4th of July 'ruff' on the dog

As the end of June approaches, a lot of pet owners have a looming concern. It’s almost July and that means one thing, Independence Day celebrations. Whether you're chilling in the pool or camped out in the shade, everybody does something to relax on the 4th of July. The celebrations include grilled hot dogs with all the fixins, Grandma’s notorious potato salad, baked beans. An endless buffet. Time to feast and enjoy some time with friends and family. It's all fun and games until the sun sets – and the fireworks begin. And your dog has a panic attack.

If you’re a pet owner, you know what the exploding noises can do to your pet. Once the anxiety and panic take hold, it is a helpless feeling to see your best friend in such distress. My dog Louie hated fireworks. He was a social dog. Very social, never met a stranger. His tail wagged constantly. He loved people and car rides. The definition of a happy go lucky pup. Until fireworks started. The explosions gave him such PTSD that he would retreat to the bathroom and hide behind the toilet. For hours. I’d turn the volume of the TV as loud as it could go, trying to drown out the noise. That helped. But it got me thinking about another possible, non-pharmaceutical solution.

My number one tip, what helped Louie the most – the thing that I’ve done for years – is start watching western movies. Right now is the perfect time to start. The 4th of July is a few days away. Pick a good shoot ’em up western, too – a movie (or TV show) with lots of gun fire. Let your dog snuggle with you on the sofa. The random sounds of gunfire resemble the exploding fireworks. Get your dog acclimated to the noise now. Hopefully when the fireworks begin, it won’t seem like you’re under ‘attack.’

Your dog will still respond to the fireworks noise, but I noticed a discernable difference in my dog Louie, all due to watching a western movie several nights before the fireworks started.

My favorite pick was The 1995 version of The Quick and the Dead. This movie played on loop for days before the 4th of July. This version is a remake and features Sharon Stone (with an axe to grind) Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe and a young Leonardo DiCaprio. It’s less than two hours long, has a good plot and a female gun slinger (Stone). Not your average western.

Some other great western movies are:

High Noon, 1952- A town Marshal, despite the disagreements of his newlywed bride and the townspeople around him, must face a gang of deadly killers alone at "high noon" when the gang leader, an outlaw he "sent up" years ago, arrives on the noon train. Starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly.

Unforgiven, 1992 -Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner Ned Logan and a young man, The "Schofield Kid." This one has a powerhouse cast including Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris.

A Fistful of Dollars, 1964 - A spaghetti western (idea from Kendall Defoe) starring Clint Eastwood - A wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge. One of my favorites!

OTHER SOLUTIONS

If at all possible, move pets INSIDE for the night, even if your dog lives outside. Fireworks are so disruptive to the dog’s psyche, the combination of noise and flashes of light can make the calmest dogs BOLT. More dogs run off over the 4th of July than any other holiday.

PUT an Identification collar on your dog. Just in case.

Give your dog a ‘safe space.’ Some dogs might cope better if they're in a small room by themself, others might cling to you and want to sit in your lap. Keep the water bowl filled. And a soft blanket close by.

Try the Thunder shirt. The concept is similar to swaddling for babies. It’s made of cotton material and attaches with built in Velcro, so it’s easy to put on your dog. You can purchase these at any pet supply store and some big box retailers.

Ask your vet for medication. Some medicines work really well, others do not. There are possible complications from the drug side effects, so talk to your veterinarian. The medicine is not expensive.

Curtains and mini blinds should be closed. Block out the flashes of light outside that precursor the big BOOMS.

Until silent firecrackers become a thing, enjoy the Great American western movies to help your best friend enjoy their holiday too.

Here’s to everyone having a safe, happy, stress-free Independence Day.

Content previously published on author's blog.