The Safety of Your Puppy Dog on July 4th is at Stake!

⏰Do This Now!

Ask yourself this first, have you already desensitized your puppy dog for very loud noises?

July 4th Puppy Safety

As a reminder, we are talking about 40 Hz and 60,000 Hz.

While humans can hear sounds between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz.

So what is loud to you is a possible scary loud sound to your puppy dog like the booms, crack, and sizzles of the firecrackers.

This means that dogs can hear sounds that are both higher and lower in frequency than humans can.

In addition, they can hear 4 times farther away than we can!

If you have desensitized, fabulous!

All I ask is that your puppy dog is safe and secure (perhaps a crate or a room with no exit) during the height of the explosions of fireworks!

(you may think your backyard is safe, but it’s not. A dog will try everything, to the point of injuring itself to escape the sound!)

In addition, it’s not just the Hz, it’s the “unseen”.

Puppy dogs don’t associate the beautiful designs that we see and hear exploding in the air 🎆🎇 and the sound as the same thing.

So they hear the sound and because they don’t know what it is they are fearful of it.

If you have not desensitized your puppy dog yet, what can you do over the next couple of days to prepare?


  1. 1
    Awareness is paramount. Awareness of the energy of the family. (more excitement and activity leading up to the holiday). Awareness of your energy. You may be busy preparing for the holiday, however, when you are around your pup make sure you are calm. Your voice is balanced.
  2. 2
    Routine. Make sure you keep your puppy dog’s routine as normal as possible.
  3. 3
    Crate a little more often than usual with less time spent in the crate. (mini naps). Be sure to give more than usual kibble rewards. (the following week you help your puppy dog run it off at the park).
  4. 4
    Find some music that you will be able to play in the same room as your puppy dog’s crate. Easy, soft, classical music is some of the best for this situation. Get them used to the music as you will use it the night of the 4th. 😉Play the music every time you crate your puppy dog.
  5. 5
    Close the door. Get your puppy dog used to the door closing and opening. You will want to open the door now and then, walk in, do not talk, look, or touch your puppy dog. Act as if you are getting something from the room and then walk out and shut the door again. Do this at least 3 times during their “4th of July Crate Training Session”. They need to know that you are not leaving them alone if they may become fearful.
  6. 6
    A kong toy frozen with peanut butter is a great distraction to add. When in prep mode, use only twice. No need for extra calories at this point.
  7. 7
    Remove your puppy dog from any chaos that may be going on while you are in prep mode for the holiday. These are good times to work on #3.

Now for the big day! Continue to do all of the above, especially #6. If you are planning on staying home this will pay long term-benefits.

Staying Home Plan:

  • Utilize #1 above as the most important thing you can do.
  • Crate your puppy dog at least 30 minutes before the “boomers” start. Hopefully, this will be close to their normal bedtime.
  • Put on the music, however, now turn up the volume and close the door to the room your puppy dog is in. The music does not need to disrupt your evening but is loud enough to partially drown out some of the “crackles”, “booms” and “sizzles” of the fireworks.
  • Again, I can not express how important #1 is. However, you will add to this awareness of your puppy dogs’ energy. Are they calm or are they over-excited? If they are over-excited they are reacting to your energy. So do a “self-awareness” check-in.
  • Make sure you have that frozen kong ready and this is when you will want to put it in the crate with your puppy dog.
  • About 5 minutes into the fireworks you will want to do #5.

Going out for the celebrations plan: (some are duplicates of the “staying home plan”). 😁

  • Utilize #1 above as the most important thing you can do.
  • #2 is important here. Your puppy dog already senses that you are leaving which may add additional fear. Stay calm in voice, energy, and motion.
  • Cue the music. Before you leave you will want it turned up louder than your “stay-at-home plan”.
  • don’t forget #6 the frozen kong with peanut butter.
  • Make sure you crate your puppy dog at least 30 minutes before you leave so you can check in about 10 minutes before you walk out the door. Remember, don’t look, touch, or talk to your puppy dog. Just look around as if you forgot something. Perhaps even pick something up and walk out the door with it.
  • When you come home, your first responsibility is to calmly release your puppy dog from the crate and take outside for a potty break. Again, be calm. When you come back in you can praise and treat.

If you are able to put a camera on your puppy dog that would be a bonus and it would probably help your anxiety the first time you do this.

If you see your puppy dog unsettled, circling, or pacing; give them a few minutes to settle down.

It could have just been a change of tempo of the music and a “boomer” going off.

Of course, if you see your dog in total stress, clawing at the crate, excessive whining with the pacing, or possible sickness, don’t panic, however, you may want to return home as soon as you can.

Again as soon as you get home, remain CALM. Walk in the room with a roll of paper towels as you may need to do a little cleanup before taking your puppy outside.

Calm voice, calm energy, and calm motion will create a successful attempt on July 4th.

Reach out for a chat if you have any questions or concerns about the process. It may seem like a lot however when you put it all into action it takes very little time and you will reap the rewards.

Cheers
Patty
Your Intuitive Dog Coach

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