How does your dog react to loud noises? He’s not alone. Fireworks are exciting for humans, but they can be terrifying for dogs because of the sudden, loud noises. Here are eleven things to know about your dog's anxiety before the Fourth of July celebrations begin.
Dogs have an innate fear of sudden, jarring noises. Their nerve systems are triggered by the noises, causing them to feel uneasy or even scared. The instinct to flee from a noisy environment is a necessary one.
Because of his superior hearing, your dog is more likely to be startled by the noise of fireworks than you are. To paraphrase what McGowan said: "Fireworks also emit an odor that dogs may be sensitive to."
There may be a rise in blood pressure, a surge of adrenaline, and the release of stress hormones as a result of this.
Thunderstorms come with a number of warning indicators, such changes in barometric pressure and high winds, so dogs anticipate them. Dogs may be more frightened of pyrotechnics than of thunderstorms because the former are more unexpected and less often.
They may have been brought up hearing lots of loud noises, so they know fireworks aren't dangerous, or they may just be naturally chill.
To assist your dog adjust to the sound of fireworks if you know there will be some in the neighborhood, you can play him a recording of them. In addition to slowly increasing the level while rewarding your dog for being quiet, this procedure can take months. This is not a quick fix.
Dogs can be socialized to be less frightened of loud noises like fireworks, thunder, automobile horns, and train whistles if they are exposed to these sounds between the ages of three weeks and three months.
Gerardo Perez-Camargo, the Purina Global Pet Welfare and Behavior Manager, suggests providing a chew toy for your crate-trained dog while you're away. Putting her bed in a quiet area away from the pyrotechnics can help if she isn't crate trained. You may try turning on some tunes and securing the windows.
There's no reason not to spoil your dog with his or her favorite snack or toy. In order to help, maybe you should start associating fireworks with good things.
Like swaddling a child, these will help your dog feel safe and secure in new or unfamiliar surroundings.
When people make a big deal over the dog, it only confirms in his mind that he should be afraid, McGowan says. "Dogs look to us for reassurance, so being relaxed and calm will likely assist the dog realize there is no real danger," we were told.