By , Jennifer Williams
Published July 03, 2019
The Fourth of July is usually filled with a bunch of fun stuff for humans: hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, parades, the pool, the beach, and maybe some more beer.
But for dogs, the Fourth is filled with fireworks and fear.
About a year ago this time, I heard the first sounds of summer in the city. It’s the snap, crackle and pop, pop, pop of impromptu rooftop fireworks. They were coming from a building about 75 feet away, and they were loud.
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What did I hear next? The jingle jangle of Spike’s collar as he quickly bolted from the bedroom, where he was happily napping, and fleed to his crate in an effort to get away from the loud noises and take shelter in his safe spot.
Good thing my friends at Canine Companions for Independence suggested talking about the Fourth of July for this week’s blog post — we’ve got advice that all dog owners could use.
Canine Companions encourages their puppy raisers to expose their furry friends to a variety of experiences, sights and sounds, as they are important experiences that help prepare the dogs for their service. After all, when they're working as service animals, they will need to maintain focus through all distractions.
Part of this is ensuring that a puppy won't develop a negative association with certain sounds, and the celebrations of the Fourth of July present some challenges, what with all the flashing and exploding fireworks, booming music, large crowds, loud voices and laughter.
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It is important for any dog owner to anticipate these stresses of the holiday and plan ahead. Here are a few tips:
Keep in mind that a dog can develop sound sensitivity, but not show it for several months. Do not risk exposing a puppy to fireworks, even if they don’t seem to be stressed by the flashes and noise. Canine Companions dogs may show stress in a variety of active ways, including bolting or quivering, as well as passive ways such as yawning, lip-licking and sleeping.
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Spike and I hope you have a safe and happy holiday celebration! And we hope you will help make every day Independence Day for people with disabilities in our country.
For more information about Canine Companions for Independence and how you can #GiveADogAJob, visit cci.org.
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/the-daily-spike-fourth-of-july-tips-for-keeping-pets-calm