Thunder and Fireworks: How to Keep Your Dog Safe and Calm
Is your dog terrified of the loud crashes and bangs made by fireworks and thunder? Storms and sparkling rockets are the bane of many dogs. The racket petrifies them. However, you can keep your pet safe and calm when whistles and explosions fill the sky.
Safety first
Scared dogs are likely to flee given half a chance during noisy episodes. Keep your pal safe. Go for your walk together during daylight hours when you know you won’t encounter fireworks. Also, is your dog microchipped? Get your vet to install a tiny chip to make finding your dog easier if he or she disappears.
Even if a microchip is in place, you still need to ensure your pet’s tags are up-to-date. Check your address and telephone number are easy to read. People who find strays always look at the animal’s tags. You’ll reclaim your dog sooner than if you rely on microchips alone as a means of identification.
When indoors, ensure windows and other means of escape are secure. Ask anyone who shares your home to keep doors shut and not let your pal in the garden. Muffle the noise of thunder and fireworks with the sound of the TV or radio too, and close the curtains--dogs associate flashes of light with the hullabaloo they hate, and window coverings reduce the brightness in rooms.
How to calm your dog further
Talk to a vet about potential solutions to aid calm when loud noises abound. You are likely to be offered pheromone sprays, thunder-shirts, and other means of inducing relaxation in canines. Calming supplements in tablet or liquid form may also be available.
Help your pet before loud thunder or fireworks cause problems as well. Introduce sounds like those they will hear during festivities at a low level via a CD and increase them over time to teach your pal to accept loud noises. Train your dog with sound therapy over months, though, rather than expect miracles in a short period.
When fireworks whizz and crackle or thunder booms, provide a secure, cozy area where your dog can hide. Frightened canines feel safest if they can snuggle in small, dark places. Areas beneath beds or open cupboards are ideal, especially if blankets to nestle into are provided.
How you conduct yourself affects your dog too because you are the pack leader. If you are excited, you send the message danger approaches. The less fuss made, the better. Let your composure signal all’s well. Hold back excessive sympathy, but remain thoughtful.
It’s tough to witness your dog shake and drool with fear, but you can improve the situation. Keep your pal safe. Follow necessary precautions and offer a secure place to shelter until thunder and fireworks abate.