Dogs and July the 4th Fireworks

July the 4th is coming up, and we all know what that means, fireworks! The sounds of explosions going of, the smell of gunfire, and light spreading across the sky. Speaking as a dog, July the 4th has to be the worst holiday ever created by man. Dogs have sensitive hearing, and fireworks hurt our ears. To see lights across the sky is startling, and the smell of gun powder is scary. We don't like it. That's why I thought I would write some tips for dogs regarding July the 4th.

Dogs do not want to go to your outdoor July the 4th celebration. It hurts our ears, we don't like it, so just don't do it. We are patriotic and everything, but would rather celebrate in our own way. If left outside on July the 4th, we may get so frightened that we will run away from home. Remember to leave us inside, preferably with the radio on to drown out some of the noise. 99.99% of the dogs surveyed would prefer that you stay at home with them on July the 4th. It wouldn't be so bad, would it? We can make some popcorn and watch fireworks on TV (at a low volume of course).

You can also train your dog to be comfortable with July the 4th, sort of a doggie fireworks boot camp. I think this is a little over the top, but yes it can be done. This training takes months, so it is too late for this July the 4th. Make a recording of fireworks and play it every day getting a little louder and louder each day. Pop paper bags. Expose your dog to the smell of gunpowder, only with complete supervision of your dog, of course. While this is going on, your dog needs to associate noise with positive experiences. Therefore, while you are exposing your dog to noise, give them treats and play with them.

Plan ahead and make this a happy July the 4th for all!