Happy Canada Day! For most people this is a happy day to celebrate with family and friends. We have parties and barbecues and rejoice in our wonderful Country, but for some dogs it can be the scariest day of the year.
Fireworks may look beautiful, but to a lot of our furry friends, the loud noises and flashing lights are just too much. We need to be aware of their reactions and find ways to keep them safe and as calm as possible.
Here are some great ideas on how to keep our dogs safe and calm at home during these times.
Try to act normally around your dog. Just pretend like the fireworks aren’t happening. Be happy and playful around your dog. If your dog comes to you for comfort, pet and cuddle it. If it isolates itself or hides, leave it be, even if it is crying.
- Sometimes dogs will run and hide under a bed or in their crate. If this happens, don’t chase them. Just check on them every once in awhile.
Play background or white noise music. Turning on a TV also works. The noise may not completely drown out the fireworks, but it can reduce the impact of the fireworks on your dog. Don’t turn the music any louder than you normally would in your home.
You could also use an app, like Simply Noise or Noisli, to create white noise.
Video streaming websites may have playlists of calming music or ambient noise too.
Distract your furry friend with a game or a puzzle treat. Giving your dog something to do will help it ignore the fireworks. You could play a game, like tug-o-war or fetch, with your dog inside. You might also try giving them a toy filled with peanut butter or a treat-dispensing puzzle toy.
- A treat ball, KONG toy, or puzzle board are all good activities for your dog.
- Note: do not just give your dog treats when it’s stressed. The goal here is to get them to focus on an activity for a while.
Keep your dog on a leash if you must go outside. If at all possible, don’t take your dog outside while the fireworks are going on. Even in a yard, your dog might try to escape or jump over a fence. If your dog must go out, keep them on a leash. Then take your dog back inside as soon as it’s done its business.[
- Just because there’s a break in the fireworks doesn’t mean that they’re over. Use the leash whenever you go outside that evening.
And have a safe and happy Canada Day from all of us at Handicapped Pets Canada.
