There are many holidays involving fireworks nowadays. Independence Day, New Years eve and other events have dogs across the nation reacting with fear and anxiousness to all the firework celebrations. The noise of fireworks can be very nerve wracking for dogs. Here are the top 10 strategies a dog lover can use to help them through the holiday.

1. DO expose your dog to loud, unexpected noises on a somewhat consistent basis, especially leading in to an event that includes firework celebrations. Drop pot lids, toss a soda can with a couple of pennies in it, slam a door: anything to get your dog used to being around sharp noises, so he’ll practice recovering swiftly.

2. Don’t bring your dog with you to a fireworks location.

3. DO provide your dog with a safe, comfortable place that may help him or her feel more secure amid the scary sights and sounds. Close the blinds to keep out the flashes of color in the sky, and turn up the ,television or some music to help muffle the sounds.

4. Do Not put your dog in a crate; a panicked, scared dog can easily injure himself in a crate.

5. DO ask your andvet if an herbal cure or prescription sedative might be appropriate for your dog.

6. DO consider giving your dog a very valued chew toy before the fireworks event begins, that may help to keep her mind off the disturbance.

7. DO attach a “house leash” to your dog, to act as an hairy long handle, should your dog try to escape or run away.

8. Do Not comfort or “baby” your dog if he is fearful. Dogs take their cue of how to behave from their owners; if you’re acting “strange” by offering relaxing words and gestures, your dog may interpret your actions as praise for being scared, or as an assurance that the fireworks are truly frightening.

9. DO act as normal and as “matter of fact” as possible , to help your dog realise there is nothing to stress about.

10. Most vitally, DO verify your dog is wearing proper identification in case he manages to get away. More dogs escape during holiday celebrations than at any other time. With a little preparation and an appreciation of the easy way to help dogs thru their fears, dog keepers can help preclude their pet from turning into a statistic this holiday.

If you live close to a facility that utilizes fireworks you can also analyze dog boarding facilities outside of the city that may provide a quieter location.

Lyn Jones has been offering home dog boarding for over 10 years. Her Oregon City dog boarding facility is open to those looking for a dog boarding Portland facility and doggie day care Portland OR .