Tips to ease your dog's fireworks phobia

Phantom Fireworks presents tips to ease your dog's fireworks phobia

It's fireworks season. That means warm nights, barbeques and family fun. Unfortunately for some families, these summer celebrations are not as enjoyable for their firework-phobic dogs.

Many dogs react with fear when they hear the loud, unfamiliar sounds of fireworks. Our canine companions may even panic and exhibit undesirable behavior - scratching at the door, digging at the carpet, hiding under furniture, soiling the house, running away from home or even injuring themselves.

Your first instinct may be to comfort your frightened pet with hugs and gentle, reassuring words. Showing concern or pity will only reinforce his fear. There are more productive ways to help your dog become more comfortable during a fireworks display. The training method described below will help you desensitize your dog in a healthy, effective way.

Location is important during this type of training. Position yourself and your dog as far from the fireworks as possible, but stay close enough that your dog can see that a person is setting them off. Knowing what's causing the bangs and whistles can help a great deal in putting your dog's mind at ease.

Once you find a suitable location, the goal is to keep your dog occupied during the fireworks display. Ignore the fireworks and use a happy, upbeat tone of voice while interacting with him. Engage him in a familiar activity, such as a game of fetch or tug-of-war. And of course, reward his confidence with treats. Your dog will be focused on the task at hand, and eventually he will tune out the noise.

When your dog is completely at ease, move the interaction slightly closer to the fireworks. This process requires a lot of time and patience. Continue to advance toward the fireworks in stages. Keep your dog focused on an activity and make sure he is comfortable before moving to the next stage.

Moving too close too fast may trigger fear, causing a major setback. If you do misjudge and your dog becomes fearful, go back to a distance where he is comfortable and start again.

Once you and your dog have reached the final stage (several feet away from the detonation) and he is unaffected by the fireworks, you can consider the training session a success. This process requires a lot of patience. But with your time and effort, your dog will be able to join in the fun and enjoy a happier, healthier summer.

Note: If your dog's phobia is extreme, a veterinarian can help you develop a personalized behavior modification plan or determine if medication is necessary.