Fireworks, Picnics and Scaredy Dogs

Happy Independence Day!  If only my dog Maggie could enjoy it as much as we do.  Maggie is terrified of fireworks and thunder.  At the first rumble of thunder or pop of a firecracker, she starts panting and tries to find a hidey hole.  In the beginning, I mistakenly made things worse for her by "babying" her.  I tried to comfort her as I would a human child and it only resulted in reinforcing her fear.  In her mind, she was thinking, "If I shake and whine and cringe, I'll get lots of attention and affection!"  So I changed tactics and started ignoring the behavior.  No talking, but I'd occasionally just rest a hand on her head.  She's calmed down a great deal now, but loud sounds are just never going to be a good thing for her.

If you have a dog who completely freaks out when the fireworks get going, there are things you can do to help.  Ask your vet for sedatives.  A once-a-year dose of doggie downers won't hurt at all.  Dogs like to den up when they're stressed, and that is what a crate tries to duplicate: a snug safe place to rest and relax.  Put your dog in his crate and cover it with a cloth so he can't see all the flashing lights.  Keep a TV or radio on in the room for a distraction.  Another good distraction in the crate is to put a long-lasting chew toy in with your dog.  If you have one of those hard rubber Kong toys, fill the middle with something like peanut butter and cheese and freeze it solid before putting it in the crate.  That will really give your dog something else to think about!

I'm smoking a brisket today, and I'm sure there will be plenty of folks barbecuing ribs, burgers, chicken and all sorts of meats.  Summer holidays generally include these kinds of foods, and our dogs tend to make out like bandits with the leftovers - particularly things like rib bones or fat trimmings.  As I learned from bitter experience years ago, after these events a parade of dogs end up at their vet clinics with pancreatitis.  The sudden influx of fatty foods is a bad deal for our dogs, and can prove fatal.  Please restrain yourself and your guests from feeding your dogs bones and meat not normally in their diet.  It really can kill.

OK, end of public service lecture.  Have a great day!  WOOF!

[Jaybay]

LOL!  I think I cursed myself with the above post.  There's a line of storms heading our way as I write.  Oh well, hopefully it'll pass through and we'll have a good afternoon.  Figures!