My wedding anniversary falls on July 4th weekend. My husband and I used to celebrate with a short trip, but not anymore. Not since our pet cam showed my dog, Tampa Bay, shivering and hiding in the closet with my other dog, Justice, standing guard in front of it, constantly barking because of the random fireworks being set off. In our home, dogs and fireworks don\u2019t mix.<\/p>\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Justice-and-Tampa-Bay-with-fireworks-600x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTampa Bay and Justice don’t show much enthusiasm for fireworks on the\u00a04th of July. Photography by Melissa L. Kauffman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
My dogs find the noise and the lights terrifying \u2014 and they\u2019re not alone. Some dogs \u2014 not all \u2014 are noise sensitive. Their anxiety can be for short periods or long after the loud noise. Signs include panting, shaking, yawning, seeking comfort from you, hiding, peeing or pooping or even harming themselves. If your dog\u2019s discomfort is minor, there are things you can do at home to help them. If your dog has a more severe reaction, speak to your veterinarian. No dog should have to live in terror on Memorial Day, the 4th of July … or any day when fireworks are present.<\/p>\n
An article by Stanley Coren, Ph.D., F.R.S.C. in Psychology Today<\/em><\/a>, discusses the results of a 2015 noise-sensitivity study done in Oslo, Norway, by Linn Mari Storengen and Frode Lingaas from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences in the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. The study found that a bit more than one out of every five dogs was reported to be fearful of noises (loud noises, heavy traffic, thunderstorms and, of course, fireworks). Interestingly, the study of 5,257 dogs (from 17 different breed clubs) found female dogs to be more fearful of noises than males, plus some dog breeds to be more fearful. Of the 17 breeds in the study, those that seemed most afraid\u00a0were Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Shiba Inus and Norwegian Buhunds. The study also found that neutered dogs were more likely to be fearful when compared to intact dogs and older dogs were more likely to be fearful than younger dogs. The author concludes that this study suggests that noise-related anxiety behavior may be the result of physiology and heredity.<\/p>\n So what can you do for your dog when the Memorial Day, the 4th of July or another firework-related summer holiday approaches? \u00a0Here\u2019s what I do. First, I tackle the noise by turning the television up loud and closing all windows and doors. Next, I close all the blinds and curtains so they can\u2019t see the flashes. And last, I give them a chewable natural calming aid. But that\u2019s just me. We reached out to the Dogster Facebook community<\/a> and asked for their best tips, and we got plenty of them. See if one of these could help you when it comes to dealing with dogs and fireworks:<\/p>\n If your dog doesn’t mind noise from the TV, try turning up the volume or putting on a loud movie. Justice is ready to do just that! \u00a0Photography by Melissa L. Kauffman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Go to the basement, and turn on TV, do the laundry so the washer and dryer are running. \u2014 Keith Colpitts<\/p>\n Turn the TV louder and run a fan. \u2014 Meeghan Duprey<\/p>\n Radio will be turned up on a mellow or classical station. \u2014 Gail Bernier<\/p>\n Just before sunset on the 4th, I\u2019ll put on my Apocalypse Now <\/em>DVD and turn it up as loud as I can stand it. My girl always falls asleep to the sounds of the screaming, helicopters and gunfire within the first half hour and doesn\u2019t even notice when the fireworks start. \u2014 Lisa Marie<\/p>\n I use Rescue Remedy. It\u2019s a safe and all-natural liquid made from Bach flowers. If\u00a0 you can\u2019t find it locally, it\u2019s on Amazon.com. I just put a few drops in food or on a treat. It has helped my shy dog immensely. She hates thunderstorms, too. And this stuff calms her down without using Acepromazine from the vet. \u2014 Ruthan Blomquist<\/p>\n My vet told me I could use Benadryl on my dogs, but I don\u2019t want people to use it without first talking to their vets. \u2014 Rebecca Lord<\/p>\n I put a couple of drops of lavender oil on the outside of Lulu\u2019s collar. I also rub a couple of drops in my hand and let her smell it. It helps calm her during storms and through fireworks. She\u2019s had terrible anxiety since her buddy passed. This helps. \u2014 Vicki Toby Collins<\/p>\n My dog takes Sileo for thunderstorm anxiety. According to its website, it also helps for fireworks. \u2014 Kelly Conklin (Ed note: Sileo is a canine noise aversion drug by Zoetis. See your veterinarian to discuss.)<\/p>\n I wrap him in his favorite blanket. \u2014 Dave Costello<\/p>\n The Thundershirt has helped my one dog in the past. \u2014 Barbara Hudson<\/p>\n We turn on the TV and fans. We also don\u2019t leave them home alone. It\u2019s an important time for us to make them feel safe. We\u2019ve found that snug shirts or an Ace bandage help, similar to swaddling. \u2014 Angie Stozyk<\/p>\n Some dogs find comfort in being wrapped up or swaddled, like in a Thundershirt or laying in your bed under the covers like Tampa Bay here. Photography by Melissa L. Kauffman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I let her hang out in the bathroom. \u2014 Meeghan Duprey<\/p>\n I put the dog in the basement in a kennel with the door closed, or she runs around the house trying to find a safe spot. \u2014 Gail Bernier<\/p>\n My dog jumps into my bed and sleeps. My bed and my pillow are the best solution for any scary stuff. Better if I\u2019m in it with him. \u2014 Elena Prokhonova<\/p>\n We go to the basement. \u2014 Keith Colpitts<\/p>\n As my Akita got older, he became more and more frightened of fireworks and always looked for a place to hide. One night before the 4th, we were out in the yard and a neighbor set off a firework. He took off; he just wanted to get in the car. I let him in the back seat and he was happy. From that point on, whenever the fireworks started, we went and sat in the car together with the engine on and the AC running, so it buffered the sound. He was content to sleep, while I read a book or listened to the radio. This also became our go-to place when storms got really bad as well. \u2014 Heather Gembarosky<\/p>\n We go camping at a campground that doesn\u2019t do fireworks. Everybody\u2019s happy! \u2014 Tracy Marie<\/p>\n Close all windows. Go into the bathroom, close the door and run the shower or bath, and turn on the exhaust fan if there is one. This is what we do when they test the fire alarms in the building. \u2014 Eleanor R. Nespica<\/p>\n Fireworks for the 4th of July. Photography by Melissa L. Kauffman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you have a puppy, and it\u2019s their first 4th of July, act as if nothing is wrong. Do not pet and reassure them with every boom. Have them sit and give a treat. The bigger deal the human makes of it, the bigger deal the dog will, too. Stay calm. What fireworks? \u2014 Barbara Ernest<\/p>\n If your dog is gun-shy, pay attention; don\u2019t leave them home alone. \u2014 Ron Green<\/p>\n We have fans on, the AC on, plus music and TV. Animal-friendly, relaxing essential oils are in the diffuser and we get out some really delicious treats and interactive toys and chewing things to distract. Start it all before they hear the first firework. \u2014 Stephanie Butler<\/p>\n I typically post something on Facebook about personal fireworks and how they can harm dogs (and some military vets). Hopefully my friends will think twice before buying certain ones or any. \u2014 Gail Bernier<\/p>\n Try putting your dog in the bathroom with the fan and water running. Justice likes the bathroom as long as there are comfy rugs, water and treats. Photography by Melissa L. Kauffman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Top photograph: IrisImages<\/a>\/Getty Images This article was originally published in 2017.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The post Dogs and Fireworks \u2014 Stop Your Dog from Getting Scared<\/a> by Melissa L. Kauffman<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Dogs and Fireworks \u2014 Stop Your Dog from Getting Scared<\/a> by Melissa L. Kauffman<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n My wedding anniversary falls on July 4th weekend. My husband and I used to celebrate with a short trip, but not anymore. Not since our pet cam showed my dog, Tampa Bay, shivering and hiding in the closet with my other dog, Justice, standing guard in front of it, constantly barking because of the random fireworks being set off. In our home, dogs and fireworks don\u2019t mix.<\/p>\n Tampa Bay and Justice don’t show much enthusiasm for fireworks on the\u00a04th of July. Photography by Melissa L. Kauffman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n My dogs find the noise and the lights terrifying \u2014 and they\u2019re not alone. Some dogs \u2014 not all \u2014 are noise sensitive. Their anxiety can be for short periods or long after the loud noise. Signs include panting, shaking, yawning, seeking comfort from you, hiding, peeing or pooping or even harming themselves. If your dog\u2019s discomfort is minor, there are things you can do at home to help them. If your dog has a more severe reaction, speak to your veterinarian. No dog should have to live in terror on Memorial Day, the 4th of July … or any day when fireworks are present.<\/p>\n An article by Stanley Coren, Ph.D., F.R.S.C. in Psychology Today<\/em><\/a>, discusses the results of a 2015 noise-sensitivity study done in Oslo, Norway, by Linn Mari Storengen and Frode Lingaas from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences in the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. The study found that a bit more than one out of every five dogs was reported to be fearful of noises (loud noises, heavy traffic, thunderstorms and, of course, fireworks). Interestingly, the study of 5,257 dogs (from 17 different breed clubs) found female dogs to be more fearful of noises than males, plus some dog breeds to be more fearful. Of the 17 breeds in the study, those that seemed most afraid\u00a0were Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Shiba Inus and Norwegian Buhunds. The study also found that neutered dogs were more likely to be fearful when compared to intact dogs and older dogs were more likely to be fearful than younger dogs. The author concludes that this study suggests that noise-related anxiety behavior may be the result of physiology and heredity.<\/p>\n So what can you do for your dog when the Memorial Day, the 4th of July or another firework-related summer holiday approaches? \u00a0Here\u2019s what I do. First, I tackle the noise by turning the television up loud and closing all windows and doors. Next, I close all the blinds and curtains so they can\u2019t see the flashes. And last, I give them a chewable natural calming aid. But that\u2019s just me. We reached out to the Dogster Facebook community<\/a> and asked for their best tips, and we got plenty of them. See if one of these could help you when it comes to dealing with dogs and fireworks:<\/p>\n If your dog doesn’t mind noise from the TV, try turning up the volume or putting on a loud movie. Justice is ready to do just that! \u00a0Photography by Melissa L. Kauffman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Go to the basement, and turn on TV, do the laundry so the washer and dryer are running. \u2014 Keith Colpitts<\/p>\n Turn the TV louder and run a fan. \u2014 Meeghan Duprey<\/p>\n Radio will be turned up on a mellow or classical station. \u2014 Gail Bernier<\/p>\n Just before sunset on the 4th, I\u2019ll put on my Apocalypse Now <\/em>DVD and turn it up as loud as I can stand it. My girl always falls asleep to the sounds of the screaming, helicopters and gunfire within the first half hour and doesn\u2019t even notice when the fireworks start. \u2014 Lisa Marie<\/p>\n I use Rescue Remedy. It\u2019s a safe and all-natural liquid made from Bach flowers. If\u00a0 you can\u2019t find it locally, it\u2019s on Amazon.com. I just put a few drops in food or on a treat. It has helped my shy dog immensely. She hates thunderstorms, too. And this stuff calms her down without using Acepromazine from the vet. \u2014 Ruthan Blomquist<\/p>\n My vet told me I could use Benadryl on my dogs, but I don\u2019t want people to use it without first talking to their vets. \u2014 Rebecca Lord<\/p>\n I put a couple of drops of lavender oil on the outside of Lulu\u2019s collar. I also rub a couple of drops in my hand and let her smell it. It helps calm her during storms and through fireworks. She\u2019s had terrible anxiety since her buddy passed. This helps. \u2014 Vicki Toby Collins<\/p>\n My dog takes Sileo for thunderstorm anxiety. According to its website, it also helps for fireworks. \u2014 Kelly Conklin (Ed note: Sileo is a canine noise aversion drug by Zoetis. See your veterinarian to discuss.)<\/p>\n I wrap him in his favorite blanket. \u2014 Dave Costello<\/p>\n The Thundershirt has helped my one dog in the past. \u2014 Barbara Hudson<\/p>\n We turn on the TV and fans. We also don\u2019t leave them home alone. It\u2019s an important time for us to make them feel safe. We\u2019ve found that snug shirts or an Ace bandage help, similar to swaddling. \u2014 Angie Stozyk<\/p>\n Some dogs find comfort in being wrapped up or swaddled, like in a Thundershirt or laying in your bed under the covers like Tampa Bay here. Photography by Melissa L. Kauffman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I let her hang out in the bathroom. \u2014 Meeghan Duprey<\/p>\n I put the dog in the basement in a kennel with the door closed, or she runs around the house trying to find a safe spot. \u2014 Gail Bernier<\/p>\n My dog jumps into my bed and sleeps. My bed and my pillow are the best solution for any scary stuff. Better if I\u2019m in it with him. \u2014 Elena Prokhonova<\/p>\n We go to the basement. \u2014 Keith Colpitts<\/p>\n As my Akita got older, he became more and more frightened of fireworks and always looked for a place to hide. One night before the 4th, we were out in the yard and a neighbor set off a firework. He took off; he just wanted to get in the car. I let him in the back seat and he was happy. From that point on, whenever the fireworks started, we went and sat in the car together with the engine on and the AC running, so it buffered the sound. He was content to sleep, while I read a book or listened to the radio. This also became our go-to place when storms got really bad as well. \u2014 Heather Gembarosky<\/p>\n We go camping at a campground that doesn\u2019t do fireworks. Everybody\u2019s happy! \u2014 Tracy Marie<\/p>\n Close all windows. Go into the bathroom, close the door and run the shower or bath, and turn on the exhaust fan if there is one. This is what we do when they test the fire alarms in the building. \u2014 Eleanor R. Nespica<\/p>\n Fireworks for the 4th of July. Photography by Melissa L. Kauffman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you have a puppy, and it\u2019s their first 4th of July, act as if nothing is wrong. Do not pet and reassure them with every boom. Have them sit and give a treat. The bigger deal the human makes of it, the bigger deal the dog will, too. Stay calm. What fireworks? \u2014 Barbara Ernest<\/p>\n If your dog is gun-shy, pay attention; don\u2019t leave them home alone. \u2014 Ron Green<\/p>\n We have fans on, the AC on, plus music and TV. Animal-friendly, relaxing essential oils are in the diffuser and we get out some really delicious treats and interactive toys and chewing things to distract. Start it all before they hear the first firework. \u2014 Stephanie Butler<\/p>\n I typically post something on Facebook about personal fireworks and how they can harm dogs (and some military vets). Hopefully my friends will think twice before buying certain ones or any. \u2014 Gail Bernier<\/p>\n Try putting your dog in the bathroom with the fan and water running. Justice likes the bathroom as long as there are comfy rugs, water and treats. Photography by Melissa L. Kauffman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Top photograph: IrisImages<\/a>\/Getty Images This article was originally published in 2017.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The post Dogs and Fireworks \u2014 Stop Your Dog from Getting Scared<\/a> by Melissa L. Kauffman<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Justice-remote-600x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDrown\u00a0fireworks out<\/h3>\n
Take a chill pill (*Discuss these with your veterinarian.)<\/h3>\n
Wrap your pup\u00a0up<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Tampa-in-Bed-600x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGive your dog a safe space away from the fireworks<\/h3>\n
![\"Fireworks](\"https:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Fireworks-2-600x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStay calm and carry on<\/h3>\n
Stay home with your dog<\/h3>\n
Distract your pup<\/h3>\n
Get the message out<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Justice-bathroom-600x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHopefully these tips from other dog lovers will keep you well-armed. We\u2019ll leave you with a few more helpful takeaways for dealing with dogs and fireworks:<\/h3>\n
\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\nRead Next: 6 Things to Remember When You Have a Fearful Dog<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nDrown\u00a0fireworks out<\/h3>\n
Take a chill pill (*Discuss these with your veterinarian.)<\/h3>\n
Wrap your pup\u00a0up<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nGive your dog a safe space away from the fireworks<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nStay calm and carry on<\/h3>\n
Stay home with your dog<\/h3>\n
Distract your pup<\/h3>\n
Get the message out<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nHopefully these tips from other dog lovers will keep you well-armed. We\u2019ll leave you with a few more helpful takeaways for dealing with dogs and fireworks:<\/h3>\n
\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\nRead Next: 6 Things to Remember When You Have a Fearful Dog<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n