I have seen article after article with all these gadgets and medications to give to a dog during one of the loudest human holidays of the year. Families are still struggling past the fear during the event even with medications, treats, and tactics.

I hope you get to read this a few weeks before the holiday!

Prepare now!

It’s best to prevent dog anxiety, but, here are some treatment options. Begin by crate or kennel training your dog. Doggie jail?! Yep. If you don’t know kennel training is essential, check out my crate saves lives blog post. The crate provides comfort and a safe place for your dog to go to instead of looking out the window or blinds and stressing itself out.

1. Feed your dog in the kennel while playing recorded fireworks sounds on a tablet or old phone during meals times. If your dog doesn’t eat within 20-30 minutes, take the food bowl away. Try again next scheduled meal time.
2. Use YouTube or a free music site to play these soundtracks while your dogs eat.
3. Begin these exercises a few weeks before the holiday.
4. Play the firework soundtracks daily starting at lower levels and increasing volume weekly if you don’t have weeks, do it over a few days and play them as much as you can.
5. Find the quietest location within your home to kennel up your dog there. In extreme cases of fear, a dog won’t eat, chew a bone or play with toys. They just won’t.

Exposure or socialization to sounds during the puppy stages helps prevent this type of dog anxiety. Reputable breeders apply these socialization techniques too.

Treatments

There are essential oils, spritz, and weighted vests that encourage calm, but, noise desensitization works well. A lot of people allow dogs to be anxious during these types of events just because they view a kennel or crate as a terrible thing.

1. If you have no time and the holiday has arrived, you may try drowning out the noise. Drowning the noise can make it worse, I’ve seen it.
2. Exercise your dog earlier the day of the event.
3. A favorite blanket or toy may help.
4. Do not let the dog free roam and pace around working itself up. If the kennel is too big and the dog can jump, react spin in circles place a divider in there. If you do not have a divider make one of something they can’t chew or ingest. Your dog can get spooked by noises and run away if you allow it to free roam the yard or balcony.
5. Last resort, medicate or sedate. Consult with your vet. Put the work into this, and you will reap the rewards.
6. If you need help, I specialize in dog anxiety and can treat your dog’s behavioral issues through my rehabilitation program