For dogs that are afraid of loud noises the 4th of July can be very scary.Owners frequently find themselves doing what I call "training by mistake". Here's the scenario: July 1st comes and you start thinking "what are we going to do about the dog
because of the fireworks and noises?"
On July 2, your anxiety raises; by July 3 you
think you should call the veterinarian and get some tranquillizers, lock the
dog up, or do something. The closer it gets to July 4 the higher our anxiety rises.
The dog doesn't celebrate holidays, so he has no clue to what is going on. You
know almost down to the hour when something is going to happen. All the
dog can interpret is,"What's up with them? What are they so stressed
about?"
As you are waiting, you might put your dog on a leash - then . . .
"BOOM!" The fireworks go off, and the dog becomes
startled. Instantly, you try to reassure and comfort the dog by saying,
"It's okay, don't worry. . . everything will be okay!" In
reality, what you are really telling the dog is, "I like that behavior. I
like you being afraid." To a dog touch is acceptance so mistakenly
you increase the undesired behavior with the comforting. The dog's anxiety goes
higher and the more you try to comfort the dog you set up a vicious cycle.
What you want to do is have the dog on a leash and make sure he is safe. If it is a small dog, DO NOT hold him, because holding, again, is a form of comforting. Try to be indifferent to your dog's anxiety. Act as if nothing is happening at all. Wait for the dog to recover, relax, and calm down. This is the time to praise and show affection. By doing so now, you are telling the dog that this is the behavior you want. Your dog will be calmer and not associate the noises with danger.
Other tips to consider:
VERY IMPORTANT - if you are considering tranquilizers, consult with your veterinarian. In some cases of high anxiety level, tranquilizers have been reported to have an opposite affect.
As you are waiting, you might put your dog on a leash - then . . .
"BOOM!" The fireworks go off, and the dog becomes
startled. Instantly, you try to reassure and comfort the dog by saying,
"It's okay, don't worry. . . everything will be okay!" In
reality, what you are really telling the dog is, "I like that behavior. I
like you being afraid." To a dog touch is acceptance so mistakenly
you increase the undesired behavior with the comforting. The dog's anxiety goes
higher and the more you try to comfort the dog you set up a vicious cycle.What you want to do is have the dog on a leash and make sure he is safe. If it is a small dog, DO NOT hold him, because holding, again, is a form of comforting. Try to be indifferent to your dog's anxiety. Act as if nothing is happening at all. Wait for the dog to recover, relax, and calm down. This is the time to praise and show affection. By doing so now, you are telling the dog that this is the behavior you want. Your dog will be calmer and not associate the noises with danger.
Other tips to consider:
- If you are unable to be with your dog, make sure he is in a safe, well-secured environment. Make it as dark as possible. If you are using a dog crate, cover it with a blanket. Don't worry dogs have more light rods in their eyes, that allow them to see better in the dark than we can. They can't see as good as a cat, but better than humans. This will give the dog comfort and security, because a dog is a den animal by nature.
- Make sure your tags or microchip information is current. In case your dog gets out, and is unapproachable, you can write your phone number in large print on a bright-colored collar with a marker so it can be seen from a safe distance.
- If there is any debris make sure it is disposed of safely so that the dog cannot ingest them.
VERY IMPORTANT - if you are considering tranquilizers, consult with your veterinarian. In some cases of high anxiety level, tranquilizers have been reported to have an opposite affect.
Rick Belmonte is an animal behaviorist and works with dogs at the Riverside Humane Society. If you have a question about dog behavior send it to us at pets@pe.com and Rick will answer in his column.
today 7/6/09 i let my dog go outside.After a few secondsmy dog came back running really fast inside.When i looked at him he was shaking really fast.I looked outside but saw nothing.After a few minutes i tried to take my dog back outside.when he saw me open the door he went to hide.I dont know what happend and i need help!!!!!
Good article. I learned alot and informed others on it. I did put into practice what you advised. Thank you.
Thanks for the insight. My sister has an anxious dog. I noticed we are going through the motions you listed. Most often she holds the dog because she is anxious for her. We will try to follow your recommendations. Thanks again!!!
i did not know that you are not supposed to hold your dog when they are stressed by the 4th of july fireworks or noise. good thing to know. so in a sense let them get over it and then comfort them. this whole time i have been doing it backwards. i am glad this article came out when it did. thank you and will try it this way this holiday.
Very informative article and extremely timely! We will be having a fourth of July celebration (complete with fireworks and all) and this article couldn't have come at a better time. Our dog Buck means the world to us, and I want to handle this situation correctly. Thank you for providing such important advice.
Loved the article! Very informative. I would never have thought that dogs picked up on my anxiety. I knew they could sense when I didn't feel well, or upset. Makes sense now after reading.