Here are some tips for preparing dogs for fireworks and helping dogs dealing with the noise:
– Make sure pets are wearing ID tags or are microchipped in case they get startled and run away.
– Don’t put them outside in the yard if you expect anybody to set off fireworks unless you’re really sure they can’t jump the fence in a panic; if a fireworks display is planned nearby, give them their evening walk before it gets dark.
– Don’t bring your dogs when you go to a fireworks show or an Independence Day party where somebody might set off fireworks. Leave them at home where they’ll be safer and less agitated.
– If your pet has a history of being anxious around fireworks, consider behavioral therapy or even medication, from sedatives to Prozac-like behavior mediation. And don’t wait until the fireworks are going off; start training or treatment well in advance.
– Make sure your dog has a place at home to go and feel safe when fireworks – whether a room, a crate, or even underneath a bed. “Create a safe space – nice and dark, with white noise like a fan and air conditioner, perhaps calm them with something wonderful (like) peanut butter,” said Helen St. Pierre, a Concord dog trainer. She says calming music can help mask fireworks noises; she prefers classical music.
– Consider unusual therapies, including the Thundershirt – essentially a dog jacket that aims to relieve anxiety. “It’s basically a swaddle for your dog – it gives them a sense of security. It’s one of those things that either works or doesn’t work at all, and the only way to know is to try it,” said Dr. Jane Barlow. There are also products on the market containing pheromones, chemicals that are released as smells, which may help calm dogs; talk to your veterinarian or dog trainer about them.
– The danger doesn’t end when fireworks are finished. Debris such as old sparklers, glow sticks and remnants of bottle rockets can wind up in your yard where curious animals might play with them or eat them – check carefully.
(David Brooks can be reached at 369-3313 or dbrooks@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @GraniteGeek.)
