The 4th of July is just around the corner.  Remind me to tell you sometime about when some friends of mine and I left LA for a long, drunken 4th of July weekend at the Sunrise Lanai condos in Palm Springs not far from where I live now, and as the fireworks lit up the night, I ran from condo to condo, including strangers’ condos, and declared, “you gotta come out and see this – someone switched on the sky!”

Because the consumption of ridiculous amounts of alcohol preceded that evening, you might forgive the fact that I was thoroughly confused and failed to connect the date with the tradition of setting off celebratory “Independence Day” fireworks.

But few dogs take classes in American history, and most may be unable to place the sudden presence of sky explosions in the appropriate cultural context. What looks and sounds like patriotism and pride in democracy to you and me is an unexpected, unpredictable, unknown source of an unnatural sound to them.  Dogs have an acute sense of hearing.  They lack the superior eyesight of humans, so they rely on their ears (and their noses) to perceive the world around them; a dog can hear much higher frequencies than we can (which is why they hear dog whistles and we don’t) and can detect sounds from four times further away.  So, fireworks that sound distant and vaguely like popcorn popping in the microwave to you and me sound a lot closer and quite threatening to a dog.  Combined with bright lights in the usually dark night sky, a phenomenon for which they have no understanding, the 4th of July can be a scary, nerve-wracking, sensory overload for our four-legged friends.

Among some of the telltale signs of fireworks terror in dogs are hiding, cowering, or freezing in place, as well as restlessness, shaking, panting, and licking; they may also become destructive – chewing, scratching, or digging in an effort to alleviate or escape from their fears.  And it is important to remember that, for them, this is a crisis event, an emergency:  just because a crate, leash, or fence works during normal times does not mean they will be adequate or effective at keeping a panicking dog safe.

There are a number of things we, as their human guardians, can do to alleviate the stress of our loud Independence Day traditions.  If you have an extremely reactive or sensitive dog, you may want to consider asking your vet to prescribe a sedative.  Tight-fitting clothing or bedding can provide dogs with a sense of comfort; this is the theory behind the ThunderShirt® for dogs, which wraps dogs in a calming embrace – of course, you can do the same yourself by holding and hugging them, or by giving them a heavy blanket or towel to hide under.  And while this is not the time to expose your dog to new, unfamiliar, or potentially frightening experiences, if they are already crate trained, that might help; dogs who find crates to be reassuring places will feel safer in one.  Absent a crate, if you do plan to shut your dog in a room, garage, or basement, make sure the area is one they’re familiar with, and that it’s safe for them.  A dog who is frightened of fireworks may chew, dig, or jump around in an attempt to reduce their anxiety, so remove anything that could poison or harm them if spilled, broken, or consumed.  Make sure that space remains cool and provide plenty of water; taping carpet or cardboard to any doors (which they assume you are literally just on the other side of) will help minimize the effects of scratching to get where you are (in their minds).

Experts say leaving a dog in a fenced enclosure like a yard should be avoided if at all possible, but if you must, make sure it’s a fence that your dog can’t tear open, jump over, dig under, or otherwise defeat.  And always ensure they have adequate water and shelter from heat.  Experts also point out a tired dog is a good dog, so consider waking up early, when temperatures are still cool, and taking them for a long walk or hike.  It’s not like you don’t need the exercise!

Don’t leave your dog alone if you can help it.  The thing your dog finds most reassuring is you. They’re your best friend, be theirs:  don’t abandon them on what is, for them, the scariest night of the year.

One final thought.  When we hear a loud, unexpected noise, we are startled, but the same in the absence of you to reassure them could cause dogs to panic and bolt in search of safety, resulting in separation from you and their becoming “lost.”  They can’t tell strangers, police or animal control officers, or anyone for that matter where their home is, SO THAT IS UP TO YOU!  Make sure that your dog’s microchip information (i.e., your contact info) is up to date and that they are wearing a collar and Id tag.  Consider enrolling your dog in a pet reunification service; Gordon recommends HomeAgain and 24Petwatch, both of which he is registered with, because two is better than one.

Gordon (in the window), his friend Randy the Roadrunner (who visits our patio daily to splash around in and drink from the birdbath), and I (not pictured!) wish you a happy and safe 4th of July weekend, whether you have two legs or four.