10 Canine Safety Tips for 4th of July

4th of July-- Independence Day! It's a day where we humans BBQ, socialize, relax and explode things. For dogs, it is a time of pure scariness. Dogs don't associate all the noise and chaos as YAY! Whoohoo! Fun! Most dogs associate it with--> OMG, the world is ending. So, how can we humans make this nightmare a bit more bearable? Here are 10 safety tips for the 4th of July:

1. First and foremost, right away in the morning, exercise your dog prior to all the activity. This exercise should be long enough to thoroughly wipe out your dog mentally and physically. A well exercised dog equals a calmer dog.
2. After exercise, keep your pet (including cats) indoors during all the activity. The 4th of July is a shelter's busiest time of year, because pets go missing while trying to escape all the noise. Make sure your dog has a place to hide in the house if necessary. Leaving your dog in the car is not an option and can often escalate into more panic. Plus if it's hot out, leaving your dog in the car equals a life threatening situation. 
3. Respect your dog's fear. If Fido is hiding under the bed or in a kennel, do not try to pull them out "to get used to the fireworks". 
4. Have proper identification for your dog: collar with tags and a microchip just in case your dog escapes. 
5. Stay home with your dog or hire someone to stay home with your dog. If your dog is in a panic, they could try to claw and dig their way out of the house. I've even seen pictures of dogs jumping through closed windows. This could lead to serious injuries. A person should be home with your four-legged family member for safety. 
6. Keep calm. If your dog is in a panic, the worst thing you can do is start panicking with them about the fact that your dog is panicking. You, or your doggy babysitter, needs to remain calm through the whole situation. 
7. Drowned out the sound. You can do this by closing all doors, windows and blinds, and turning on the tv (or radio).
8. Provide distraction through fun games or incredibly yummy treats. 
9. Invest in a thundershirt: http://www.thundershirt.com/ You can usually find these at your local pet store. They have them for dogs and cats.
10. Drugs. If you know already that your dog hates 4th of July, talk to your vet. A veterinarian can prescribe a medication to help ease your dog's panic. 

The Fourth of July can be a fun, relaxing time for family members to get together. It's a time of bonding. But please don't forget about your furry family members! Make sure you are well prepared and they are taken care of in order to minimalize the possibility of injury or escape.