Dogs & Fireworks: Prepping For The 4th Of July
4th of July - the day more dogs go missing than any other. But why find out the hard way? Here are our top tips on how to keep your buddy safe with the fireworks booming outdoors.
While Independence Day celebrations are a joy for us humans – a chance to spend time with friends and family, enjoy BBQ, party hard – they can be a nightmare for our canine companions. Dogs and fireworks don’t go well together, and your furry friend sure won’t appreciate the loud lights as much as you.
In fact, fireworks can cause anxiety in dogs. No wonder more pets go missing on the 4th of July than any other day of the year1.
But the good news is, there’s lots you can do to keep your dog calm and stop them from running away – including the GPS tracker that might just end up saving your dog’s life.
Dogs and fireworks: Not a great mix!
Most dogs are naturally scared of fireworks, but some may develop more severe fear and anxiety. Loud noises from things like fireworks (and other scary situations, like Halloween) can trigger a dog’s fight or flight system response.
Dogs often can’t tell the difference between a ‘safe’ loud noise, and one which might be deadly, so they react either way. Because of this, many more dogs run away and are reported missing on the 4th and 5th of July every year in the US compared to most other days.
That’s why it makes sense to prepare in advance – and plan ahead for a “missing dog” situation this 4th of July.
Because why find out the hard way when you come home to find your buddy missing?
Rather, imagine the relief and peace of mind from knowing you could follow your dog’s every step – as they make their every step?
💡 It’s why dog parents around the world – just like you – are strapping GPS trackers to their buddies’ collars.
Because with just a glance at your phone, you can now track your dog:
- In real-time,
- Over an unlimited range,
- While on vacation (or 175 countries on a Premium subscription)
Why are dogs scared of fireworks?
Our furry friends are (for the most part) smart cookies. But when fireworks go off, they don’t understand what’s happening. They don’t know that fireworks are a form of fun for us. Instead, they react to the loud noises and bright lights as a human would to missiles or bombs.
Most dogs will go into fight or flight mode – their brains picking up a threat to their survival, rather than seeing that fireworks are there for fun.
How to tell if your dog is afraid of fireworks:
Dogs experiencing fear caused by fireworks may show the following signs:
- Panting more than usual
- Trying to run away
- Hiding
- Shaking
- Pacing
- Wide, dilated eyes
- Barking, whining, howling or growling
- Ears facing backwards or sideways
- Shrinking away from the source of fear
Read more:
- Why Is My Dog Hiding & Acting Strange?
- Noise Anxiety In Dogs: Why Is My Dog Scared Of Loud Noises?
- Fearful Dog: Our Expert Reveals Everything You Need To Know About Fear In Dogs
The GPS tracker that could save your dog’s life
If your dog gets scared and you’re afraid they may bolt due to fireworks, thunder or other factors, a Tractive GPS Dog Tracker can help you to keep an eye on them, locate, and retrieve them immediately if necessary.
But hey, don’t take our word for it. Let’s hear it right from dog parents around the world – just like you:
Which dogs are most likely to run away on the 4th of July?
To help you better understand and take care of your furry friend, we put together some data on which dogs are the most likely to run away. Because as it turns out, the chances of your buddy making a run for it on the 4th can depend on their:
- Gender. Male dogs are almost 20% more likely to run off than female dogs.
- Age. Dogs aged 0-4 are significantly more likely to run away than older dogs.
- Breed. The following dogs are most likely to break out of their safe area: mixed breeds, Labrador Retrievers, Siberian Huskies, Beagles, and German Shepherds.
Enjoy a fun, safe, escape-free 4th of July this year – with these tips
Everybody loves a celebration. But 4th of July fireworks may terrify your dog. In fight or flight mode, a dog can easily get lost or injured. So it’s important to keep dogs safe on the 4th of July, considering these tips:
- Make sure they get plenty of activity. Take your daily walk with your dog (going even a bit further) to tire them out before the firework show and they may just be too sleepy to be scared.
- Create a safe space for them indoors. Create a safe, cozy place inside for your dog to retreat, so that they feel good and safe. Have someone stay with them if possible.
- If you have to go outdoors with your dog, keep them on a leash.
- Make sure your dog has the proper ID (collar tag and microchip with your details up to date).
- Stay calm and comfort your canine pal, by speaking calmly to them, petting, brushing or providing food.
- Play soothing sounds for dogs, like white noise, or even better: anti-anxiety music for dogs. However, be careful not to play it too loud, as that might stress your dog out instead of calming them.
- Always have enough toys for your dog to play with. If they have something fun to do, fireworks might be less scary.
- Ensure there’s plenty of water and food for your dog indoors.
- Last but not least, stay calm and relaxed yourself! In doing so you can transfer this feeling to your furry friend.
And if you’re a smart dog parent and have invested in a Tractive device:
- Set up a Virtual Fence around your dog’s safe area – so you’ll get an escape alert to your smartphone in case your dog runs past it.
Else, in an emergency – like if your dog’s gone missing – hit “LIVE” on your Tractive mobile app, and track down your buddy in no time.
Always know where your dog is
Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.
For more tips on how to keep your buddy calm during the 4th of July fireworks, here’s a video that can help:
And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.
