While the flashing lights of fireworks may be synonymous with festivities, summer, and the 4th of July for us humans, many of our dogs would beg to differ that they’re anything to celebrate. The loud booms and bright lights can be extremely frightening for dogs, but there are a few things you can do to help them cope. Learn how you can keep your pooch safe, stress-free, and calm during this summer’s fireworks.
Make a safe hiding spot in your home
Remember when you were a little kid during a loud thunderstorm, and how scary that was? If you had a ‘safe place’ in your home where you would hideout, create something similar for your pooch. Maybe a pillow fort in the living room, a blanket draped over a table, or your puppy’s favorite toy may ease their fireworks fears.
Try to tire your dog out before the firework show
If it’s the 4th of July and you know the fireworks are inevitable, take your 
pup on an extra-long walk during the day. By the time the firework display comes on, if your dog has extra energy, it could add to his anxiety.
Always draw the curtains & cover the windows
This will help minimize the lights from the fireworks. The flashes beaming across the sky can cause a lot of distress for dogs. Leave your lights on indoors as well – it helps reduce the impact of the glow.
Give them something that will distract them
Long-lasting chew toys are a great way to keep your dog occupied during the fireworks. Give them something tasty to chew on like a big bone, or try stuffing a puzzle toy with layers of their favorite treats. This will help them forget all about the scary fireworks going on outside and focus on the yummy treats inside.
Keep your dog’s info up to date
We’re talking about the worst-case scenario here, but it’s always better to air on the side of caution. If you do bring your pup to a firework show and he manages to run away, be sure he’s wearing a properly fitted collar and tags with up-to-date information. It’s a good idea to make sure your dog is microchipped and keep the details up to date. It makes it much easier for dogs to reunite with their owners if they manage to run away.
Unfortunately, as much as we tell our pups that everything is ok, they still may feel incredibly uneasy during fireworks. We can’t blame them, imagine if loud booms and bright lights were surrounding you and you didn’t understand where they were coming from – we’d be pretty scared too!
