Who says July, says July 14, the day of the National Day.
This means in principle a nice evening out with nice weather and fireworks nearby.
But how to manage this evening with your dog so that he is not too scared and that it remains a pleasant moment for him?
Should we leave him at home or bring him with us?
Some dogs may be afraid of loud noises such as thunderstorms, the smell of gunpowder, firecrackers, etc.
Fireworks can be a frightening element for our four-legged best friend.
This fear of noise is justified by the fact that dogs have a much more developed hearing than ours and their sensitivity is therefore exacerbated.
We are going to give you some advice to manage this evening well so that Titou does not live it badly and that you can enjoy it while being serene.
ORGANIZE THE 14TH OF JULY WITH YOUR DOG
TAKE YOUR DOG OUT BEFORE THE PARTY STARTS
To avoid going out in the middle of the evening and taking the risk of being surprised by the noise and the crowd, you can anticipate the need to go out before the fireworks start. Your dog will be relaxed, will have enjoyed his walk and will normally be tired for the evening, so he will be calmer and more relaxed. Moreover, he will have spent time with you and will have less difficulty staying alone during the evening.
CLOSE THE EXITS TO PREVENT YOUR DOG FROM RUNNING AWAY
A scared dog can have extreme reactions: running away, jumping out of a window or the fence in your garden. Of course we want to avoid an unfortunate accident. A panicked dog may travel many miles in order to feel safe by putting as much distance as possible between him and the element that has frightened him, so it is necessary to take the lead and close everything down to avoid an accident.
We also advise you to bring your dog inside if he is used to living outside as a precaution.
Draw the curtains and turn on the television.
This will help drown out the noise that may be scaring him.
You can also have Titou wear his collar with a tag with your contact information.
It will be easy to reach you if he unfortunately leaves your home.
ORGANIZE THE 14TH OF JULY WITH YOUR DOG
TO ENRICH THE ENVIRONMENT OF HIS DOG DURING THE EVENING
To keep Titou busy during the evening if you are away, leave him something to occupy himself with chewy treats or his favorite toys.
You can also hire a dog sitter or a friend of yours to come and take care of your dog so that he doesn’t get too upset.
You can also make a den or hiding place for your dog with blankets or a crate in your home so that he can take refuge if he feels the need.
In order to help your dog soothe himself during this evening, it is also possible to help him with natural treatments. CBD oil has many benefits for stress. To be distributed in the form of drops on the food, it will have an effective effect, natural and without side effects.
We have a promo code for you if you want to test these products from the brand Pawell: You can get 25% off your order with the code “CHLOE25”.
GRADUAL DESENSITIZATION OF HIS DOG BEFORE THE FATEFUL DATE
It is also possible to work on a progressive desensitization to the noise beforehand. Equip yourself with appetizing treats that your dog loves and your phone. Find a fireworks sound (on Youtube for example) and put the sound on low to start, and if your dog listens without fear, reward him. Don’t put the phone to his ear, leave it at a distance so that your dog doesn’t have a fearful reaction. Then increase the sound gradually according to your dog’s sensitivity and keep the sessions short so that your dog doesn’t get scared. Remain vigilant in order to keep a positive emotion and a relaxed behavior from your dog so that he can work without being stressed/fearful. This way, he will be able to hear the sound of the fireworks without being in a great panic. Don’t hesitate to call on a professional dog behaviorist in order to be guided correctly and not to make mistakes.
However, we do not recommend taking your dog to this type of event, which can be anxiety-provoking due to the crowds and agitation.
He will surely be better off at home, in a quiet place.
ORGANIZE THE 14TH OF JULY WITH YOUR DOG
To conclude, I will also say that if your dog needs to be close to you during the fireworks, don’t ignore him!
We still see this kind of advice too often, but it is tantamount to leaving the dog in its distress and this can lead to inhibition (the fact of not reacting any more because its requests for help will not have had any effect and it can therefore resign itself and not react at all).
If your dog needs to be secured, reassure him and be there for him.
Now that you have all the cards in hand, you can enjoy the evening while keeping your dog safe!
