T – 1 week Until the 4th of July!
Are you ready for your homework for the next week? Excellent!
If your dog is mild to moderately afraid of fireworks, these are some steps you can take. (If your dog is really afraid of fireworks, talk to your vet about some heavier drugs. You can still take these steps, but some better living through chemistry might be necessary.
Consider CBD, Melatonin, or other OTC help.
Keeping in mind I AM NOT A VET, and you should LISTEN TO YOUR VET, if you dog has no health issues you can use some over the counter drugs to help them through. CBD works on its own, but works better when there’s a little THC. You may have heard that dogs can’t have THC, and that’s not wrong, but they can have trace amounts; about 1 part THC to 20 parts CBD. Go to a dispensary; they often have specific 20:1 dog formulas. (If you get the kind made for humans, it’s REALLY strong: look up the proper proportions for dogs.) If you can’t get it with THC, it’s still worthwhile to get the normal CBDs.
Even better, if you can get something that combines a few things, woo hoo! Melatonin, L-theanine, chamomile, L-tryptophan (yes, the turkey stuff) are common ingredients in these.
If you can’t get any of the above, consider melatonin. Give your dog 3mg every twelve hours, or find a dosage online to be extra specific.
Many of the stuff made for dogs is mild and will have instructions like, “Start 48 hours ahead of time.” That’s because it needs to build up in your dog’s system, because it’s so mild. Follow the instructions.
Start desensitizing
Today, now even, find some fireworks on YouTube. Play it on your phone for 30 seconds-2 minutes at a volume low enough that your dog doesn’t really seem to notice it. Give your dog multiple treats every time it plays, or spend the time playing tug of war or fetch.
Over the next several days, start turning the volume up. You’re always aiming for below the point where it seems to attract their attention. Start the fireworks, then start treat/playtime so that the noise predicts good things. This is how we teach dogs that a certain sound is a good sound.
If you live in an area where they start setting off fireworks early, then every time you hear one act excited to hear it and start the above.
Exercise
I don’t just mean on the 4th (although that’s a good idea, too.), but for the days leading up to it. Consistent exercise has a cumulative effect, lowering energy levels (so they have less energy to turn into anxiety) and increasing dopamine and other happy endorphins. So get your pup to a dog park, go running or biking, take them for some good hikes, or head out on some nice walks.
On the 4th itself, do something extra tiring so they’re nice and worn out.
Create a safe space
Safe spaces are never outdoors.
Let me repeat this: safe spaces are NEVER outdoors.
A frightened dog can and will find a way to escape, and putting them in your yard or in a run outside, even with a dog house, is just helping them to bolt. Dogs who’ve never shown any inclination on running away will suddenly climb over or dig under fences, even go through fences if they need to. No matter how many drugs you’ve given your dog, DO NOT leave them outside.
A safe space inside is wherever they go when they think they’re in trouble or scared of something like the smoke alarm. This could be a crate, a hidden corner, under the table, or the couch. Wherever their safe space is, make it cozy and dark so it’s even safer. Don’t be upset if your dog decides they’d rather spend their time there than with you. Remember: we care about what makes the dog more comfortable, not what we want to make the dog more comfortable. (If you get upset anyway, shrug it off. It happens to everyone. The key is to accept it rather than haul your dog out of their safe space.)
For dogs who are crate trained, consider putting them in their crate.
Distract and camouflage
Before the fireworks start, begin playing movies with explosions or classical music with big clashing cymbals. No, your dog won’t think the fireworks are part of the show, but any outside explosions will be less startling.
Stay home
I know, it’s not what you want to do. But would you leave a person in terror? No. You would not. (And if you would, you probably shouldn’t be responsible for a living thing.) Stay home with your dog and remember the training you’ve been doing: explosions = play and treats!
Follow these steps, especially if you have a young dog who’s never experienced fireworks before, and things will go smoothly. If they realize it’s no big deal and just take it in stride, then maybe next year you can close the windows (which you should do anyway) and head out to see some sparkles, while your dog naps through the show, safe and content.
Jenna
