Calming Tips: Helping Your Scared Dog During Fireworks
Fireworks displays, while a celebratory spectacle for many, can be a source of intense stress and anxiety for our beloved canine companions. But don't worry the team at Black Dog Barkery has put together this guide with valuable insights and practical tips to help your dog remain calm during fireworks and even thunderstorms. We’ll explore both behavioral strategies and beneficial products to ensure your dog feels safe and secure.
Understanding Fireworks Anxiety
For many dogs, the loud, unpredictable noises and bright flashes of fireworks can be incredibly disorienting and frightening. Understanding the roots of this fear is the first step in helping your dog cope.
By recognizing the triggers and signs of distress, dog owners can proactively implement strategies to keep their pet calm during these often-stressful events, ensuring their well-being throughout firework season.
What Causes Dogs to Be Scared of Fireworks?
The primary cause of dogs being scared of fireworks stems from their heightened senses. The sudden, loud sound and bright light of fireworks can be overwhelming for their sensitive ears and eyes.
Unlike humans, dogs don't understand the celebratory context, leading to a natural flight or fight response. This can result in significant dog anxiety, making it crucial for dog owners to learn ways to calm their dog.
Signs of Anxiety in Dogs During Fireworks
Recognizing the signs of anxiety in dogs during fireworks is crucial for effective intervention. Common indicators include excessive panting, drooling, pacing, trembling, whining, hiding, or destructive chewing.
Some dogs may also try to escape, vocalize excessively, or exhibit aggressive behavior due to fear. Observing these signs can help dog owners understand the severity of their pet's anxiety and take appropriate steps to comfort your dog.
If your dog gets scare during thunderstorms, they'll most likely get scared during fireworks too.
How Firework Season Affects Your Dog
Firework season, particularly around the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve, can have a profound impact on your dog’s well-being. The prolonged exposure to the sound of fireworks can exacerbate a dog’s anxiety, leading to a decline in overall mental and physical health.
Many dogs experience elevated stress levels for days, disrupting their sleep patterns and daily routines, which is why it's essential to do you best to help your dog feel calm and safe throughout this period.
Ways to Calm Your Dog During Fireworks
1. Creating a Safe Space for Your Dog
Creating a designated safe space is a perfect way to help your dog feel calm and secure during fireworks or even a thunderstorm. This area should be a quiet, secluded spot where your dog can retreat and feel protected from the overwhelming sound of fireworks.
Consider a crate covered with a blanket, a small interior room, or even a walk-in closet. The goal is to muffle the intense sound of fireworks and provide a comforting den. You can also make sure your dog has access to their favorite toys or a cozy bed within this space, enhancing their sense of calm.
Many dog owners find that making this space accessible well before the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve helps their dog become accustomed to it, further reducing dog anxiety when fireworks begin.
2. Using White Noise to Mask the Sound of Fireworks
White noise can be an incredibly effective tool to mask the startling sound of fireworks and help dogs remain calm. The consistent, low-frequency hum of a fan, air conditioner, or a dedicated white noise machine can drown out the sudden bangs and booms that make many dogs scared of fireworks.
Calming music, specifically designed for pets, can also be a beneficial alternative, providing a soothing auditory environment to help your dog relax.
By introducing white noise well before firework season, you can help your dog associate these sounds with safety and comfort, ultimately reducing their anxiety during fireworks. This strategy helps keep dogs calm by creating a more predictable and less frightening soundscape.
3. Desensitizing Your Dog to Fireworks Sounds
Desensitizing your dog to the sound of fireworks is a long-term strategy that can significantly help your dog calm during fireworks and even thunderstorms. This process involves gradually exposing your dog to recordings of fireworks at very low volumes, slowly increasing the intensity over time.
Paired with positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, this method helps your dog associate the sounds with positive experiences rather than fear. A professional dog trainer can guide you through this process, ensuring it's done safely and effectively to manage your pet’s anxiety.
While this requires patience, it's one of the most proactive ways to keep your dog calm and comfortable around fireworks, reducing their likelihood of becoming afraid of fireworks in the future.
4. Thinking Ahead
If you wait until the first boom goes off, it can be hard to get ahead of your dogs fear or anxiety. Depending on your neighborhood, fireworks season can be days or even weeks long so having a plan and strategy in place to support your dog before the first firework goes off is so important.
Executing your calming plan for your dog before the fireworks begin is crucial to help your dog remain calm during fireworks themselves. Start by getting your dog into their safe space, equipped with their favorite distractions, such as dog treats and calming music. Providing calming supplements or using a diffuser with pheromones can also be beneficial, but make sure to give your dog these aids before the fireworks start.
This allows time for the calming ingredients to work, ensuring your dog feels safe and calm when the noise of fireworks begins. By preparing ahead of time, you can help reduce your dog's anxiety and prevent them from associating their safe space with the fear of fireworks, making it easier for them to relax during firework season.
Did you know? Some cities are now putting on fireworks shows without the boom and prioritizing just the light show? Fireworks aren't only harmful to dogs, but also affect many other wild animals causing disorientation which can lead to injury, especially in birds. With that in mind cities are opting for boom-free fireworks, or better yet drone displays, as a way to help support their local wildlife.
Product Recommendations to Help Calm Your Dog
Beyond behavioral adjustments, certain products can be incredibly beneficial to help your dog remain calm during fireworks. Black Dog Barkery, serving Bristol, TN, Bristol, VA, and the Tri-Cities area, offers a curated selection of high-quality calming aids designed to alleviate dog anxiety and keep your dog calm during fireworks.
These products can be used in conjunction with the environmental and behavioral strategies discussed, providing comprehensive support to help your dog feel calm and safe throughout the firework season. Investing in these solutions can make a significant difference in your dog's overall well-being.
Paw CBD Calming Hemp Oil
Paw CBD Calming Hemp Oil is an excellent option for dog owners looking for natural support to alleviate dog anxiety, especially during events like fireworks or thunderstorms. This broad-spectrum hemp extract is formulated with naturally occurring CBD, which interacts with your dog’s endocannabinoid system to promote a sense of calm and relaxation without inducing drowsiness.
Administering the oil is simple, often by adding it to their food, onto a treat, or directly into their mouth. Many dogs respond well to this oil, experiencing a noticeable reduction in stress and fear when faced with the loud sound of fireworks, helping them to remain calm.
Evolution's Advanced Calming Support
Evolution's Advanced Calming Support offers a comprehensive approach to help your dog calm during fireworks and other stressful situations. These chews contain a blend of natural ingredients, including L-tryptophan and chamomile, known for their calming properties.
This formula works to support a balanced mood and reduce hyperactivity, making it easier to keep your dog calm when loud noises like fireworks are present. For best results, dog owners should start administering these chews a few days before anticipated events like the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve, ensuring the ingredients have time to build up in their system and effectively combat pet’s anxiety.
Super Snouts Hemp + Joint
While primarily designed for joint health, Super Snouts Hemp + Joint can also contribute to overall well-being, which indirectly helps to keep your dog calm during fireworks. The hemp extract in this product contains compounds that can help reduce general discomfort and promote a relaxed state, making your dog more resilient to stress.
When a dog is experiencing pain or stiffness, their anxiety can be exacerbated, so addressing underlying physical discomfort can be a crucial step in helping them cope with the sound of fireworks. This supplement is a great choice for older dogs or those with mobility issues, helping many dogs to remain more comfortable.
BONUS: We have these in a small trial size so you can text how your dog responds!
Super Snouts Chill + Out
Super Snouts Chill + Out is specifically formulated to help your dog calm and manage situational stress, making it an ideal choice for the firework season. This targeted supplement combines powerful natural ingredients, including adaptogenic herbs and calming amino acids, designed to soothe the nervous system and promote relaxation.
Giving your dog these chews prior to or during a fireworks display can significantly reduce their fear and anxiety. Many dog owners in Bristol have found success using Chill + Out to help their dogs cope with the overwhelming sound of fireworks, allowing them to feel more comfortable and safe during these challenging times.
BONUS: We have these in a small trial size so you can text how your dog responds!
Open Farm Pets Calming Chews
Open Farm Pets Calming Chews provide another excellent, all-natural option to help your dog calm during fireworks. These delicious chews are crafted with ingredients like passion flower, chamomile, and L-theanine, which are known for their calming properties and ability to support a balanced mood.
The chews are easy to administer and are a palatable option for even picky eaters. By incorporating these chews into your dog’s routine before an anticipated event like the Fourth of July, you can proactively help manage their anxiety during fireworks, ensuring your dog doesn’t suffer from the loud noises.
When to Seek Professional Help for Dog Anxiety
While many strategies can help your dog calm during fireworks or thunderstorms, there are times when professional intervention is necessary, especially if your dog’s anxiety is severe or debilitating. If your dog exhibits extreme behaviors such as panic attacks, self-harm, or persistent destructive tendencies, or if basic calming tips prove insufficient, it’s advisable to consult with a veterinarian or a certified professional dog trainer.
They can assess the severity of your dog’s anxiety and recommend a tailored plan, which might include behavioral therapy, medication, or a combination of both. Early intervention can significantly improve your dog's quality of life and help them cope with events like the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve, ensuring they remain calm and safe.
Recap: Keeping Your Dog Calm and Safe
Navigating firework season and thunderstorms can be challenging for dog owners, but by implementing a combination of behavioral changes, environmental adjustments, and supportive products, you can significantly help your dog cope. Remember to create a safe, quiet space for your dog, utilize white noise or calming music to mask the sound of fireworks, and consider desensitization training as a long-term solution.
Products like Paw CBD Calming Hemp Oil, Evolution's Advanced Calming Support, Super Snouts Chill + Out, and Open Farm Pets Calming Chews (don't worry we carry all these at the Barkery) can provide valuable supplementary aid. These strategies aim to reduce dog anxiety and help your dog remain calm and safe during these stressful periods.
Encouraging Calmness Through Routine
Maintaining a consistent routine is important in helping your dog remain calm, especially during the unpredictable firework season. Dogs thrive on predictability, and disruptions to their daily schedule can exacerbate their anxiety. Try to keep meal times, walks, and play sessions consistent, even if fireworks are anticipated. Regular exercise can also help to tire your dog out, making them more likely to rest calmly through loud noises.
The only exception to this would be if you're usually a late evening or night walker with your dog, try to either lengthen an earlier walk during the day or complete your walk before/after firework hours to avoid being out during the booms. If you're out when the fireworks start, the night begins with high anxiety which is harder to come down from than avoiding that anxious stimuli to begin with.
But in general, by ensuring your dog receives adequate physical and mental stimulation, you can contribute to their overall well-being, making them more resilient to the sound of fireworks or a thunderstorm. A calm routine helps establish a sense of security that is vital for dogs scared of fireworks.
Final Thoughts on Helping Your Dog During Fireworks and Thunderstorms
Ultimately, helping your dog through fireworks and thunderstorms is about providing a sense of security and understanding their unique needs. Every dog is different, and what works for one may not work for another, so patience and observation are key.
By putting together a plan with these tips (and supplements if needed), you can help your dog feel more calm and, most importantly, safe. Remember, your support and proactive measures can make a significant difference in alleviating their fear and ensuring your dog doesn't get too anxious during these challenging times, allowing them to remain calm.
