It’s that time of year where dogs play Houdini and go missing due to firework anxiety. There are some ways you can keep your pet safe and calm them down this firework season. Have you tried these tricks yet?
1) Wear Them Out
A tired dog is a naturally calm dog. The day you know fireworks will be active in your town, make sure you have taken them for some sort of exercise. If they don’t have the energy, they won’t get as anxious. Take them for a run, a long walk, throw a stick, even take them to the dog park! The more you do with them during the day, the better. It also reminds them that you are there to protect and love them which enhances their mood.
2) Safe Space
Provide a safe space for your dog to retreat to when they get stressed. If you have noticed, a dog’s signature anxiety move is to go underneath tables, beds and other pieces of furniture. This is instinct for them, it’s their “cave” inside your home. Dogs naturally want a cave-like space to relax in. Instead of having them hide under furniture, make them an extra nice spot this year. Crates work great for this. You don’t even have to lock them in the crate, odds are, once they realize what it’s for, they will want to go in it. Provide them will pillows or towels that smell like you for an extra-calming effect.
3) Remove the Visual Stimulation
For example, with the crate, make sure all the sides are enclosed or covered to make it dark and calming. Around the house, close the curtains and blinds. Bright lights and flashing can cause anxiety just as much as the noise can. If you want to view the fireworks, consider having your pet in a separate room during that time, but overall, just be sure to keep them inside.
4) Preoccupation
Create a distraction. Give their mind something else to think about, something they can do long term. Kong toys filled with peanut butter and treats work GREAT for this. Hot outside? Make dog-friendly ice-pops filled with fruit and dog treats. Keep them cool, calm and busy!
5) Sound Therapy
This one takes some extra time and forethought. When things are calm and the dog is happy around the house, begin playing a certain song or soundtrack. Keep doing this. Eventually, your dog will be conditioned to associate that particular music with being at ease and happy. This is very effective with larger breeds. They learn quickly and are great with associations. Make sure you like the music, because it’s going to be on repeat. To help owners deal with a repeat song, try picking a calming sound instead of something with lyrics. Classical music or sleeping tracks.
6) Acclimation
This also takes some ahead-prep time. This is kind of the flip side to sound therapy. Get a track of firework sounds. Over the course of a couple of weeks play the track inside, increasingly at a louder volume each time. Make sure you’re with them and interacting with them while it’s playing. Like sound therapy, they will be conditioned, this time to ignore the sound. This can be effective with smaller breeds when combined with tip #7!
7) Doggie Burritos
Wrap them up, literally. Wrap up your dog into a blanket burrito while you give them pets. This is extremely calming for dogs! Similar to how a weighted blanket reduced anxiety in humans, overall compression is very soothing for a dogs nervous system as well. If you need something that’s more mobile for your dog, then try one of the compression vests or Thundershirts. Do they look ridiculous? Kind of. Do they work? Yep. Most dogs show results the first time. Others might take 2 usages but it does drastically reduce how they react to their usual stressors.
8) Scent
Essential oils aren’t just for humans. They have a similar effect on dogs. Oils that are safe for dogs include: lavender, chamomile, spearmint, and cardamom. For anxiety reduction, use lavender and chamomile. Ears are the secret to dogs. There is a reason dogs love getting their ears scratched. It’s a trigger spot for them. Rub the oils on your hands and then pet their ears, massaging them around. Then rub their belly too. BEFORE using the oil directly on their skin make them smell it to assure they will not have an adverse reaction to the oil.
You can also use something more official called, Canine Calm. It’s all natural and made by Earth Heart.
9) Ask Your Vet
Of course there are non-natural ways to help your dog too. Ask your vet about medication that could reduce anxiety in your dog. Always make sure you understand dosage before feeding your dog ANY pharmaceuticals prescribed by your vet. Ask your vet’s permission before using any over-the-counter human medication on your dog. Here is a chart of medications you can ask about.
NEVER give your dog meds without consulting a professional for dosage and avoid giving them human medication on a regular basis. Their stomach linings are more fragile than ours and medication doesn’t always mix well.
10) Energy/Communication
Communication is key to any relationship in life. This includes your pets. Studies show that owners who talk to their dogs and have conversations with them have more trainable and loyal dogs. Talk to your dog and let them know you’re okay and they are too. You don’t only communicate with your mouth. Dogs are great at reading energy. They can tell by how someone presents themselves, their posture, and even their scent are all ways a dog can read a room. If they can see you’re calm, it helps. This method typically needs to be combined with another method for smaller breeds.
For example, if your dog is high anxiety, you shouldn’t host a party. The energy in the room will be too high. Not to mention the door opening and closing a lot increase their flight risk!
We hope you have a Happy 4th of July and stay safe!
