Preparing Your Dog for Fourth of July Fireworks

Hot dogs!  Barbecues! Rooftop parties! American flag tank tops! And best of all, colorful explosions in the sky.  All these things are what make the Fourth of July everyone's favorite summer holiday.  Everyone, that is, except for dogs.

The firework displays which for us humans are the culmination and highlight of Independence Day can be a frightening and traumatic experience for many of our beloved pets.  Animal Control estimates a 30-60% increase in lost pets each year between the dates of July 4th and 6th—pets who are trying to escape to safety from a clamoring sky which looks and sounds to them like the onset of the apocalypse.  And why shouldn't it?  How do you explain to your dog that these violent explosions are merely commemorating the day when, nearly 240 years ago, we declared independence from Great Britain? Unfortunately, you can't.  But here's what you can do.

Start preparing in advance

It will be incredibly helpful to your pooch to prepare and desensitize him in advance this week, by starting with some low-level versions of the real event.  If you're not sure how sensitive your dog is to fireworks, a good way to start is by finding a video online to practice with, like this one.   Be sure to start at a low volume so as not to immediately scare your dog.  If your dog remains calm, gradually increase the volume and reevaluate. If at any point your dog starts to look slightly fearful, stop turning up the volume, give them some treats, and after a few moments take a break by turning the sound off.  Repeat this at the same volume level until your dog appears relaxed and able to tolerate the sounds, then progress to the next level by turning up the volume slightly.

If you already know your dog has a fear of loud noises like fireworks, follow the instructions above, being careful to start very quietly and increase the volume slowly.  Watch for any signs that you have progressed too quickly–the clearest indicator of this is if your dog stops eating treats.  If that happens, the dog is no longer in a trainable mindset, so you will need to take a break and then restart at a lower level and progress at a slower pace to avoid this.  Other signs of fear to watch out for include:

  • Ears pinned back against head
  • Cowering posture, low to ground
  • Tail tucked between legs
  • Trying to run away or escape the sound
  • Whale eye (whites of eyes showing more than usual)

It is crucial to go at your dog's speed—their comfort level will dictate how quickly you can progress to a louder volume.  Do not try to force your dog to habituate to a louder volume if they can't tolerate it, as this could backfire and make them even more fearful of the sound.

It is also important that your dog not merely be exposed to the sound at a relatively tolerable level, but that the sound is paired with a delicious treat that your dog loves.  This is what allows us to help change the emotional response to the sound into a positive feeling—the sound predicts good things to come!  It’s also a good reason to do this type of training on an empty stomach.

Prepare on the Big Day

Here’s how to get your dog set up on the day of.

  1.  Prepare a safe and cozy space for you dog in a quiet part of your house or apartment where he can retreat when things get noisy.
  1.  Set up a white noise machine or calming music at a medium to low volume to help drown out the pops and booms outside.
  1.  Offer your dog a really special, long lasting treat when the fireworks start. Something creamy stuffed in a Kong, such as peanut butter, cream cheese, or wet food, would be an excellent option as licking can be soothing for dogs.  You can also try distracting him with a favorite toy or a fun game.
  1.  As always, be sure that your dog has up to date identification tags that include your contact information.
Kate Senisi
kate@schoolforthedogs.com