Ah…  the 4th of July, cook-outs, hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill, with friends and family and of course (if you live where they are legal) fireworks.  If you are like me, I used to love the fireworks more than the food.  However, your pet may have a different point of view.  So read on and take notes.  Your pet will be glad you did.

The noise from the 4th of July fireworks will cause most dogs to panic, making a sharp increase of lost dogs each year.  Why do some dogs fear loud noises and others ignore them?  The following factors may be the cause:

•   “Some breeds, specifically hunting and sporting breeds were developed for their ability to ignore loud noises,” says Cheryl Smith, behavior lecturer and owner of Forever Friends Dog Training School in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  This may be why Labrador and Golden Retrievers often adapt well to large families.

•   “The brain develops more neurotransmitters with exposure to stimuli,” says Smith.  That means your puppy needs ongoing varied experiences to accept life’s noises.

•   Consistently banging the crate or clapping loudly to startle a puppy into stopping undesired behavior can create a lasting negative sound association.

Overall, think about your lifestyle before you choose a breed.  Socialize well, and stop undesirable behavior through training to help you puppy avoid noise sensitivity.  For dogs sensitive to noise, you may reduce the reaction by playing music or a television fairly loudly within their proximity.  And for the 4th of July… maybe ear muffs or try staying with sparklers.  I think the older I get the more I like sparklers anyway.

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