It’s coming.
Cue the “Jaws” music…
One of the worst days of the year for our poor US-based dogs.
And if your neighborhood is anything like mine, people have already been shooting off fireworks on a nearly-nightly basis. Last week we had a power outage for hours. Apparently, when that happens, you take all your fireworks outside and shoot them off. Hopefully that cuts down on Friday’s display.
Anyway, those of us who have dear, sweet, scared pups know: the Fourth can be a nightmare. Heck, it can be a nightmare for confident dogs!
For dogs with sound sensitivity – something that crops up in fearful dogs but also can manifest in “confident” dogs – the Fourth is a stressful event. Lucas is sound sensitive. He dislikes the hair dryer, the vacuum, kitchen appliances – but he’s learned how to either ignore/avoid those things or remove himself from the situation.
With fireworks, those options aren’t available.
His typical reaction: He hears a crackle or boom and begins running around, frantically barking. If we’re outside, he’ll jump against the fence. If we’re inside, he just runs from one end of the room to the other. In between bursts, he takes a wide stance and pants with huge, round eyes. By the end of the night, he’s completely exhausted from expending all that frantic energy.
Unless you have a sound-proof room, there’s not much you can do to alleviate the loud crashes. However, here are the steps we take that could help with your sound sensitive pup, too:
- The dogs stay in the most internal area of the house, shades drawn.
- If you have a Thundershirt, put it on before the fireworks start. (However, don’t let this be the first time your dog ever wears one… be sure to test it out and help him get used to it prior to the Fourth.)
- Plug in a pheremone diffuser or spray the room with a spritz.
- We used to give Lucas Benadryl, but it didn’t do a thing for him. We now use Rescue Remedy. I’m not sure how much it really helps, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
- Finally, it’s often recommended to turn on the radio or TV. Music doesn’t soothe Lucas. At all. I suspect that for dogs who are sound sensitive, it’s just more noise in the environment. However, there’s been a lot of praise for the iCalm. If it works for your dog, great!! If you have a sound sensitive dog, be cognizant of adding further noise and stress.
We hear scary stats every year, like more dogs escape on this night – and end up in the shelter – than any other. So, whether your dog is sound sensitive or not, please keep him/her inside during the fireworks displays this Friday. Make sure everyone has a potty break before outdoor festivities get rolling, then tuck your dog safely inside – these guys are going to have access only to our bedroom and the hallway because it’s the most internal spot in the house. We set baby gates up at the kitchen door and the stairwell leading upstairs so that they have to stay in that safe, internal space.
Each of those tactics is individual to Lucas. Music could be great for your dog, while the Thundershirt doesn’t help at all. The goal is to pick and choose those things that do help your individual pup.
That’s why I’m posting this TODAY instead of on the Fourth! If you live somewhere where people shoot off the little backyard fireworks, you now have three full nights to test different calming strategies! You’ll be all set by Friday!
How does your dog do with the fireworks? Any additional strategies or suggestions to share?
Erik says
07•01•14 at 9:45 amI’m curious to see how Graham will react this year. Last year when the noise started up he lifted his head, looked out the window, saw that no one else was reacting and went back to sleep. I hope that reaction, and another year of reminding him that things on the street aren’t his business will give us a calm Fourth of July. At least in the house!
Maggie says
07•02•14 at 9:58 amHA! That’s much like Emmett’s reaction! Hopefully it goes smoothly for you this year!
sofia says
07•01•14 at 9:49 amWe have Canada day today, July 1st, but people have been setting fireworks off since last Friday . Last night was the most that fireworks and they were really loud, that was the first time Cash has ever reacted to them, I’m hoping it hasn’t set a precedent. I’ll have to wait until tonight to find out if it was a one time thing or we’re going to have to start making a fireworks plan :/
Maggie says
07•02•14 at 9:59 amHow did it go??
Blueberry's human says
07•01•14 at 2:53 pmI use white noise to try and drown out some of the noise. At least it helps a little. But yeah, I have to make sure Blueberry gets a potty break before it all starts. If not – she can really hold it for a long time and will refuse to go outside at all even if it is quiet simply because she can smell the fireworks that were previously let off. I really hate that they legalized fireworks – in the desert no less. So now they are in the stores year round and in the summer, people let them off for any old reason, especially in my neighborhood. I hate the noise as much as Blueberry.
Maggie says
07•02•14 at 10:00 amOooh, goodness. Year round would be SO stressful! Poor Blueberry! I hope this weekend goes as smoothly as possible for you!
DashLilly says
07•01•14 at 4:15 pmOh my poor Lilly. She is getting more and more sound sensitive. And it doesn’t help that we have had wild thunder storms just about every evening since May! She will be wearing her thunder shirt most of the fourth (thanks for the reminder to get her in it early enough). And, we will try to stay in the basement. Dash–very different. Barks once when the fireworks begin and then gets the hang of it. He will be wondering why we are in the basement. So funny how different they are.
Maggie says
07•02•14 at 10:01 amThat is so funny! Emmett and Dash have very similar reactions. Good luck with your evening in the basement! Your comment made me more excited to get back to Indiana… where we actually HAVE a basement!
jan says
07•01•14 at 6:09 pmMisty the alpha Poodle is busy explaining to the dogs about 1776 and the Declaration of Independence. Hopefully we will be ready for all the scary noise to come.
Maggie says
07•02•14 at 10:02 amWow! Way to go, Misty! 🙂 The history lesson is a great reminder… while most people are solely focused on blowing up small chunks of the country!
EverythingPom says
07•02•14 at 1:55 amJuly 5th is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters according to the Animal Humane Society. This is because more cats and dogs are lost on July 4th than any other holiday. Just because we enjoy the fireworks doesn’t mean our dogs do too! Please keep your dogs inside on July 4th!
http://www.everythingpom.com
Maggie says
07•02•14 at 10:02 amAbsolutely! Inside is the safest way to get through the holiday!
Eileen Anderson says
07•02•14 at 2:16 amSuch great recommendations. I’m pretty sure I got at least one of my dogs (through a shelter) because she ran away on July 4th and was not much missed by her original owners.
An additional thought about adding sound: it doesn’t have to be music. Some carefully selected white noise or nature-based noise can actually mask the sound. I have a blog post about that if it’s OK to post here.
http://eileenanddogs.com/2013/12/30/sound-sensitive-reactive-dogs/
Thanks, and may everyone’s dogs be safe during the scary noises.
Maggie says
07•02•14 at 10:03 amHow sad that her owners didn’t miss her, but definitely it was for the best since she ended up in a loving home!! Stay safe! Off to check out your post!
Kathy says
07•02•14 at 4:37 amI have two that are sound sensitive. Milah hears the fireworks (or maybe smells them) first. She starts pacing around and then tries to get in the smallest space possible. YaYa, the older dog just shivers. The Thundershirt works well for YaYa, but Milah simply cannot be consoled. I’ve taken to putting her in the crate, which helps with the pacing and trying to get into every tiny space in the house, but I will be using Xanax and Rescue Remedy this year. Justice, my foster failure, reacts just like Milah unless she is in the crate. No Milah pacing around, he is fine. This is standard reaction to campfires, gunshots, fireworks, thunder, household appliances. Curiously, Milah exhibts a similar behavior when I feed the cats.
Maggie says
07•02•14 at 10:04 amThe smelling is SUCH a great point. Dogs’ noses are so sensitive… heck, that smell bothers ME… I can’t imagine how much of a total sensory overload they experience. The sight of the fireworks in the sky, the smell, the sound. It’s an onslaught! Good luck to you and your herd!
Jessica says
07•06•14 at 10:42 pmI am so behind on my blog reading, argh!
Great advice here, as always.
I find that ambient noise helps Silas a lot. I suspect it’s because he is more startled by noises than really afraid of them–he is terrible with any kind of surprise. When there’s some kind of noise for the new, louder noise to blend in with, it makes it easier for him.
Also, I just have to say, I’m so glad somebody else’s dog barks at the scary thing. I have to stop myself from envying people whose dog just hides under the bed.