How to Help Your Dog Deal with Fireworks This Year (and Stay Safe)

Dogs and fireworks go together like … well, like something scared of loud noises and sudden colorful explosions. Celebrating the 4th of July—and other occasions that may involve fireworks—is a time-honored tradition, but these loud celebrations can be alarming, terrifying, and even dangerous for dogs within hearing distance. Sudden explosions aren't fun for anyone, but dogs don't understand that the explosions that come with fireworks displays aren't dangerous, and having a dog scared of fireworks is pretty common.

The day after Independence Day, July 5, is often the busiest day of the year for many animal shelters, as they work to safely catch, identify, and return local pets spooked by annual fireworks displays. To help make the holiday'and every other occasion involving fireworks, including New Year's Eve—a safe, happy one for all, pet travel and lifestyle resource BringFido shared tips for keeping pets (particularly dogs) calm and safe during the festivities, whether you're planning to go to a large fireworks show and leave your pup at home or you're celebrating with a backyard party.

Dogs and fireworks: tips for keeping dogs (and other pets) safe

1. Bring your dog inside for the whole day and night leading up to the 4th, or even a few days before, if you know people in your area plan to celebrate early. Your dog may not be a flight-risk, but if he or she is spooked by the fireworks, it could be all too easy for him or her to escape your yard and attempt to run away.

2. If you know your pets are afraid of loud noises, do not bring them to a fireworks show. Your pets will not suddenly overcome their fear, and the last thing you should do is introduce them to a situation where they will be stressed and panicked.

3. Be sure your pet is wearing a well-fitting collar with up-to-date ID tags. Should worse come to worst, you want to be able to easily identify Fido (or let whoever finds him find you) if he does manage to get out of the house.

4. Tire your dog out. Preempt any jitters by taking her on a long walk, run, or fetch session before the fireworks are set to start. If you're lucky, she'll sleep through the show or be too tired to pay attention to the sudden noise.

5. Surround your dog with comforting things, like a white noise machine (to muffle noises), a Thundershirt (proven to comfort anxious dogs), or a distracting treat, like a Kong stuffed with peanut butter or a new bone. If your dog is distracted and happy, she may not even notice the fireworks outside.

If your dog suffers from severe anxiety or presents extremely erratic behavior during fireworks or other surprising events, consider talking to your vet about options for more long-term treatment or working on behavior modification techniques in advance of next year's show.