Hello, today I wished to show you my routine for surviving the 4th of July with dogs. (Also works for surviving new Year’s Eve fireworks with dogs.)
My “brave” weimaraner Remy is not scared of gunshots when he’s running around in a field sniffing.
However, when he’s in the home as well as hears fireworks or thunder (or even a strong wind!), he tail tucks it as well as hides in my office.
So I believed I’d share our 4th of July routine in situation it will assist provide you some concepts for your own canine or somebody you understand (please share this article).
This publish may include affiliate links. That Mutt may make money from the business discussed in this post.
*Get my suggestions on exactly how to assist a canine who’s frightened of fireworks. Klicka här.
Surviving the fourth of July with dogs
1. Take your canine for a long walk the morning of July 4th.
The morning of July 4th, Remy as well as I will head out early in the morning for at least a 45 minute walk, ideally 60 or 90 minutes.
I’ll put him in his Mighty Paw harness as well as utilize my long 50 ft inspect cord as well as just walk along the peaceful roads as well as fields near our home. I’ll let him sniff as well as run as well as just be a dog.
Sarah Stremming from Cognitive Canine utilizes the term “decompression walks” as well as I like this!
She just explains taking a long walk in nature a number of times a week to enable the canine to relocation freely, sniff, run as well as be a dog.
Of course, a long walk will not magically eliminate all of your dog’s additional energy or eliminate her stress and anxiety around fireworks. But, the additional long walk as well as time to decompress will assist her offer with the tension of fireworks much easier.
A true “decompression walk” ought to be done either off leash or on a long leash with a harness to enable the most totally free motion as possible.
Obviously because we’re handling prospective fireworks, I suggest you keep your canine leashed for safety. method as well numerous dogs get lost over the 4th of July.
Lost dogs July 4th
Some dogs bolt as well as get away when they’re scared.
I’ve had my canine bolt in worry before as well as when he’s really frightened it’s like he doesn’t even understand where he’s running off to.
So be conscious of that possibility.
Use the collar or harness that you’re utilized to so you can assurance your canine won’t slip out as well as bolt if he gets scared.
Get your walk in early in the morning before fireworks start. Make sure your canine is using ID labels on a collar or harness that will NOT slip off. Make sure his microchip information is as much as date.
2. Prepare a “safe room” for your canine during fireworks.
We have an AC system in our bedroom, making that space extremely great with a great deal of white noise. That is where I’ll set up Remy’s kennel with a comfy canine bed as well as blanket. I’ll begin the AC early, around 4pm to get that space good as well as cool.
But keep in mind that your canine gets to choose which space is the “safest.” He is the one who is scared, not you.
So, if you believe your canine ought to be in your bedroom during fireworks however he wishes to hide in the basement or under a desk or in a bathroom, then I would let him select his own “safe place.”
Remy typically prefers to run downstairs to my office when he gets scared. So, even though I’m going to try to get him to hang out in our bedroom, my office will be the backup “safe room” if that’s what Remy prefers.
3. Prepare frozen Kongs or other special chews for your canine to have during fireworks.
Remy likes rubber Kong toys stuffed with mashed-up bananas as well as peanut butter. I’ll have two of those frozen as well as prepared to go!
Other choices for your canine might be Himalayan cheese chews, bully sicks or puzzle toys like the Kong Wobbler or a snuffle mat.
You may even purchase your canine a brand new toy special for the 4th of July! perhaps a new squeaky toy or a luxurious toy to rip up, as long as he’s not going to take in it!
Remy
4. Anti-anxiety medication for dogs during fireworks.
I utilized to believe anti-anxiety medication ought to be utilized as a last resort for fearful dogs.
That was before I had a fearful canine in my family.
Last year I provided Remy a strong dose of Trazodone, a medication utilized to decrease stress and anxiety in dogs.
It worked extremely well, as well as I suggest you go that path if it is an choice for your dog. If not, no worries. just ask your vet about it for next year.
IdEally vill du försöka tillhandahålla medicinen ett par gånger före den 4 juli ändå för att få dosering rätt.
Till exempel tog Remy trazodon för stress och ångest innan de gick in i hans veterinärbesök. Som hjälpte mig att räkna ut exakt hur mycket han behövde.
Fungerar trazodon för hundar under fyrverkerier?
En hög dos av trazodon fungerar för min hund under fyrverkerier. Trazodon gör remy extremt sömnig såväl som han bara sov i sin kennel under fyrverkerier förra året.
I år kommer jag att utnyttja Trazodon än en gång men jag tror att jag ska ge honom en lite lättare dos eftersom den verkligen slog honom ut förra året!
Jag ska ge detta runt 5 pm eller så innan fyrverkerierna verkligen går i vårt område. Jag tar honom ut för en potty paus vid den här tiden också.
Om din hund inte har eller kräver en receptbelagd medicin för ångest, kan du prova några över diskvalen som:
Benadryl
Räddning
eller en Thundershirt
5. Under de faktiska fyrverkerierna, försök att vara hus med din hund, om möjligt.
Jag känner igen oss alla har planer för den 4 juli, men om du kan stanna hemma med din hund, det skulle vara en bra sak att göra.
Om du inte kan, då att göra alla ovanstående steg borde helst hjälpa din hund att träna i okej medan du är borta.
Fyrverkerierna är verkligen galna här från ca 7 pm till midnatt, så det är då Remy kommer att hunker ner i sin kennel i vårt sovrum med sina kongs.
Jag kan hänga därefter titta på tv med honom eller jag kanske inte. Men jag planerar att vara hemma i år.
Vid någon tidpunkt försöker jag få honom utanför för en sista pottabrott före sängen när fyrverkerierna inte verkar vara galen. Men de kan gå vidare i tidigt på morgonen runt här.
Det handlar om det!
Måndag morgon 5 juli, vi går ut för en längre dekompression promenad.
Gjort! Vi överlevde 4: e!
Låt mig förstå om du har något i din 4 juli rutin som kan hjälpa andra hundar!
-Lindsay & remy
* Få mina förslag på exakt hur man hjälper en hund som är rädd för fyrverkerier. Klicka här.
Relaterade artiklar:
Hundar med extrem fyrverkerier ångest
Stärker Affection en hunds rädsla?
Thundershirt utvärderingar och nackdelar
Lindsay Stordahl är skaparen av den mutten. Hon komponerar om hundträning, hundövning och matning av en hälsosam rå diet.