Unleashed Behavior and Training Services

Something silly for this HOT HOT day. 😉

Please stay safe and cool indoors with your pup. There are lots of fun ways to give them mental and physical activities inside your own home. Practicing fun tricks old and new, playing tug or fetch, doing an indoor sniffari are just a few examples of things that can be done inside with your pups.

Yummy frozen treats might be a fun extra too.

Stay cool ya'all.. ❤️

Please stay safe! ❤️🐾

🇺🇸 4th of July & Your Dog: How to Keep Them Safe This Independence Day 🎆🐶

For many of us, the 4th of July means BBQs, family gatherings and spectacular fireworks.

For our dogs, however, it can be one of the most stressful and dangerous days of the year.

Every year, animal shelters across the USA report a huge increase in lost pets over the Independence Day period. A single loud bang can cause even a normally confident dog to panic, bolt, jump fences or escape through doors and windows.

Here are some simple but important ways to keep your dog safe.

🐾 1. Check your dog’s microchip details

A microchip only works if the information linked to it is current.

✅ Is your phone number correct?
✅ Have you moved house?
✅ Is there an emergency contact listed?

Also make sure your dog is wearing a collar with an ID tag whenever they’re outside.

🏡 2. Keep dogs indoors before fireworks begin

Don’t wait until the first firework goes off.

Bring your dog inside well before dusk, close windows, curtains and blinds, and lock gates and doors.

Some dogs panic long before the fireworks start because they can hear distant explosions that we cannot.

🎵 3. Create a calm, safe space

Provide somewhere your dog already feels secure:

🐾 Their crate (if they enjoy using it)
🐾 A quiet bedroom
🐾 A den made from blankets

Close curtains to reduce flashes of light.

Play calming background noise such as:
🎶 Classical music
📺 The television
🌧 White noise

The goal isn’t to eliminate every sound - it’s simply to reduce the contrast between silence and sudden explosions.

🚶 4. Walk earlier than usual

Exercise your dog well before celebrations begin.

Avoid evening walks when fireworks may already be starting unexpectedly.

Keep dogs on lead, even if they normally have excellent recall. Fear can override years of training.

🍖 5. Watch the BBQ food!

Many Independence Day foods can make dogs seriously ill.

Avoid access to:

❌ Corn cobs (can cause life-threatening intestinal blockages)
❌ Cooked bones (can splinter)
❌ Onions, garlic and chives
❌ Grapes and raisins
❌ Chocolate
❌ Xylitol (found in sugar-free products)
❌ Alcohol
❌ Fatty meats and grease (can trigger pancreatitis)

Also keep skewers, foil, cling wrap and food packaging well out of reach.

🗑 6. Secure rubbish bins

Dogs are excellent opportunists.

After the BBQ, ensure rubbish bags and bins are inaccessible. Corn cobs, skewers and leftover bones are common reasons for emergency veterinary visits over holiday weekends.

💊 7. Don’t wait until the last minute for medication

If your dog has previously been frightened by fireworks, speak to your veterinarian before the holiday.

Modern anti-anxiety medications can be very effective when prescribed appropriately.

Avoid giving human medications unless specifically instructed by your vet.

🦺 8. Consider calming aids

Some dogs benefit from:

✔️ Pressure wraps or anxiety vests
✔️ Pheromone diffusers
✔️ Long-lasting enrichment activities
✔️ Lick mats
✔️ Stuffed food toys
✔️ Scent work games before fireworks begin

These won’t “cure” noise fears but can help some dogs cope better when combined with good management.

❤️ 9. Comfort your dog if they seek reassurance

One of the biggest myths is that comforting your dog will “reward fear.”

Fear is an emotion, not a behaviour your dog is choosing.‼️

If your dog comes to you for comfort, provide it. Stay calm, speak gently and let them choose how close they want to be.

What we want to avoid is forcing interaction if they prefer to hide.

🚪 10. Be extra careful with doors

Guests coming and going dramatically increase escape risk.

Remind visitors not to leave doors open.

Use baby gates if needed, and consider keeping your dog in a separate secure room while guests arrive.

🎆 Remember:

Firework fears are incredibly common and can affect dogs of any age or breed.

Preparation today can prevent:
• Dogs going missing
• Injuries from escape attempts
• Severe anxiety
• Emergency veterinary visits
• Long-term worsening of noise sensitivities

A little planning now can make Independence Day much safer, and much less stressful, for everyone.

🇺🇸 Wishing you a wonderful, safe and happy 4th of July.

And to all our four-legged family members… may it be filled with stuffed Kongs, comfy beds, closed curtains and plenty of treats. ❤️🐾