7 Tips to Calm Your Pet During Fireworks

Jun 24

Did you know that shelters have the highest intake of animals on 4th of July? Dogs can get scared easily from loud, sudden noises. That’s why it is important to keep your pet safe during Independence Day and New Years Eve. In this post you will find 7 tips on how to keep our dog save this holiday!

Make sure your dog is wearing his collar with your phone number attached to it. If your dog is microchipped and/or registered with the city, make sure to update their information online. Take a good photo of your dog the day before, in case he gets lost and you need to put up flyers. I hope it doesn’t come this far, so keep reading to keep your dog calm during the fireworks:

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1. Do Not Take Your Dog to the Party

Your dog is safest in a familiar place. Bringing them to a party can be disorienting, especially since not everyone there may understand how dogs react to loud noises. If a guest sets off a firework near your dog, they could get scared and run off, possibly getting lost in an unfamiliar area.

If you’re hosting the party, keep your dog in a separate room or in their kennel (if they have one). It may be tough, but do NOT let your dog out, no matter what. Trust me, it’s the best thing you can do for your dog on that night.

2. Keep Your Dog Inside The House

If your dog usually stays outside, bring them inside during the fireworks. Even if they haven’t been afraid of fireworks before, it's safer to bring them in. A nearby firework could frighten them and cause them to run off.

Make sure you close all doors and windows. Your pet might escape through the smallest window crack when they are scared.

Pro Tip

Your dog mirrors your mood. The calmer you stay, the calmer your dog will be during the fireworks.

3. Distract with a Treat

Some dogs might not be interested in any type of food when they are scared, but many dogs can’t resist a good treat. If your dog is a fan of peanut butter, stuff a kong and freeze it the day before. Freezing will make the treat last longer, which will distract your dog for an extended period of time. You can also get your dog an extra large bone from the pet store. Anything that will distract your dog from the fireworks will work.

4. Turn on the TV or Music

Especially if you are not going to be home, leave some background noise for your pet. The music doesn’t have to be blasting, but just enough to blend in with the fireworks in the background.

5. Ignore Fearful Behavior

This one is tough, because I do want to give my dog a hug whenever he is scared. DON’T. By engaging with your dog, you might encourage their fearful behavior. Let your dog hide under the bed or the couch, but do not engage. It is best to ignore that behavior and relax. If you are not afraid or worried, it will be much easier for your dog to relax as well.

6. Tire Your Dog out

Tiring your dog out has two positive effects: 1. Your dog might be sleeping through the fireworks and 2. Exercising helps to relieve stress. Make sure to go early in the morning when you are least likely to hear fireworks. Take your dog on a run or extra long walk to tire them out.

7. Give Your Dog Calming Drops

The first time I took my dog on a plane, I was very nervous on how he would react. I got some calming drops for him, just in case he wouldn’t be calm. The drops are homeopathic and great for stress and tension relieve. They do not sedate or knock your dog out, but they calm their nerves. My dog was in fact nervous on his first flight (probably because I was nervous as well) but I knew he was tired because we exercised A LOT before entering the plane. I gave him 4 drops and sure enough he fell asleep. I felt confident to give my dog these drops because I wasn’t medicating him but rather treating him with natural herb drops.

Seeing your pet scared is something that makes many dog owners sad. You would do anything to be able to explain to your dog that nothing bad is going to happen when the fireworks start. That is why it is important to be as prepared as you possibly can. Remember that this day will pass and this feeling is only temporarily. I hope that these tips will help you and your dog to be prepared for the fireworks and that you can celebrate the holidays peacefully.

Happy Holidays!