dogdaze

Americans will be celebrating their independence today in many ways — parties, picnics, family, fun and fireworks. Although most of these activities can include your dog, please don’t subject your best four-legged friend to the fireworks show.

Dogs don’t like fireworks because of the loud noise and the bright bursts of light in the sky. What we see as beautiful our dogs see as loud, scary monsters.

Because the loud explosions of fireworks are what scares dogs most, you can help your dog have a somewhat normal night on this Independence Day by planning ahead.

If you can hear the fireworks exploding outside your house, so can your dog. You’ll know your dog is scared if he paces, pants, trembles, salivates, barks and tries to escape or hide.

The best place for your dog in this situation is in the center of the house, preferably in a small room or bathroom. This will help filter the sound of the fireworks. Leave the television set or a radio on to help further muffle the sound.

Give your dog his favorite toy and a comfortable bed to make him feel at ease. You can even put an old or dirty shirt with your scent on it near his bed for reassurance.

Don’t be overly affectionate to your dog at this time because it may exacerbate the problem. By acting happy you can help redirect your dog’s attention away from the scary sounds.

If you have an outside dog, it’s a good idea to bring him indoors for the evening or at least during the fireworks show. You can even put him in a crate with a bowl of fresh water and don’t forget to leave some white noise — a radio, television or fan.

The most important thing this holiday is to enjoy your family (dogs too) and friends, have fun and stay safe.

Happy Fourth of July!

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