Independence Day is a holiday that most Americans look forward to all year long. A day full of swimming, BBQs, fireworks, and everything in between.

However, our dogs might feel differently about the loud explosions and huge crowds. This holiday could make some dogs more anxious than usual.

This week, we’re going to share some tips to help you and your pup have a fun and safe 4th of July weekend together.

Dogs & Fireworks

It’s pretty easy to understand why a dog wouldn’t be a huge fan of fireworks. Loud explosions going off for an hour or two just outside of your home would scare anyone that didn’t completely understand what was happening.

If you have a dog that gets anxious around fireworks, consider the following:

• Keep them indoors and as far away as you can from the fireworks outside. 
• Keep them surrounded by their favorite treats, toys, and use other noise to drown out what’s going on outside.
• Use a K9 Sport Sack carrier. For those of you that have a K9 Sport Sack carrier, use it to coddle your dog like you would a baby. When your dog is close to you and swaddled in the carrier, this can help them calm down and stay calm when feeling anxious.
• Use CBD products to help your dog calm down during the fireworks. If you aren't familiar with CBD products, Dog owners typically use CBD to treat anxiety. The calming effect of CBD can sometimes cause slight drowsiness, especially when using higher doses. There are a lot of CBD options available that are vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO options starting around $20. Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to see if this is a good option for your dog.

Collars and Microchips

During holiday weekends like the 4th of July, we recommend preparing for your dog to run off. Unfortunately, these scary moments may happen, especially if your dog is in an unfamiliar environment or is over-stimulated by fireworks or large crowds of people.

One of the best and easiest ways to prepare for this is to make sure your dog’s collar has your current address, phone number, and name printed on it. 

Microchips have also become more and more paw-pular for dog owners everywhere. They only take a few seconds to implant and have become virtually painless for the dog. This has become much more affordable in recent years and only costs around $50 depending on your vet clinic.

If your dog were to run off, having a microchip is a great way to make sure that whoever finds your dog can bring it to any vet clinic, scan it, and get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Party During the Day

A good way to help reduce the risk of your dog running away or being frightened by fireworks is to have fun together during the day. This way, your dog will have time to get any extra energy out of their system and they’ll be more tired in the evening when the big firework shows begin. Another thing that you can do is avoid going out at night so that you can be at home to comfort your dog if they are frightened by the fireworks. 

Using a K9 Sport Sack carrier is a great option if you find yourself needing to go out at night (or even during the day) to have fun with family and friends and don’t want to leave your dog at home.

The carrier will keep them off the ground that may be hot or crowded with people. Being so close to them can have a great calming effect as mentioned above.

Conclusion

As always, stay safe out there as you enjoy the 4th of July holiday weekend.

Happy Independence Day from the K9 Sport Sack Team!