There’s nothing that Americans love more than fireworks…and subsequently, there’s also nothing dogs hate more. If a firework show has got you and your dog down or if you struggle with your pup every loud, “‘Merican night,” here are some tips to help your doggo feel safer, you feel more sane. and get you both through a firework-filled night.
Turn on Something Loud
Yep, drown those suckers out. The less your dog can hear outside, the better, so go ahead and crank up the volume on your
- TV
- A/C Unit
- Music Speaker
If your home is Alexa-enabled here are some quick prompts that you can say to her to give your poor pup some peace:
“Alexa, play Calm My Dog”
- This will put you on an endless loop of classical music, which actually works to calm down an anxious dog.
“Alexa, play White Noise”
- Is this used to put human babies to sleep? Yes. Can it be used on your furry baby instead? Absolutely. Will you get judged for treating your dog like a real child on a night you’re supposed to be partying? 100%.
Give them a Time-Consuming Treat
You can also just call this a good-old distraction. Let your dog chow down to give them something to do instead of shaking uncontrollably. Some ideas to consider are:
- A Kong Toy
- A Lick Mat
- Peanut Butter in any form
- Dog Ice Cream
- A Big Dog Bone (but stay away from Rawhides–they’re huge health hazards)
Use “Quiet Ears”
This idea comes to you courtesy of this heart-melting TikTok.
Did you watch it? No seriously, go watch it.
The idea of quiet ears makes a lot of sense, as they act like ear plugs for dogs. The fastest solution to getting your dog to relax is to limit the sense that’s most triggered. So busting out the “quiet ears,” even if they’re from an old Eeyore costume (slay my heart), is a great way to stop your doggo’s sensory overload. However if you don’t own anything Eeyore adjacent, you can do a quick Google Shopping search for “Quiet Ears” if you need to purchase a pair
Take Them Outside on a Leash
If you let your pup out and they hear somebody fire off an “f-word” (fireworks, in this particular case), they might run for the hills. But, by taking them out on their leash, you decrease the possibility of them running away – which would just be the cherry on top of an already stressful night.
If you’re still concerned your dog might high tail it out of your yard, here are a couple of additional precautionary steps to take:
- Get your dog microchipped
- Make sure their microchip information is updated
- Purchase a GPS-enabled dog tag
Cuddle Up
Ever heard of the Thunder Vest? This is the free version. Just let your dog up on the couch and cuddle them for as long as you can. They’ll feel more secure and you’ll feel needed. You can vacuum up those extra shedded hairs later.
Hopefully you find some of these tricks helpful for an upcoming stressful-night–unless you’re reading this while you’re in the thick of it, in which case Peace Be With You and God Bless America.
Want more tips of calming a stressed doggo? Check out these past posts:
6 Dog Barking Tips from A Dog Trainer
