Fireworks Friend or Foe

Posted 9 years ago by Mocha


Personally I love fireworks, my family, friends generally love them too. My personal dogs have never had much reaction to them either.. However to many dogs Fireworks are terrifying. Did you know that one of the busiest years at animal shelters is July 5th? Too many dogs frightened may bolt from the safety of their our home into the darkness and loose their way in fear. This year I want to not only post ideas for keeping your pets safe but also some tips from the professionals on how to prepare your pet.


Personally I love fireworks, my family, friends generally love them too. My personal dogs have never had much reaction to them either.. However to many dogs Fireworks are terrifying. Did you know that one of the busiest years at animal shelters is July 5th? Too many dogs frightened may bolt from the safety of their our home into the darkness and loose their way in fear. This year I want to not only post ideas for keeping your pets safe but also some tips from the professionals on how to prepare your pet.

Safety First.

  • Check ID. Does your pet have current tags that are secure?
  • Secure the perimeter. Gates locked, fence sturdy with no holes a frightened dog can escape out.
  • Safe Spot. Does your pet have a crate or room they feel safe. You can close blinds and turn on a radio or tv to drown out the sounds
  • Busy Busy Busy dogs are sometimes too happy to even notice what is going on. A frozen kong, favorite chew toy or game can occupy the mind so it focuses less on the big booms

Overcoming Fears
A good behaviorist will be able to help you develop a plan for your pet. However there probably are some things you can do to help reduce anxiety/fear or loud noises. In the article Fireworks and Fido Don’t Always Mix Dr. Sophia Yin states some dogs some dogs are more fearful because they didn’t have positive experiences with those types of sounds early in life during a critical learning period, which takes place between 3 weeks and 3 months of age and gives some tips on helping your pet.

On the blog eilleenanddogs.com there are six ways to help prepare your Dog.

Ultimately you need to make sure your pet is safe and with some of these tools you may help reduce your pets sound anxiety.