Fireworks and Storms...OH MY!

Tis the season! …and we don’t mean Christmas in July.  Throughout June and July your pup is going to have to experience the sounds of the season, fireworks and storms.  Here are some tips for how to keep your dog comfortable during these stressful times.

First, you can invest in some calming aids.  Adaptil has many products to use your dog’s keen sense of smell to calm them.  This includes scented collars, diffusers, and sprays.  You can also take advantage of the ThunderShirt, which is a body wrap that gives your pup a constant hug.  Besides adding these things to your dog’s environment you can also change up the environment with darkening curtains and sound machines.  Some dogs also benefit from having a dark closet or basement room to head to when a storm or celebration blows through. 

All of the above mentioned things are what you can do during the loud event, but we know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  You can prevent or reduce your dog’s stress response in a few ways.  First, if you know noise is coming, try to get your pup as tired as possible. A short walk around the block might not take the edge off, but an intense game of fetch or play session with a friend might.  We are looking for a full body workout here, both mind and body.

Any time we are looking to reduce stress in dogs we want to remember that sniffing, licking, and chewing to a dog are like a pacifier to a baby.  You can utilize a LickiMat, some Redbarn chews, a Kong filled with your dog's favorite goodies, or some nose work games. These natural dog behaviors are a way to induce a calming response naturally.  Pair these with some edible calming aids for extra effect!

Like humans, all dogs have different likes and dislikes, preferences and stressors.  But, the above mentioned tools are a few things to try when preparing for the next thunderstorm or firework show you may have to endure with your dog.

Happy training!