Easy Ways to Help Dogs Cope With Fireworks

Every Fourth of July, I end up with an
80-pound lap dog. From the moment the first firecracker pops, my German
shepherd mix, Hannah, tries to convince me that she’s not that heavy and that
the best way for us to mark the holiday is with her squashed up against my
legs. Fortunately, there are some ways for both of us to survive Independence Day fireworks without my losing my independence to a
canine-inflicted leg injury:

Dennis from Atlanta|cc by 2.0

• The
  most soothing thing for scared dogs is to have their guardians close by. It’s
  pretty easy for me to distract Hannah with games, brushing, petting, or food,
  and I make sure that I act upbeat and calm in order to reinforce the idea that
  she doesn’t have a reason to be afraid.
• Drowning
  out fireworks with white noise or, even better, with “Through a Dog’s Ear” CDs,
  which are specially created by a sound scientist, a veterinarian, and a concert
  pianist to calm anxious dogs, makes the loud booms seem less frightening, and
  shutting the curtains and keeping the lights on helps to camouflage any sudden
  bursts of light.
• Melatonin
  is the best calming natural supplement for dogs, and you can find it at any
  health food store. Give your dog from 1 to 4 mg, depending on bodyweight, and
  try to give it a little ahead of the fireworks, if possible.
• A
  Thundershirt might well be
  the best solution of all. This snug garment (based on the same principle as
  swaddling a baby) has a very high success rate at calming anxious dogs. Many
  pet supply stores and vets now stock them.

Also, although Hannah isn’t the type to
bolt if she gets startled, many dogs do dig under fences, tear through screen
doors and windows, and even chew
their way out of crates (another reason why crates are a bad idea) when they’re afraid, so I’ve got her
microchipped and I keep her collar and tags on her during the fireworks, just in case. If
you know anyone who makes their dog stay outside, please urge them to keep the
dog indoors at least on the Fourth of
July in order to prevent him or her from escaping or getting injured.   

Here’s to a safe and stress-free Independence
Day for you and your pooch!

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