As the year comes to a close, more and more people are celebrating by adding a little bit of July to early January via fireworks. This is already big holiday tradition overseas, and it's start to get traction here in the good ol' U.S. of A.
Fireworks, however, can often create a rough time for many dogs. People like the big explosions, bright colors, and loud noises that accompany such celebrations, but they just serve to confuse the dogs. They don't know what's going on, and singing "Auld Lang Syne" doesn't really help.
If you're not going to be home when the fireworks begin, make sure your dog is in a secure place. Animal shelters report that fireworks time is a very busy one for them, because dogs bolt from their natural surroundings and then get lost after running away for awhile. In any case, your dog should be wearing tags so he can be easily identified in the case of a fireworks-inspired emergency.
If you and your dog are sharing fireworks together, do everything you can to make your dog feel at home. One dog owner suggests putting on a loud movie, preferably a violent war flick where rockets and bombs are going off all the time. Your dog has likely learned to ignore the television, so when the real fireworks start, the dog won't distinguish between fact and fiction. Others put on mellow sounds and spend soothing time with their dog. The important thing to remember is that your dog is looking to you for guidance - if you're calm, he's more likely to be calm, too. Panicky overreactions filled with pleas of "it's okay, it's okay" will likely stress your dog out more than comfort him.
There are also medical alternatives, but if you can handle this fear in an organic way, life will be better and easier for everyone. But it in extreme cases, it might be wise to consult a vet to determine what other options are available.
In the meantime, have a Happy New Year, whether you blow up anything or not!
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