06/03/2026
🎆 The Fourth of July Is Coming—Start Preparing Your Dog NOW! 🎆
One of the biggest mistakes we see is waiting until fireworks are already happening to start helping a dog cope with them. Whether your dog is a puppy, adult, or senior, now is the perfect time to begin building positive associations with loud noises before Independence Day arrives.
🐾 How to Get Started
You can use:
🫶🏻YouTube videos of fireworks, thunderstorms, gunshots, or crowd noises
🫶🏻Alexa or other smart speakers
🫶🏻Sound desensitization apps and playlists
The key?
Start MUCH quieter than you think you need to.
1️⃣ Play the sounds at a very low volume.
2️⃣ Pair them with something your dog loves:
• Special treats
• Meals
• Play sessions
• Sniffing activities
• Lick mats or stuffed Kongs
3️⃣ If your dog remains relaxed, gradually increase the volume over multiple sessions.
4️⃣ If your dog shows concern (startling, panting, pacing, leaving the area, refusing food, barking, trembling, hiding), the volume is too high. Turn it down and make the next session easier.
The goal is not to force your dog to “get used to it.” The goal is to teach them that these sounds predict good things.
Avoid:
🙅♀️Playing sounds at full volume immediately
🙅♀️Flooding your dog with noise
🙅♀️Assuming a dog who isn’t visibly reacting is comfortable
🙅♀️Waiting until July 4th to start training
Puppies especially benefit from ✨ safe, positive exposure ✨ to a variety of sounds during their development, but adult dogs can learn too!
🎉For dogs with significant noise sensitivities, anxiety, or previous firework fears, start now and consider reaching out to a qualified trainer and your veterinarian. Some dogs benefit from a combination of training and medication support during firework season.🎉
Alaska’s summer celebrations often include fireworks, gunshots from recreational shooting, and other loud noises. A few minutes of training each day now can make a huge difference when July arrives.
Remember: We’re not trying to teach dogs to love fireworks—we’re teaching them that loud noises don’t predict anything scary and that good things happen when they hear them.
