Blog
July 3, 2010

Helping Your Pet Cope With Holiday Fireworks


Author: Kristin Skelton

Floofins & Co. a Pet Sitting and Dog Walking company serving La Grange, IL and surrounding areas, send some words of advice to pet parents for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend. Animal shelters will find more strays than usual during this weekend because many “floofins” are scared off by Fourth of July fireworks. Fireworks are often frightful experiences for dogs. The loud noises can hurt their sensitive ears.

Frightened dogs have different reactions: some tremble at their owners’ feet, others hide, some try to run off or they can display bizarre behavior. Ordinarily well-behaved pets may become aggressive, destructive and/or unpredictable during the holiday.

Here are some precautions you can take to help your pets through the Fourth of July celebration:

  • Make sure pets are wearing well-fitted collars and securely fastened ID tags.

  • Do not take pets to events with fireworks.

  • Find a quiet, secure place to keep your pets. Darkening the room can help. Make sure you give your pet safe chew toys to occupy and distract them during the weekend.

  • Do not leave pets outside, even in a fenced yard, if fireworks might be set off in the distance.

  • Rather than cuddle a frightened dog, try to distract the dog from the disturbing noises with physical activity such as playing ball.

  • Remember that scolding or coddling a scared dog will not help.  It will only reinforce fearful behaviors. Instead, assume your pack leader role and act confident and unbothered by the noise and activity outside.

  • Vets can prescribe tranquilizers for extremely frightened dogs. Also, some people find that non-prescription remedies such as Rescue Remedy or Serene-um calm their dogs.

  • If you’re going out of town for the holidays, entrust the care of your fur kids to a professional pet sitter.

Do you live in the chicagoland area and are looking for a pet care specialist? Get in touch with our team today:


General Contact Form

Other Recent Blog POsts


Floofins & Co Founder Kristin with her family

The Word “Floofin” Defined

March 27, 2025
Read Post
napps 2025 pet sitters conference

Pet Sitters Coming Together at the 2025 NAPPS Conference

March 12, 2025
Read Post
Floofins & Co. dog with dog walker in Elmhurst, IL

Celebrating Professional Pet Sitters Week 2025: Honoring the Heart of Floofins & Co.

February 25, 2025
Read Post
Spring events chicago pet friendly

Spring 2025 Pet-Friendly Events in and Around Chicago, Elmhurst & Hinsdale, IL

February 12, 2025
Read Post
pet wellness trends 2025 Chicago

Top 5 Pet Wellness Trends for 2025: How Chicago Pet Parents Lead the Pack

January 29, 2025
Read Post
Chicago sighting in Chicagoland Protecting Chicago Pets

Coyote Chaos: Protecting Pets During Coyote Mating Season in Chicago

January 15, 2025
Read Post