I cherish the food, at least. Fireworks, not so much.
My dogs are hunting dogs they could care less about fireworks, and as a Military vet I enjoy celebrating the 4th of July with a bang.
3 Likes
In America, every holiday is an excuse to eat! … it’s so sad but so true 
No wonder why it’s so hard to stay in shape here.
2 Likes
This is very true, lol. But it’s so good!
1 Like
You’re being dramatic. Get outside
They are in my city, but people are lighting 'em anyway. xD
Who you calling dramatic?
1 Like
Same, my pitties are laying under the desk shaking in their boots. Except for when there’s food, food conquers their fears apparently.
1 Like
My dogs enjoyed the fireworks on the 1st, but I can see how doggos are scared of them. Just a big sonic boom for them.
I took mine on a long walk just as night fell. It finally taught her that, while fireworks are annoying, she doesn’t need to do anything but look forward and ignore the sounds.
Now we’re enjoying America Day without a spooked doggo 
1 Like
Trying to actually crack down on fireworks on 4th of July will go about as well as Prohibition.
(I say “actually crack down” because in most cities it’s already illegal to do anything that goes more than a few inches in the air – it’s just not enforced in most places)
I respect people’s desire to celebrate.
I don’t respect people’s desire to celebrate past the sound curfew. Some of us have work
1 Like
My 3 month puppy I’ve had for a week is handling these fireworks like a champ. My 12 year old shepherd is terrified
1 Like
It’s always the little ones that have the heart of a lion. Damn chihuahuas.
2 Likes
if by heart of a lion you mean hiding under the nearest structure and barking with a almost annoyingly high pitched sound. Then yeah I agree.
My cats are chill af they don’t even notice lol
It’s storming like heck here… No fireworks this year. 
I set up some blankets under my basement desk and both my dogs were scared underneath it. They hate fireworks, but I took the time like I do every year so see the fireworks in thunderbluff with the inky black potion.
The first and most important thing we did was walk her on a sidewalk near moving traffic. Very loud noises and strange, huge machines…that’s scary for a puppy, but at a young enough stage, they learn that nothing bad happened, they got treats, and their people were not upset by the noises.
The second thing we did when she was a puppy was take her to loud outdoor events a couple of times. One was a track meet with a bunch of loud, screaming, applauding people. The other was a concert situation in a park with speakers and thumping sounds.
The idea is to take the puppy to a place with loud, scary noises and let them have a positive experience in that environment. One key thing is not to act like anything special is happening. You don’t cuddle them or comfort them. You give them treats periodically and pet them…but if you over-coddle, they get the impression that YOU are nervous about the situation. Just…take them places and expose them to things and act like it’s all normal.
If you are a hunter or have access to an outdoor shooting area that allows dogs…take your puppy with you on a leash attached to your waist and just expose them to it.
Lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, wood chippers/chainsaws, power tools, or even firecrackers set off in your own back yard. Teach your puppy that fire, smoke, loud noises, cars, and other dogs are not something to freak out over…and do it early. EARLY. Before 16 weeks of age is ideal.
With fireworks in particular, there is the smell of gunpowder and smoke involved along with the noise, and dogs naturally understand that smoke is something to alert on. So…small controlled barbecue fires or fire pits in a back yard coupled with those little pop packets that sound (and smell) like firecrackers would be an ideal way to desensitize a young dog that isn’t already afraid or traumatized by fireworks.
I feel like I have to add this: If you use the little pop packets…OBVIOUSLY…you do not throw them at the dog or near the dog’s feet. That would teach the dog to fear them. You simply use them in the vicinity so they pop and the puppy can smell the gunpowder. The coupling of the pop they make and the aroma of gunpowder can REALLY help when fireworks-related stuff comes around later on in its life.
If the dog is ALREADY terrified, the training advice would be much different far less likely to work.
1 Like
Thankfully my cats are mellow for the most part.
My wife on the other hand has sleep disorders. 7/4 and 12/31 are rough for her.