As Americans, we feel a sense of pride as the 4th of July rolls around. Independence Day is a holiday to celebrate our country’s freedom and with all of the chaos around the world, it serves as a great opportunity for Americans to come together and embrace our country’s past, present and future. America is still strong and will survive. Unfortunately, most dogs could care less about all of that. In fact, our guess is that if dogs could vote, they would give the entire Fourth of July weekend “two paws down”.
As groups of families and friends gather together, a dog can sense the impending commotion and this breaks the normal chain of events for the household. Furniture may be moved, tables and lawn chairs are suddenly brought out. Bold decorations may even be set up. Strangers invade the house, and that often can include little children that are not familiar with how to approach and communicate properly with dogs. Then comes the worst part: explosions.
As many dog owners will attest, fireworks can be terrifying to dogs of all sizes and ages. Dogs obviously have no clue that exploding fireworks are simply expressions of celebration. They see bright flashes in the sky and hear ground shaking explosions. The experience can be absolutely horrifying for dogs. For dogs that already have a fear of thunderstorms, the fireworks seem like incredible lightning flashes.
So, how can you make the Fourth of July easier for your dog? Here are some tips from the Pup Life gang. Please keep these in mind as the holiday approaches. If you know someone with a dog that is planning a fourth celebration, please e-mail them this article.
1) Keep Your Dog Away From Fireworks Displays
If you are traveling to the fairgrounds or the beach for a fireworks display, leave the dog home. It is natural to want to include the pooch, as they are an integral part of the family, but this is one time where it is best to leave them out of the family dynamic. Believe me, they won’t miss a thing and you will enjoy the display more without worrying that your dog will get scared and run off.
2) Keep Your Dog Indoors
Preferably in their favorite “safe place”, whether that be their bed, their Dog Crate or even a particular spot in the house. If your dog feels safe in a specific place, let them stay there, even if guests ask to see the dog. Simply explain that your dog is skittish during fireworks, so she or he is taking a nap.
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