· By Minou Tpain
Author: Denise Partlow
Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas
Summer. Sweet, sweet summer. The perfect time for pool parties, barbecues, picnics and outdoor celebrations.
And with these outdoor celebrations come the long awaited boom boom in the sky-FIREWORKS.
Some of us love them and some of us think they are the worst thing to ever happen-especially when our dogs are literally terrified of them.
Unfortunately, during this time of the year, many dogs get so scared that they run away-so the first thing to consider is make sure that you have a safe place for your dog to be if fireworks are going off where you are. Make sure doors and windows are shut. Put on some music or the TV-that can help to drown out the noise going on outside. Make sure your dog has been properly exercised a little bit before the fireworks begin so that he can go into rest mode when the fireworks start. When I first adopted Lincoln, my Doberman, who was very noise sensitive, I would put him on the treadmill and have him walk while the fireworks were going off. This helped him to stay focus on walking and not the scary sounds. Eventually it became background noise and he was ready to rest through it.
You may also find it helpful to use a security camera to check in on your pet-if you will not be in the house with him.
Once it is over, make sure that all of the debris from the fireworks has been cleaned up before your dog has access to that area as many fireworks are made with chemicals like potassium nitrate, which are harmful if consumed.
But those are just management strategies. There are ways that you can help your dog to feel comfortable around these loud noises. Unfortunately it’s not something that you can prepare for on the day of. It requires work, dedication, and consistency-a real desire to truly help your furry companion be in a calm state versus a nervous, frightened one. For me, it would be totally worth it to put in this kind of work. Our dogs deserve it.
So how do we help our dogs?
Read the next post to find out.
