Fourth of July is almost here… you know what that means, BBQs, parades, time with family and friends, and you guessed it… FIREWORKS. (eek)
While we may be mesmerized by the bright lights that light up the night sky, our dogs might not share our same affinity to them. 
From July 4th - 6th, we see a 30 - 60 % increase in missing dogs around the country. 
So what can we do to keep our dogs safe around fireworks this fourth of July? Let’s dive right on in.
Desensitize Your Dog to the Sound of Fireworks
It’s important to train and gather the tools you need NOW to help your dog be more comfortable when they arrive.
The first thing we recommend is working on desensitizing your dog to the sound of fireworks. 
Here is how you can introduce them to your pup:

Start by playing firework sounds on your phone at a low volume. The Pupford App has 100+ desensitization sounds, like fireworks. 
As your pup hears the noise, ask for a "look at me" or even a sit, lay down, or stay. Just something to get their focus.
When your pup makes eye contact, reward with treats. 
Repeat the steps all while slowly increasing the noise level 

Other things that you can do now include:

Making sure that your dog’s ID tags are up-to-date with all information clearly visible.
Making sure you are stocked up on your dog’s favorite chews and treats 
Look into calming beds and shirts for your dog
And if you have serious concerns about your pup’s firework fear, talk to your vet about medication or supplements.

Now that we have talked about things to do leading up to fireworks, it’s time to talk about things to do DAY OF. 
On the actual day of the 4th, make sure you have a plan to set your pup up for success.
Wake up earlier than normal and take your pup on a long hike, run, fetch session or any other type of physical exercise.
And when the weather starts to heat up, have some indoor games ready that you can play with your dog like

Hide and seek, an obstacle course, or tug of war
Flirt poles, puzzle feeders, or snuffle mats
Training that gets your dog moving and using their mind

Now the last thing that is crucial to remember, is that… 
Fireworks are dangerous! But your dog won’t know that until it’s too late. So keep your dog in your home, as far away from fireworks as possible! 
Set up a spot where your pup can feel safe, for many dogs, their safe spot is their crate or kennel. 
For other dogs, it can be your human bed, a specific room with comfy blankets, or even the couch.
In their safe space, you can do one or as many of these things as you like:

Set up a white noise machine
Put up thicker curtains
Close the blinds
Play gentle music
Turn on fans
Head into a room that's further away from windows and doors

Keeping your pup safe on the 4th of July is a high priority!
By employing these tips, you'll keep your pup not only safe but confident and prepared for what the 4th brings.

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Check out all podcast episodes here: anchor.fm/perfect-pup
Intro music cred to Kevin May: https://soundcloud.com/kevin_may

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