FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
to help keep your dog safe during 4th of July festivities
1. LEAVE AT HOME!
Do NOT take your pet to fireworks displays. Regretful people will tell you that they thought their dog would be fine ... and now their precious dog is no longer with them. Don't be sorry, be safe!
2. KEEP INSIDE EXCEPT TO POTTY:
Keep your dog inside the house.... in an interior room or basement with windows closed & TV, radio or soft music on to muffle outside sounds. Help them to feel safe however you can by playing with him/her, doing some relaxed massage, or distracting with a favorite toy.
3. DO NOT REINFORCE FEARS:
Do NOT say "Oh (name), it's okay ...." as this may reinforce it's anxiety. Be calm yourself, be nonchalant ...... model relaxation and your dog will pick up on it.
4. SNUG COLLAR, IDENTIFICATION, MICROCHIP:
Be very sure that your dog has full identification collar or harness on AND that it is snug enough that s/he cannot slip it over it's head. Frightened dogs are not rational when they are seriously scared ... and would likely not come when called. Microchipping is also an excellent way to try to prevent your dog not being returned to you if lost.
5. TREATING ANXIETY:
If you know your dog is hyper-anxious, try using something like Rescue Remedy to take the edge off. If your dog is seriously anxious, you might wish to discuss a light sedative for your dog during fireworks festivities.
6. LOST SITUATION: Should your dog accidentally bolt from you and become lost, Quickly follow the "Lost Dog" steps provided on the Bichon Frise Information Station.
Good Luck, have fun, but leave Fido at home!
6 comments:
Thanks for this very timely reminder. At our house, whenever there is any kind of loud noise, the dogs look at us and one of us will say, "just noise" and they go back to sleep. I wish I had that kind of trust.
Good tips! Happy 4th!!
hughugs
good advice. here in the flat buckle of the Bible Belt everyone did fireworks last night. We met to hang out, have some dinner (cook out) and play games before heading for fireworks. So Jake and I went to the early festivities, he got to see all his human friends and socialize, then home he went for his dinner and the rest of the evening safe (alone) at home, while I headed back for fireworks. I figure it couldn't possibly be as loud as the thunder/lightening, and he's getting pretty used to that.
He seemed fine when I got home. Quiet & a bit tired from all the running he'd done earlier.
One family brought their dog - I was shocked. No idea how it went for him, too dark to see what was going on.
Great tips!
I've been wondering how our Sam will do for his first 4th. All the noise in the neighborhood didn't seem to have any effect on him last night though, so I'm hoping he'll be fine for tonight.
Great tips.
Teas-e gets too hyper when there
are loud noises nearby. No way I
would take her to a fireworks
display.
important post!
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
Post a Comment