Happy 4th of July!

The fourth of July can be a wonderful day of celebration remembering the founding of our great nation. It can also be a horrible day for our canine companions. The fourth always means a day of fireworks which to many dogs can be a source of frightening sounds. I suppose if our hearing was any more acute we wouldn't want to celebrate in that fashion either.

 Dogs have been known to jump through screens and even plate glass windows because of the sound. There are some things to rememeber to help your dog remain more comfortable with all the noise.

• If you know your dog is terrified of loud noises such as thunder and lightening have your dog contained in a safe area such as a crate. You may want to consider covering the crate with a blanket for added security.

• Many people want to take their pets with them for the outside activities. You may want to rethink that if you don't know how your dog will respond. They may be much happier at home in the comfort of their familiar surroundings. 

• Keep your dog leashed. Many dogs run away on the fourth because of the loud scary noses that they are trying to escape. When a dog is frantic they will try any means necessary to escape even causing themselves harm.

So don't forget to remember your dog this weekend and keep things as low key as possible for them.

Happy 4th of July!