Fireworks - How to Help Your Scared Dog Cope
Even though some of us live near enough to SeaWorld for their dogs to get used to the sound of fireworks, sometimes even these dogs can be startled and frightened by the sudden burst of explosions related to July 4th weekend. If you know your dog is going to have a hard time with it, start this exercise now to help avoid unnecessary stress for everyone!
Help Your Dog Cope with July 4th Fireworks: Turn Fear into Trust with Treats
The Fourth of July can be a stressful time for dogs, especially those who are sensitive to loud noises. Fireworks can trigger anxiety, causing trembling, hiding, barking, or even attempts to escape. Keep in mind that, from your dog’s perspective, this event comes out of nowhere and is completely unexpected and mysterious. Please find patience for your dog during this time!
Fortunately, you can help your dog feel safer and more confident by teaching them a new way to respond to loud bangs—one that involves treats, trust, and positive reinforcement.
Exercise: Build Positive Associations with Noise
The goal is to shift your dog’s reaction from fear to attention by teaching them that a loud noise means something good is coming. Follow these steps and practice for the whole month of June so that your dog is ready when it’s time for the Big Bay Boom!
How To Do It
Keep the exercise short and positive. No more than 5-10 minutes and no more than 3 times a day. Have treats ready (ones you know your dog will get excited about) and introduce a noise. Use a variety of things, but start small. Play recordings of fireworks or other loud noises. Each time there’s a “bang” immediately give them a treat. Progressively up the volume and increase the noise (throw an empty metal bowl, have someone else clap or yell “bang!”). Get creative with noise but monitor your dog’s reaction carefully. If the sound you’re making gets loud enough to make them cower, flee, or not take the treat, or your dog starts looking anxious at the start of a session when they realize you’re about to get loud, you’ve upped the ante too quickly. Try to avoid this and tone it down if you find you’ve gone too far and make sure you always end on a positive note.
Distance the treat from the noise
Once you see that it has “clicked” for your dog (noise = treat), add traveling to the treat to your arsenal. Keep the treats in the kitchen on the counter. This has four worthwhile benefits:
This gives your dog a chance to realize that the “Boom Treat” pattern isn’t limited to your structured session and they have chances to get treats even when you’re not carrying them.
You don’t have to carry treats around with you in the house.
You can take advantage of real noises outside (such as a car backfiring, garbage truck or firetruck siren).
It causes your dog to wonder if the noise was loud enough to trigger you get them a treat, which turns their focus off the noise and onto you.
How to do it
Do the same thing as before, but this time you’ll exchange a happy look with your dog before going to get a treat to give to them. Still, immediately get up and get the treat to give to them if it’s a noise you know would have distressed your dog before. Stop doing structured sessions and introduce booms that seem random to your dog during regular activities.
When the fireworks start
Consider an EXTRA special treat for this night! A half of a hot dog link cut into tiny pieces is a great option. Plain boiled chicken breast is another good choice. This should be business as usual, loud bangs lead to a treat. Make sure you cut the pieces small so you don’t overfeed your dog. It’s also a good idea to take your dog on an extra long walk or hike earlier in the day to drain their physical energy so they have less gas in the tank to respond or react to the scary triggers.
What not to do
Make sure you don’t show any signs of stress yourself, as that can lead your dog to thinking there is something to be scared of. Your visible comfort and relaxation are signals to your dog that everything is under control. Also make sure you are not petting or “reassuring” your dog if they become visibly stressed. Soothing your dog is a natural thing to want to do, but your dog interprets it as you being insecure. It also reinforces their fear so as hard as it feels, do your best to avoid trying to give comfort in the form of petting. We wish this helped, believe us when we say it doesn’t. Instead: it’s helpful to put a leash on them and walk them around your house so they don’t rehearse running away or hiding in fear. Just leash them up and walk around until they calm down. This allows them to expend their fearful energy in a productive way (like us pacing when we are anxious or nervous about something).
By using treats and turning noises into an interesting game, you’re building your dog’s trust, helping them feel safe, and strengthening your bond. Our mission is to improve the lives of dogs and their owners so if we can help allay fear and anxiety this holiday, we’ll be so pleased! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to schedule a Phone Consultation (free to San Diego residents) with the trainer.