4th of July is almost here and for many, it means getting together with loved ones, bar-b-ques, and fireworks. But as beautiful as firework displays are, the reality for some puppy owners is dealing with scared pups who may bark, howl, whine, shake, or run for cover at the first sound of them. But, there are easy steps you can take to prepare your pup for the 4th of July!
The Puppy Academy student, Nala!
During the 4th of July, more pets go missing than any other holiday. Pups who are generally afraid of loud noises such as thunder will most likely be susceptible to being anxious with fireworks. The smell, sounds and flashing lights can pose sensory overloads for our puppies. But preparing beforehand, especially with a new puppy that has never experienced fireworks before, can make a world of difference.
So how do you keep your puppy calm during fireworks? Through desensitization, creating a safe space, providing comfort, planning for emergency situations, and more precautions you will be ready to keep your puppy calm, happy, and safe during the festivities!
Prepare Your Puppy’s I.D.
Before we jump into how to keep your puppy calm during fireworks, we quickly want to restate that during the 4th of July, more pets go missing than any other day of the year. That’s why we can’t stress enough that before any fireworks displays in your area, make sure that even if your puppy remains at home, their tags are all up to date and secure to their collar.
If they are microchipped, double-check that the listed contact information, address, and veterinarian information are all in order. Intense sounds such as fireworks can instigate the primal flight instinct in many dogs, causing them to do whatever it takes to flee an area and look for safety. In the event that your puppy does run away and try to hide, having these simple IDs will increase the chances of your puppy being found and returned to you!
Puppy Training for Desensitization
A practical method to help your puppy learn not to fear fireworks, and other loud abrupt noises are through desensitization training.
This entails building your pup’s confidence around startling noises by introducing them slowly and practicing training routines around them with your pup. As your pup does better and becomes more comfortable, you can increase the volume of the noises during your sessions.
Professional puppy training classes like our Online Puppy Training School will provide a variety of effective training techniques you can practice at home to help with desensitization just like this!
Desensitization takes time and patience so it’s important to begin doing this far in advance and build on your pup’s exposure gradually prior to the 4th of July or other activities.
For more information on our program and desensitization training, visit the Online Puppy School!
Keep Your Puppy Away from Fireworks
As much as we want to include our puppies in all our festivities, it is fairer to your pup and safer for them to remain at home, where they can be comfortable and monitored under the care of a family member or pet sitter. Having your puppy with you around fireworks can put them under unneeded stress and anxiety, and increase the chances of them getting loose and running away.
Create a Safe Place For Your Puppy
The safest place for your puppy during fireworks is indoors, at home. Many puppies will instinctively seek out tight-fitting spaces when they are anxious, like under the bed, couch, or between furniture. If you’ve already crate trained your puppy, their crate can provide a great safe escape from the commotion. You can make the space even more comfortable for them by covering their crate to blackout the flashing lights and even playing white noise to block out the sounds from the fireworks.
Keep your puppy calm during fireworks by blocking out as much visibility and sound to the fireworks as possible. You can block out the fireworks flashing lights by covering your pup’s crate with towels or blankets, and you can lower the shades in the room to minimize the light coming in. Creating a “zen room” for your puppy in a separate room of the house that can be closed off to reduce outside noise, and has their crate in there for extra security and comfort, can be a great help for this! Playing white noise, like the TV, fan, or other sounds like calming music can help keep your puppy calm during fireworks.
Exercise and Walk Your Puppy
Another great way to help keep your puppy calm during fireworks is to give your puppy enough time to walk, play, and do their business prior to the fireworks! By providing your puppy activity prior to the fireworks, you’re helping to stimulate their brain which in turn will help get them tired and make it easier for them to settle down.
Take your puppy for a walk or have outdoor playtime with them while it's still daylight, to reduce the risk of fireworks startling your puppy while you're still outdoors. If your puppy needs to go out to potty when it's dark, keep them on a leash to take them out and ensure their harness, leash, and your yard are all secured in case your pup tries to dash! Try to settle your puppy down in their crate before the fireworks start so they have some quiet time to really calm down, get comfortable, and feel safe.
Secure the Exits
Make sure to double-check that all entrances and exits (doors, gates, fences, windows, etc.) are securely closed and locked. Anxious puppies will seek out shelter from the noise and can easily bolt out of an open exit if left unchecked. Puppies have even been known to tear through screen doors and jump over backyard fences to escape in a panicked state, so take the steps to make sure your home is as secure as possible before fireworks even begin.
Provide Your Pup with Comfort
Your presence or that of a trusted person will provide your puppy with a world of confidence and help keep your puppy calm during fireworks and other loud noises! Help your puppy cope with their anxiety by just sitting with them nearby, or practicing some easy commands with them to get their mind working on something positive!
Avoid coddling or over-petting your puppy, which can feed into their fear and anxiety. Instead, if you want to praise your pup for doing good, use an upbeat tone and use single clear words, as if you’re in training mode, like “Good!”, which can be accompanied by a treat or a quick pat of affection! Think of yourself like a coach, instead of a coddler. Your own energy will directly affect your pup.
Remember with most things in life, preparation whenever possible is key! Take the time beforehand to prep your pup and everything you'll need to make 4th of July celebrations as calm and as safe as possible for your pup.
If your pup has already exhibited severe anxiety due to loud noises like fireworks, consult a trainer who can help work both you and your pup through these with some desensitization and confidence-building training so these sounds don't seem so scary anymore! Our trainers are available to answer questions live every Wednesday at 1 pm PT on @thepuppyacademy Instagram!
Join our Very Important Puppy list to receive puppy tips right in your inbox every week!
Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more!
Why and How to Crate Train Your Puppy!