4th of July for the dogs.

It's almost 4th of July and you know what that means! A flood of missing pet reports on Nextdoor, a plea to your neighbors not to pop fireworks in the middle of the night, and a shortage of acepromazine, Trazadone, and gabapentin from your veterinary office.

Trust me, I feel your pain.

When your dog has anxiety from thunderstorms, fireworks, or generally any other loud noise it can take an emotional, physical, and mental toll. My beloved pit bull was terrified of anything that made a rumble and it was my job as a pet owner not only to make sure I had stock of her anti-anxiety medication when the time called but also to give it to her well in advance before her anxiety rose to a level that not even the medication could touch. It was a delicate balance.

After she passed away I adopted a puppy a few years later and made a point to train him to feel safe around fireworks and loud noises, and it worked. If you have a new puppy this training is imperative! It has saved me from my own anxious-ridden nights.

Note of caution though, do not substitute this training to forgo medication. If your dog has high anxiety and is known to have severe reactions in the past, don't skip the meds! You can still work on the behavior but understand that not all dogs will respond.

So let's get into it, the time for loud noises draws near.

1. Use the pre-show popping for training.

Odds are people have started the festivities early, so you are in luck! This is a perfect opportunity to condition your pup to the noises and it's very simple but requires some attentiveness on your part.

Begin with giving treats. That's it! Every time a firework is popped give your dog a treat, no matter what their reaction is.

Old school training will tells us to only reward when your dog performs or reacts in a way that you approve. In this case, you want to make the noise a good experience. Whether they bark, tremble, wine, or settle, ensure they get a treato for being a good doggo.

Pack some extra treats on walks because you never know when the fireworks are going to pop. Take note of how they respond and give a treat. However, if it is too much and your dog begins to lose his mind, get him home ASAP! Exposure therapy rarely if ever works on a dog who has a true anxiety or fear and can cause their fear to increase.

If you don't have a lot of action in your hood, use youtube for firework noises and train in your house.

2. Be attentive to their reactions

If your dog appears to be stressed and nothing soothes them (which may be the case no matter how much work you put in), try not to stress or express anger towards them. Some dogs will just never be comfortable around loud noises and that's ok. Instead, sit with them and their emotions. Sometimes just being present is all they need. Make sure they feel safe to come to you when they are scared.

Be present while they pace, whine, whimper, or bark. There is no need to correct this behavior. Remain calm, give them treats, and offer playtime, training, or a kong. Attaching a leash to restrict their movements may be helpful if they begin to scratch or chew on furniture, walls, or doors.

3. Skip the show and stay with your dog.

I lived in a neighborhood where my front yard was the place to set off fireworks. It was stressful even for me. So when the 4th of July rolled around, I decided not to participate and hung back inside the house with him.

This goes back to part two of being attentive and sitting out of the fun for the night to make sure your dog feels safe. If I had left my puppy alone on his own, all the hard work I put in leading up to the big day may have been for nothing. So we stayed inside all night, although, we did make an appearance in the front yard for a moment and he handled it like a champ! While the loud bursts and pops of crackling lights fizzed by, he stayed happy, albeit a little apprehensive. When I noticed it was too much we went back inside.

I fed him treats, we played, and I soothed my cat who hid under the bed for most of the night. But, as the show ended, my pup was fast asleep in his kennel.

This step is crucial as being left alone is why most dogs get injured, lost, or worse because suddenly the sky explodes and they desperately need to get away. Dogs will climb over fences, chew through their kennels, and scratch through doors to escape the sound.

However, if you notice your puppy has strong feelings I have some advice for you.

First, get on his level. Sit on the floor or get as low as possible. You can talk to him if it seems to soothe him or stay quiet.

Watch you puppy's visible cues.

Panting hard and pacing is a strong indication that he does not feel safe and has high anxiety. In this case, go to a part of the house he feels safest. Perhaps it's the basement, a closet, or a bathroom. Close the curtains and put on nature sounds like crickets or birds. If it gets to this point there may be no turning back to normal until the noise has stopped completely, so be patient.

If he leans against you it means that physical comfort is what he is seeking.

For excessive barking do your best to distract him with treats, toys, and games. Invest in some noise-canceling headphones or earplugs for yourself, this will ensure your sanity as well.

With any of these reactions continue to give treats, emotional support and patience. No, you are not rewarding for this behavior, you are showing your dog that even though it's scary, it is safe to eat, you are here for them and they are safe with you. Eating is a soothing mechanism, it's grounding and feels good. So if your dogs will take them, give them a little something that makes them feel good.

The advice of the past told us as pet parents that we should just ignore this behavior. However recent studies have shown that ignoring the behavior does nothing to soothe or help your pup, in fact, it could cause increased anxiety and feeling unsafe.

Last but not least, here is some additional tips to keep on hand during firecracker season.

1. Implement training sessions.

Training in whatever form whether it be obedience, tricks, leash walking, or agility, takes up a lot of mental space! Working in some training sessions the day of the holiday can exhaust your puppy into a sleeping stupor. Wouldn't it be great if they just slept through it all?

2. Playtime!

Just like training, playtime can also lead to a sleepy puppy. Playing fetch is one of the quickest ways to wear a puppy out.

A tip, if your dog hasn't learned the rules of the game, is to always have 2 toys, either two good old-fashioned tennis balls or two squeaky plushies. Sticks work great as well as long as the pup doesn't chew on them. Throw them only a short distance away at first and show them the next toy and run away with it. When they come back for the toy, toss out the second one. Eventually, your dog will be dropping the first toy at your feet and getting ready for the next.

Pro tip: Use this as an opportunity for training drop it (say this as soon as the dog drops the toy), sit (use the toy as an incentive then throw it), and come (say this as he's running towards you and the toy). Training and playing are the perfect ingredients to make a sleepy puppy.

3. Thundershirts

Thundershirts are vest-like garments for dogs designed to apply gentle, constant pressure which some dogs (and cats) find soothing.

4. Supplements

Before giving your pup anything make sure you discuss with your veterinarian that it is safe for him. Over-the-counter medications and supplements can be helpful or harmful depending on the size of your dog and any underlying illnesses or injuries, especially if he's already taking medication.

I would suggest doing your research and having a discussion with your pet's doctor.

5. Nature sounds

The soothing sound of crickets can help calm the mind of a worried pooch. Hearing the chirp of insects or birds indicates safety in nature which can send a message to your pup that he is safe too.

6. Licking

The mechanism of licking is very soothing for a dog, it's how mother dogs clean and bond with their puppies.

But no, don't lick your dog.

Kong toys are great toys to stuff canned food, yogurt, or my dog's favorite, peanut butter, which promotes licking. Notice how your dog's eyes close when they lick the yummy goodness out of the middle, that's a calm dog. Freezing the toy enables a longer snack.

Three years later my boy is still anxiety free of fireworks. I can't express how grateful I am for the time and energy I invested to create this feeling of safety for him. As the day draws close I continue his training that we started when he was just a puppy. Putting in the effort was well worth it.

Good luck to you!