With the Fourth of July holiday approaching and a recent string of grumbly thunderstorms, several clients have asked how best to help their dogs navigate these events.  As with all things dog related, there is no shortage of dangerous internet advice that ranges from forcing already frightened dogs into close proximity of the triggering activity (known as “flooding”) to punishment for panic-driven behaviors.  Regardless of how this fear manifests in individual dogs – excessive barking, loss of bowel or bladder control, destructive chewing, seeking a hiding place and trembling – the goal is always to alleviate our companions’ suffering, never to exacerbate it.  We cannot stress enough that when a dog is upset, fearful, or nervous, our primary objective is to keep that animal feeling safe.

We prefer to focus on what you can do to meet this goal, rather than dispelling the numerous myths that abound, with one caveat:  the most common myth that comforting dogs will “reinforce the fear.”  Please know that reinforcement pertains to behavior, not emotion.  Your dog will not become more fearful because you provide a warm word or gentle touch.  Comforting your dog calmly during these events should be placed in the can’t-hurt/might-help category; so don’t hesitate to offer.

Medication

It’s important to note we did not list this option as a “last resort.”  If your dog has displayed overt signs of fear and anxiety during fireworks displays in the past, consider making an appointment with your vet ahead of the holiday to discuss possible short-acting pharmaceutical interventions and whether your dog is a candidate.  There are medications, like Sileo, that have proven effective, and so conversation is merited.  Something that offers immediate relief from real suffering should never be considered a last resort.

Provide a Safe Space

Insulate your dogs from the worst of the noise by closing doors and windows and sitting with them in a quiet interior room. Play music or use a noise-canceling device or app, and provide them with their favorite toys and chews.

If your dog is able to remain more relaxed at this point, you can try strategically feeding high-value food (think steak!) to counter the fear. Put simply, every time a firework goes off or thunder booms, provide a generous serving of the delicious food so that the scary sounds will come to predict something wonderful.  This is known as counterconditioning.

Alternative Therapies

There’s lots of buzz about the use of complementary and alternative therapies to address fear in dogs, both on the internet and in advocacy circles; but evidence for efficacy is currently lacking.  There is simply an absence of adequate peer-reviewed studies.  Scented oils and DAP diffusers can be employed if desired, of course, but we would not advise relying on them to address severe anxiety.  When it comes to “natural” oral supplements, however, we highly recommend deferring to your veterinarian.

Puppies and Young Adult Dogs

Finally, we want to note that primary sound sensitivity is genetic and usually requires multiple exposures before sensitization.  So the first handful of times a dog is exposed to thunder or fireworks, there may be no fear response; but onset occurs a bit later in the dog’s life.  We are, therefore, wise to approach those early exposures as opportunities to preemptively build a positive conditioned emotional response in puppies and younger dogs.  We do this by pairing these events with lots of delicious food and fun play.  For a problem so common and difficult to remedy, it is surely worth that effort on the front end.

The goal is a happy and healthy holiday for everyone, and ensuring our dogs feel safe is a big part of that.  We wish everyone a fun-filled summer season!  For behavior and training support for fearful dogs, we are happy to schedule an appointment.