Critter Talk – Calming your dog’s fireworks fears!

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Fireworks on the beach on the Fourth of July. ...
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I decided to repost this for those who may have missed it the first time around. After all today is the big fireworks day and there will be a lot of terrified critters.

Last week I received another one of Lisa Spector’s e-mails on the subject of dog-calming music. Ms. Spector is a Juilliard-trained concert pianist, agility enthusiast and co-creator of “Through a Dog’s Ear,” an impressive collection of music designed to soothe the canine brain.

(Here’s a past post of mine on this surprisingly scientific subject.)

In said e-mail, Ms. Spector directs us to her worthy blog post on the subject of Fourth of July Fireworks (which in my neighborhood go on for at least ten to fourteen days). It’s great stuff, advice I’d absolutely dole out. So I’ll offer it here for your consideration and spare myself the trouble:

“Eight Tips for providing a safe July 4th for your Canine Household:

1. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise earlier in the day.

2. Keep your dogs inside during fireworks, preferably with human companionship. If it’s hot, air conditioning will help.

3. Provide a safe place inside for your dogs to retreat. When scared of sounds they can’t orient, dogs often prefer small enclosed areas. (I once had a dog who climbed in the bathtub during windstorms.)

4. If possible, keep the windows and curtains closed.

5. Make sure all your dogs are wearing ID tags with a properly fitting collar. (Dogs have been known to become Houdini around the 4th of July.)

6. Leave your dog something fun to do – like a frozen Kong filled with his favorite treats.

7. Train with counter classical conditioning. Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., CAAB, has a very clear definition and tips here.

8. Sound Therapy: Play Music to Calm your Canine Companion, Vol. 1 and 2. It is most effective when you first play the music well before the fireworks start, at a time the dog is already peaceful and relaxed. He will begin to associate the music with being calm and content. Then play the music a couple of hours before the fireworks start and continue to play through bedtime. The music doesn’t need to be loud to be effective as it has been clinically demonstrated to calm the canine nervous system. Click here for free samples and downloads. Last year, I received a heart warming e-mail from a woman who told me that it was the first 4th of July that she didn’t need to drug her dog, thanks to the music of Through a Dog’s Ear. On previous years, he had jumped out of windows. She said, ‘It was like Dog Ambien! Dambien!'”

OK, so apart from the pitch-iness of number eight, I really like her suggestions (especially the first one!). But for some dogs, my preference runs to having owners play the Star Wars soundtrack at a high volume all day and night and burn something in the oven early on in the day to help mask all the noises and smells, respectively. But then, I guess some gentle Mozart is a heck of a lot more pleasant for most people. And probably for most dogs, too.

I’d also add a microchip suggestion to number five. And, for what it’s worth, here’s my party line on the sedation thing for storms (which applies well to fireworks, too).

Now it’s your turn: What will you do to prepare for this holiday weekend?

Thanks to my friend Dr. Patty Khuly

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About Post Author

Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.
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13 years ago

Joni – one of our cats climbs the curtains and hangs virtually from the ceiling when the fireworks go off…November 5th over here in England.

Highly amusing in a way but the poor thing can’t be touched for a few days after.

Joni Ross
13 years ago

Thanks, Mike. Fortunately in the past few years dog didn’t get stressed out from all the fireworks around here… but my cat is another story.

13 years ago

Just put on a Sex Pistols cd very loud and the dog won’t hear the fireworks…

Barbara
13 years ago

Fortunately I don’t live near any fireworks! I do know my dog would drive me crazy if we did. Helpful info. and will pass it along, thank you.
Happy 4th to all of MM fans!

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