Please read this post if you have a dog:
Traditionally the 4th of July is a very bad day for dogs because of the fear and instinctual tendencies that are triggered with fireworks. Dogs become very skittish from the sounds of explosions as well as the whining and whistling sounds of rockets and other fireworks. A dogs hearing is 100 times more sensitive than ours, so there is no doubt that these sounds cut to the core of the dog.
At the times surrounding this holiday when humans are having fun, remember that this is a torturous time for your dog and all dogs. Dogs that are spooked by these sounds often run away and keep running. It is commonly a very busy time for animal shelters as many dogs end up in shelters around the 4th of July.. Which means, more dogs are killed to make room for the incoming. If you have any interest in the highly problematic KILL shelters in our society, I urge you to visit my Bound Angels Blog, the link to which is at the right.
Some simple steps to take to protect your dog:
1. keep your dog inside
2. if your dogs must stay outside, be sure the fence is strong and tall enough to contain him (however I recommend bringing dogs inside where there are lots of fireworks)
3. since your do is going into a state of fear, it is not a good idea to coddle the dog. it is much better to use a strong loving tone, assuring your dog “its ok.. you’re a good dog.”
4. playing music in your house, can distract the dog from outside noises
5. some of his/her favorite treats is a good distraction
The most obvious thing to remember is to distract the dog from the fear they are facing. Brushing/grooming, playing… anything to keep them busy. I say don’t coddle them, since it shows weakness. The dog is a pack animal and looks to the alpha (which should be you) for strength. A leader does not coddle, but instead assures the dog that they are safe. This is an important thing to remember.