Summertime is my and my dog’s favorite part of the year! From the lovely warm weather to swimming, nothing quite beats a beautiful summer day. One part of this season that might not be so fun for many pet owners, however, is the Fourth of July. Independence Day normally comes with homemade ice cream, having a family barbecue, and of course, FIREWORKS. Fireworks can be terrifying to many sound-sensitive dogs, so I am going to list a few ways you can help keep your pet safe this Fourth of July.
It is very common for the days following Independence Day for there to be an influx of missing or unidentified dogs. This is because many dogs get scared and disoriented when the fireworks start going off and escape their yard or home. You can protect your dog by fortifying your fences and taking extra precautions to make sure they can’t run out the front door. If you can’t be there to supervise your dog, it may be best to leave them safely crated inside.
For many dogs, being inside is not enough to calm their fears. In this case, it may help to turn on the TV volume up higher than normal so that they hear noise from the fireworks less. If your dog is scared, it is okay to comfort him. One misconception I often see is not to ever comfort your dog when they are afraid. While I certainly don’t coddle my dogs, talking to them in a calm, reassuring voice definitely helps them relax in stressful situations!
Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays, but I’m not able to enjoy it without first making sure my pets are taken care of! There are a variety of options you employ to get your pets through the Fourth of July safely!
