Dog Training Tips for the 4th of July

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The 4th of July – a time for picnics, family gatherings, and fireworks. At our household, the 4th of July had turned from a fun summer holiday to worries about what Kelvin, our adopted 10-year old Golden Retriever, was going to destroy this year. We adopted Kelvin when he was 2-years old and after the first 4th of July, we quickly realized that Kelvin had a deep fear of loud noises so much so that he pants, drools, digs holes in the carpet, and eats dog beds. As this is a fairly common fear and the 4th of July just around the corner, I thought I would share a few tips that we have learned over the past 8 years.

1. State of Mind — remember that your dog is responding (i.e. destroying things) to a fear and it’s your job to help alleviate the situation. If you respond by getting upset you will only reinforce that fireworks cause bad things to happen (i.e. mom yells at me).
2. Plan, Plan, Plan — Make sure you have a plan for the 4th of July as well as the week leading up to the 4th
• As the 4th of July approaches you will likely hear bottle rockets and other fireworks throughout the neighborhood, use this as an opportunity to desensitize — keep your dog’s favorite treats or toys handy and reward your dog for remaining calm when he/she hears a firework.
• On the 4th of July, keep your dog inside with the TV or radio volume high enough to drown out firework noises and close the curtains if your dog has associated the lights with fireworks.
• If you are home reward, reward, reward for calm behavior.
• If you won’t be at home, keep your dog in a confined and safe place like a crate or kennel.

Start thinking about next year — try desensitizing your dog to loud noises through increased exposure with rewards. For example, you could purchase a CD with firework noises, play it softly and reward for a calm response. Gradually increase the volume and reward until your dog is confident.

Safety Tip — Even if your dog is not afraid of fireworks, it is a good practice to keep your dog away from firework shows to prevent damage to their hearing.

For additional tips surrounding this holiday and it’s festivities, see ASPCA’s Fourth of July Safety Tips.

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July,

Brianna and Kelvin