Do the loud noises of Fourth of July fireworks and summer thunderstorms cause your dog anxiety? You are not alone! An estimated one-third of dogs have noise aversion, a fear of loud, unexpected noises that might cause your pup to hide in the basement, seek out dark corners, pant excessively, pace restlessly, or stick to your side more than usual. 

Emileigh Brenneman – a local registered veterinary technician (RVT, CVT), Fear Free Certified Professional (Elite FFCP), and Certified Pet Nutrition Coach, who has provided pet care for many Highland Lakes families – warns that it’s important never to punish your dog for this behavior. She says, “Punishing your dog for being afraid will only cause them to fear and distrust you, or worse, become aggressive toward you or others when they become fearful.” 

However, it’s important to address the fearful reaction and not ignore it. If left unmanaged, your dog’s fear might extend to other sounds or lead to destructive or damaging behavior. “In severe situations, fear of noise can bring on other anxiety issues like separation anxiety and impact your dog's overall well-being,” Emileigh shares.

Luckily, there are proven ways to prepare dogs, help them cope, and keep them safe the next time loud noises strike.

Set your dog up in a comfortable room, or a crate if they prefer, where you can cover flashes from fireworks with blackout curtains or a blanket. Some dogs may try to bolt from the home as a response to fireworks or thunder, so keeping them in a secure room is one way to keep them safe. If you know fireworks or a storm are shortly, take them out beforehand so you don’t need to go outside during the stressful event.

In the unfortunate event that your dog runs away because of the loud noises, keeping your contact information up-to-date on your microchip will increase the likelihood that he or she will be returned to you quickly.

Emileigh recommends playing soothing music for your dog to mask the noise of fireworks or thunder. She suggests classical music, finding a YouTube playlist or streaming services labeled "calming music for dogs.” White noise could also help, as long as it is true white noise and doesn’t contain potentially triggering sounds. Be cautious not to play nature sounds or turn on a television show with raised voices or unexpected noises.

For those with severe anxiety, Emileigh says that most vets offer calming medications, which are specifically designed to help dogs with noise phobias stay calm during stressful events. “Be sure to discuss the options with your vet before the next big noise event,” Emileigh recommends. She adds that the only FDA-approved medication specifically for canine noise aversion is Sileo, which may be used alongside sedating medications as appropriate.

All dogs react differently to loud noises. Some have better innate coping mechanisms than others, and a soothing strategy for calming or soothing one dog may not work for another. Some dogs, for example, might like to enjoy a special treat as a distraction during the distressing event, while other dogs may be too fearful and avoid food.  

A positive-reinforcement-based behaviorist like Emileigh can evaluate your dog and create a personalized plan to address noise aversion. Whereas dog trainers focus on teaching a dog basic obedience skills and manners, a dog behaviorist specializes in understanding and resolving complex behavioral issues, such as anxiety, fear, or aggression. “A behaviorist like me will try to get to the root of the issues and work out the behavior issues that way by modifying the dog's nutrition, enrichment, training, or even small lifestyle changes,” Emileigh shares. 

You can contact Emileigh by email at wholisticpetcare@gmail.com or visit her website: www.wholisticpetcare.net.

Hopefully, these tips and techniques will make the next summer storm or Fourth of July fireworks display far less stressful for both you and your dog.