What can I do to help my dog with fireworks?

• Do your best to tire your dog out before the fireworks start.
• Keep your dog inside during fireworks displays. Keep curtains or blinds closed.
• There are anti-anxiety medications you can purchase for your dog.
• Distract your dog with high-value treats. Try putting the treats in puzzle toys so your dog can focus on something other than the fireworks.
• Play calming music or put on white noise or the TV.
• Leave your dog's crate door open. While dogs may seek out the safety of a crate, they may panic, try to run out and injure themselves on a closed door.
• Don't leave a scared dog home alone during fireworks.
• Sitting close to your dog and offering quiet words of reassurance can help.
• There are earmuffs made specially for dogs, but those are best introduced to a dog gradually in advance of fireworks.
• Dog owners can also try training their pets to deal with scary noise, but this is also something that needs to be done in advance. Owners can play fireworks noises at a low level for a brief time while treating their dog. Repeat the process over time. Once your dog is comfortable, you can gradually turn up the sound for future training sessions.