Fireworks Crashing Your Canine's 4th of July Celebration?

Fourth of July is no Independence Day for dogs who suffer noise phobias. The following is a topical article with tips to help your dog overcome his fear.

Saturday, June 28, 2008 (SF Chronicle)
Ways to keep the dog sane on July Fourth
Lynette Evans


One Fourth of July, my sister left her dog Sascha in the car while she and
her children sat on a Tahoe hillside to enjoy the fireworks show. Sascha,
a husky who hadn't been clued in on the celebration, dug a hole in the
backseat of the car in which to hide from the noise.
Amy Ammen, author of "Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs" (Wiley; 2007), says dogs
can be trained not to be fearful of traumatizing noises. Coddling a
fearful dog, she says, will reinforce the dog's fearfulness rather than
eliminate it. You can prepare ahead, she says: "Take him to class,
establish basic skills, intentionally induce anxiety-provoking situations,
and apply the skills you've learned together."
Here are four tips from Ammen for making your dog more macho:
-- Don't coddle it when it's freaking out.
-- Give a command, such as "sit," and enforce it.
-- Keep the dog on a short leash and don't let it run.
-- Ask others to ignore it if it's freaking out.
And a reminder: Leave your pet at home Friday evening, securely indoors
where a neighbor's firecrackers won't cause it to bolt. Don't take it to a
fireworks display unless you want your auto trashed and your dog even more
traumatized. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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