July Can Be A Very Cruel Month With Fireworks and Thunderstorms~It Is Time to Take Action NOW!

Experiment with using calming music and a noise canceling headset

I have wanted to play my PWC tuning fork calming music through a headset for my dog but couldn't find a dog headset.  This year a found a human headset with noise cancelling technology and I am doing to experiment with this with my fear phobia dog.  I  put a piece of foam under the head piece to make it fit my dog and I am conditioning her to be comfortable with the headset playing music.  I have used my PWC tuning fork calming music for many years with her so she is familiar with the music but I am hoping the noise canceling technology will lesson the sound of the fireworks and keep her calm.  This is an experiment and I will post the results after the week of the 4th of July, for in my area the fireworks go on for the entire week of the 4th.  The only other true test I will have is if we get a thunderstorm for they create the same fear response for her.

 I know I post this yearly but it is IMPORTANT!!

      It is that time of the year again.  Fear of fireworks affects many of our pets and it is time to condition your pets before July 4th!
     For most, July can be barbecues, good times at the beach, and vacations. But for a many dogs especially around the 4th of July, it signals the fearsome sounds of fireworks and powerful summer thunderstorms.
    According to The American Humane Society of the United States, "so many pets are frightened and try to escape the sights and sounds that animal shelters around the nation report a dramatic increase in lost pets during the holiday."  “July 5 is the busiest day of the year at animal shelters, as companion animals that fled in fright the night before are found miles from their homes, disoriented and exhausted.
    Anxious families often find themselves searching the streets and shelters looking for a treasured family member whose fear drove him to jump a high fence or break his leash or chain.  If your pet is upset by thunder, a door slamming or other loud noises, Fourth of July fireworks will be utterly terrifying.”
     Please make sure your pets are wearing ID tags.  I have a noise phobia dog so I don’t leave my pets alone on the 4th of July or New Year’s Eve when I know there will be fireworks.  My pets are too important to me to leave them alone a few days a year when they can be traumatized.  I have worked very hard with energy work, and other techniques to reduce my dog's trauma to take a chance to let anything else happen.
Here are some recommendations for keeping your pets safe during the fireworks.

• You can start now by diffusing some calming essential oils like Lavender, Roman Chamomile, grounding blend, geranium but don’t wait until the 4th to start to use the oils or any other calming tools.
• You can use calming herbs (chamomile, holy basil, GABA and ashwagandha)
• A tired pet is more relaxed and will handle the stress better so exercise your pet long and early in the day before any party and fireworks begin.
• If you have guests make sure the pets are secured inside away from the commotion so they can’t bolt or run if frightened—remember pets are all fur and could get burned easily
• Leave pets at home in quiet, sheltered, escape-proof area with drapes closed so they don't see the flash of the fireworks or lightening.
• Bring outdoor pets inside.
• Do not take your pet to fireworks or leave them in a car while you watch the fireworks.  If they get traumatized the car is the worst place for the pet to be. They could also get heat stroke if confined in the car.
• If you go make sure the dog is safe at home in their favorite place or crate with a favorite toy or other comforting things.
• Play PWC Tuning Fork Relaxing Music to calm the dog or turn radio or TV on to help muffle booming noises
• Make sure pets have ID tags on them or have a chip in them in case of escape
• Keep unused fireworks out of reach as they may contain potentially toxic substances and clean up any residue after the fireworks

    There are presumably two components to the fear: what the dog sees and what the dog hears or feels. What the dog sees is easier to tend to. Just don't take the dog to any fireworks celebrations. This will eliminate seeing huge starbursts appearing in the sky, It's difficult to actually desensitize your dog to the sight of fireworks because you can’t simulate this experience.  The big fear is the noise and pressure the dog feels when the sounds of the fireworks explode.  This is also the problem with thunderstorms.  It is more the barometric pressure and vibrations that the dog senses that triggers the fear. I have had a few dogs with major fears of thunderstorms and fireworks.  I would have been more successful than the weather man with one dog who could predict a storm hours before it arrived.  She could feel the energy changes in the earth and atmosphere.
    Behavior Modification can work with fearful dogs.  It isn’t an instant fix but I have had success over time with different techniques.  Some animals are more predisposed to these fears than others. Sometimes you can use a recording with sounds of something exploding and gradually play it louder and louder while engaging the dog in some play or training activity that she enjoys over a period of days to weeks. Playing the sounds didn’t work for my dog because there wasn’t any vibrations or pressure associated with the recording. The problem is that listening to a recorded sound doesn't have the vibrations created by the actual fireworks.  Storm phobia is harder to help a dog get over — much harder — and why is not clear. But if you want to desensitize your dog to storms, be sure to introduce the dog to the sounds of storms in the same gradual, structured way that you would reintroduce her to anything else she's afraid of. That's how you will instill confidence in the face of adversity.  Again the barometric pressure change created by the storm and the earth vibrations will not be felt by playing the recorded sounds of fireworks or thunderstorms.
    If you have a basement you can take your dog to the basement during a storm to help muffle the noise, but remember to close any drapes if there are windows. Unfortunately many of us don’t have a basement, therefore, try to get to the quietest place in your house or the place your pet is most comfortable being at. 
    Draw any blinds or curtains while playing white noise or calming music in the background to help drown out the sights and sounds of the storm. Don't sympathize or agonize over what your dog is going through, because that only reinforces the fear.  Instead, distract your dog by playing fetch or engaging in some other game or routine that she enjoys.  My dog loves to fetch the ball but she won't even respond to fetching when she is stressed with the noise phobia. If you stress about their fear they will feel your stress and that doesn’t help the situation.  As the dog begins to focus on the fun, and relaxes some maybe during the second, third, or fourth storm, gradually increase exposure. Open the blinds a bit.
    Sometimes a thunder jacket (available online or at most pet stores)  will work. The thunder jacket doesn't calm my dog at all with the fears. Research suggests that for some dogs, storm phobia is not about the noise but about the buildup of static electricity on the dog that causes shocks similar to feeling the pressure. (You'll often find a dog in the bathroom pressed behind a pipe during a storm; pipes conduct electricity away.)
    I have had success with using therapeutic grade essential oils, healing energy work, sound therapy relaxation music. This is all part of my Pawsitive Wellness Center’s Business.  All techniques can be done in the comfort of your pets home or from a distance  You can diffuse the oils or play the relaxation music daily to relax the animal.  This will need to be done ahead of July 4th so the dog learns to relax under normal conditions and especially so they don’t associate the essential oils or music with the fireworks or thunderstorms.  
     I am offering a special on the Tuning Fork Music now and through the month of July and it is an easy download from my website.  This has been very effective for calming animal my and my clients.