FIREWORKS!!! Why dog owners hate the 4th of July

C'Mon 'Merica- it's time to CELEBRATE!  

But all I'm seeing these days are social media posts from dog loving friends who dread not only this holiday, but the weeks preceding it, because everyone is shooting off fireworks.
And let me tell you, I understand!  As the owner/operator of a dog that loses her entire set of marbles over the slightest hint of an air disturbance- whether it be thunder, gun shots, (we live near a firing range) or heaven forbid a fire cracker, I've seen her panic and misery during the BOOM BOOM holiday.

Of course my first and best remedy is Valerian Root.  I give my 65# dog 2 capsules of this all natural supplement, an hour before any expected turbulence.  I also put her in her crate where she feels the most safe.  I keep lights in the room turned on so flashes in the sky are not so noticeable.

Some people have good results using the tight body wrap type shirts or other remedies.  Personally, I refuse to give drugs that have side effects for an issue which has none.  Fear passes.  Liver damage does not.  But that's just me.

But my advice for you is the word RECOVERY.  How quickly YOU move on from your dog's stress and trauma directly effects how quickly your dog will.

Last weekend, I was competing at an outdoor event.  I had taken along my fearful dog because I enjoy her company and special time with her.
 She was laying at my feet when a groundskeeper pulled up literally 6 feet away from us in a gator.  He shut the thing off and went and did groundskeeping things and came back and started it up.  When he did, it BACK FIRED so loudly that many of us dropped to the ground- it sounded like a bomb went off.

My competition dog began trembling in his crate, and my poor worry wart dog, about had a heart attack.  But guess what... NONE of us were injured in any way.  As soon as I assessed the situation and gave the groundskeeper my meanest stink eye, I went to my cooler and pulled out some scrambled eggs- which is my dogs' favorite training treat.  I had them sit, and gave them a couple of other familiar obedience commands.  They got eggs.  They got rewarded verbally and energetically.  This is what we do at home all the time.  So suddenly the unfamiliar became very familiar despite their fear and apprehension.  I took this picture just minutes after the incident.  My very fearful dog was resting peacefully, once again, enjoying our girl time.

My dogs RECOVERED!  Of course, I was angry and frustrated that they had been upset, but adding my negative emotions or sympathy to their distraught would help NOTHING!

So my advice here may seem over simplified, but lets face it, life is full of unpleasant surprises! 
So stop hating your neighbors who are just having a good time.  Go eat a hot dog, drink something cold, have some ice cream and enjoy this lovely Independence Day.

My best advice is to focus on RECOVERY as quickly as possible.  Your dog may be wild eyed and panting, but put that leash on him and put him to work.  The quicker you return to business as usual, rather than "Oh you poor poor baby!" the sooner he will get over it.

And if obedience practice is NOT normal and familiar, then perhaps it should be.  Find a trainer.  Find a class.  Find a blog.  And train your dog- (hey that rhymed!)
 it will come in real handy by July 4, 2020!

"IT'S OK" is not OK

When your dog suddenly panics, freezes, cowers or balks when something happens that he perceives as frightening, what do you do?
If you immediately turn back to him (mistake #1) begin to verbally reassure him that "It's OK' (mistake #2) and bend down to pet and comfort him (mistake #3) then you are MIRRORING him, not leading him.
I see it all the time- very kind, compassionate, loving dog owners do all the EXACT WRONG things when their dog becomes frightened.

Think about this... if the room you are sitting in right now was on fire and you were trapped, would you want a fireman to gently open the door, give you a hug and tell you "It's OK" ?!?!
NO!  You would want him to take charge, have a plan and lead the way OUT!

But if what you do is JOIN the dog in his feelings, you are not helping him overcome them.

By turning back to him, you have left your status of  leadership.  You have gone back into the fire with him.
When you feel bad for the dog, now there are 2 beings that feel bad.
If you bend down and pet him or pick him up and carry him, you are rewarding an undesirable state of mind and taking him out of the situation, rather than teaching him to process through it.

Well crap- that's exactly what you do, isn't it???  That's ok- it just means you are a nice person.  But lets make you into a nice person who is a hero to their dog.

Next time let's have a different game plan.  When your dog panics:

FIRST: look straight ahead at the direction you were intending to travel and KEEP GOING.  (don't go back into the fire)  Be sure you have a non-slip collar like a martingale, on your dog at all times, so that he has no choice but to go with you.  

SECOND: breathe, move forward and cheer- not comfort- "WOOHOO Buddy, here we go!"
This is hard when you have an audience and it appears you are dragging your dog, but ignore those feelings for your dog's sake and for progress' sake.

THIRD: physically lead your dog THROUGH the fear tunnel.  Get all the way out and past what frightened him and then... this is the hard part....
SHUT UP!  Just stand tall and relax and DEMONSTRATE that IT IS OK.  Give your dog process time to realize that HE IS FINE and that he navigated a fearful situation by following a confident leader.  And then you can celebrate with a snuggle!

What happens is that each time your dog moves THROUGH and OUT OF the fear tunnel, (instead of you crawling in it with him) he learns that you are confident in bad situations and all he has to do is go with you!

I personally own a Dutch Shepherd that was handed to me at 8 months of age and told she was stupid and un-trainable- because she was completely shut down.  She wouldn't even open her eyes and bolted at the slightest sound.  It destroyed me to see her like that.  So I put her to work- training in a variety of situations that she perceived as SCARRRRRRRY. 
 I'll never forget the first time I walked her past a fire hydrant and she bolted and spun and nearly dragged me to the ground.  
However, a year later, that same little Dutch girl, was ranked #1 in all of World Cynosport Rally Obedience.  "Stupid and Un-Trainable" became "I trust you and will do whatever you say."

You can do it too.  Train yourself.  Lead your dog.