populated area or the boonies, chances are you’ll hear some explosive celebrations. You might go out to enjoy the flashes of color or be annoyed the noise is keeping you awake—but it’s unlikely that you’ll hide under the bed or run to a neighboring town.
So why do so many dogs freak out on Independence Day?
It all comes down to sensitivity.
As PAWS Chicago writes, dogs have a keener sense of smell, sight, and hearing. Fireworks bombard all of these senses. Dogs smell 100,000 times better than humans, view the world at a wider angle with better night vision, and can hear sounds four times farther away than humans.
It’s no wonder dogs react so strongly to this assault on their delicate senses.
Poll Results
Sit & Stay Pro Tip — How to Help Your Pup Stay Calm During Fireworks
Keep your dog inside. 🏠
Fireworks are loud and unpredictable. If your dog is outside using the bathroom and Billy Bob across the street decides to light up a Roman candle, your dog may bolt. Feed, water, and walk your dog before nightfall on July 4th.
Consider desensitization training. 🎧
If your dog is scared of fireworks, consider preparing him in the week leading up to the inevitable celebrations. Play firework noises at random intervals, starting quietly and then increasing the volume as your dog gets used to the sound. Some dog owners do this throughout the year.
Buy a ThunderShirt. 🎽
Swaddle your dog up an anti-anxiety jacket. Read our vet recommendation section below to see how these keep dogs calm during fireworks, separation, car rides, and more.
Offer a distraction. 🦴
If your dog craves attention, now is the time to give it to him. Fill that KONG with peanut butter, buy him a new bone, or let him up on the couch for a snuggle session. Distraction is an effective option for dogs who get scared but don’t go completely ballistic during a fireworks show.
Keep them in their happy place. 😌
In previous issues of Sit & Stay, we’ve discussed the benefits of crate training and/or ensuring your dog has someplace to retreat if he feels overwhelmed. This should be his safe space, his happy place, and he may feel more at ease during fireworks if he’s curled up in his crate or bed.
The Smile Section
Vet Recommendations — How the ThunderShirt Works
The ThunderShirt is a snug-fitting wrap designed by Phil Blizzard (great name!), a dog owner who developed the idea to help his Goldendoodle through thunderstorms. But how does this pet jacket keep a dog’s anxiety under control?
As Vet Help Direct explains, the gentle pressure from the ThunderShirt calms the autonomic nervous system which is responsible for the “fight of flight” instinct.
To learn more about how the ThunderShirt works and other anxiety-reducing measures, read the full article.
Product of the Week
The number of runaway dogs doubles on the Fourth of July. You can’t always predict how your dog will react to the sudden, loud noises and bright lights, but you can take certain precautions.
One of these precautions is the FitBark GPS Pet Tracker.
These tags attach to your dog’s collar and have weeks of battery life and real-time location tracking. If your dog goes missing, FitBark makes it easy to reunite.
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