By Best Friends Pet Care Trainers
The coming holiday week – with its fireworks, firecrackers and other loud noises -- can be terrifying to dogs. Some run away, trying to escape the sound; in fact, the Fourth of July week is peak time for lost dog reports.
Resist the temptation to take your dog with you to the community fireworks display or a backyard celebration that includes firecrackers. Even if your dog hasn’t been troubled by loud noises in the past, this could be the time that she runs off to escape the scary sounds.
Following are our top tips for keeping your pets safe during all the noisy celebrations next week.
- Don’t leave a fearful dog outdoors. Bring him indoors to a quiet area of your home – preferably an interior room where the noise is muffled. Move his bed and some toys into the room for comfort and turn on a radio or TV to help mask the load noises outside.
- Don’t leave your dog alone during fireworks. Stay with her and try to distract her by playing a game or practicing obedience skills. Talk to her in a calm voice.
- Don’t leave your pet alone. If you can’t be home with him during fireworks, find someone to stay with him, or take him to a boarding facility with indoor rooms. The company of other dogs and the attention of caring humans can help distract him when you aren’t there.
For more advice on coping with fireworks fears, visit our Dog Dish blog.
