DOGS & 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS…NOT A GREAT COMBO

What Is It About Fireworks That Terrifies Our Dogs?

Thunderstorms…no big deal. Loud music or tv…doesn’t phase them at all….screaming kids at the park…your dog yawns. So why does your bomb proof dog cower, drool and tremble when the fireworks start on 4th of July or New Year’s Eve? Dogs 4th of July – not a great combo.

Man-made, loud, sudden noises that are not created by nature often startle dogs. Animals can often sense when a storm or weather disturbance is moving in. Remember when the tsunami hit in 2004? There were reports in Sri Lanka and Thailand of elephants hurrying for higher ground up to an hour before the tsunami hit. Birds, monkeys, cats, dogs and many livestock animals were stressed and agitated prior to the actual tsunami.

Fireworks don’t act like thunderstorms – the noise is closer to your dog and the loud noises are often in rapid sequences of POP POP POP, plus, there are bright flashes of color. Then there is the acrid smell of the gunpowder which could irritate your dog’s sensitive sense of smell. Add to all of this the noise of kids shrieking with glee at every pop or sparkler sizzle. A recipe for dog disaster!

Dogs are also blessed to live in the moment. Think about it…they may not realize the fireworks will EVER end. All they experience are loud terrifying noises, smoky smells and bright lights flashing everywhere.

Imagine if there were explosions, bright lights and the smell of fire around your home one day. Was there a bombing? Gas main explosion? Alien attack? Scared me just typing it! That is what our dogs go through with fireworks, gunshots, and other man-made loud events.

Of course, you can use our Relax Dog Aromatherapy to help lessen the impact of the fireworks. More info here.

This is one of a series of posts on how fireworks and storms can trigger panic in your otherwise stable dog.

Of course, The Blissful Dog RELAX Roll-on Dog Aromatherapy should be in your go-to kit for 4th of July madness.