🎆 This is Why Your Dog Is Scared of Fireworks

Here’s How Dogs Actually Hear Fireworks

Today is July 4th, which can only mean one thing…LOUD NOISES!!!!

Sorry for screaming. July 4th also means hot dogs, dogs in American Flag-print bowties, or hot dogs wearing American Flag-print bowties. Either way, Happy Independence Day. Now here’s the scoop on why and how to keep your dog safe during tonight’s fireworks!

Your Dogs Can Hear WAY More Than You Think!

“Dogs’ sense of hearing is more than 10 times more sensitive than ours. ... If you think fireworks are loud, can you imagine how loud they sound to a dog?” says Dr. Ruth MacPete, world-renowned veterinarian.

So…dogs are basically furry sound superheroes compared to us mere humans. They can hear stuff 4x farther away than humans can and pick up on higher-pitched sounds that are totally off our radar. They're like the audio detectives of the animal kingdom.

Sound is all about vibrations in the air. The faster those vibrations, the higher the pitch. While we humans max out at hearing things vibrating up to 20,000 times per second (that’s 20,000Hz in science speak), dogs can rock out to frequencies up to 50,000Hz! No wonder they hear that pesky dog whistle when we’re left wondering if it's even on.

It’s all thanks to their ears, which are basically on high-tech swivel mode. Dogs have up to 18 ear muscles (we’ve got a paltry six), which means they can turn, tilt, and tweak those ears like finely tuned satellite dishes. Plus, some dog breeds have ears that work like built-in amplifiers. Their ear canals are also longer and more twistable than ours, which helps them zero in on sounds with pinpoint accuracy.

So while those fireworks might seem far away, or faint in sound, the loud sounds of fireworks can trigger fear and anxiety in dogs as a result.

Why Might A Dog Be Scared of Fireworks

"Unfortunately, a lot of dogs are not exposed to fireworks in a positive way during their critical socialization window in puppyhood, and this can lead to fireworks being novel and extremely alarming to many dogs," says Juliana DeWillems, owner and head trainer at JW Dog Training & Behavior Consulting.

Sensory overload - When fireworks start popping off with their ear-piercing booms, it's like a canine concert turned up to eleven due to the higher frequencies.

Unpredictability - Dogs live for the predictability of everyday life. But when fireworks crash the party uninvited, it’s like their sense of security gets tossed out the window faster than a chewed-up tennis ball!

Bright lights - The sudden bursts of colourful, bright lights can be disorienting and frightening for dogs.

Associative fear and past trauma - If your pooch has had a run-in with booming thunder or surprise fireworks in the past, they might be carrying around more fear than a squirrel at a dog park. Keep an extra eye out, especially if your furry friend is a rescue with a sensitive history!

How to Protect Your Dog During Fireworks

There are a lot of ways to protect your dog if you’re worried the sound or lights of fireworks might scare them or hurt their widdle ears.

First, and simplest, is to keep them inside and stay with them for comfort.  But it’s understandable why that might not be possible, or enough, so here are a few more options:

Pressure Therapy (like a thunder shirt or a weighted blanket) -  According to several reviews, the ThunderShirt managed to take the edge off their pups' nerves, though it wasn't a cure-all. One savvy owner even trained their dog to see the ThunderShirt as a treat dispenser before fireworks or thunderstorms hit. Studies have shown this trick can really work wonders, making it less ruff when the big booms roll in!

Sound Blocking - You can try using ear muffs or a sound machine to block or diffuse the sound.  The ear muffs are always a cute look

Pheromone Diffuser - A pheromone diffuser is like a magic mist for dogs, filling the air with calming scents similar to what a mother dog produces to soothe her puppies. Studies show this can be a great way to help a dog chill out during fireworks. "In my clinical experience, about 50 percent of dogs show less anxiety when exposed to these pheromones during stressful times," says says Dr. Kathryn Dench, chief scientific advisor at Paw Origins.

Listen - I get it.  This is kind of a bummer to hear on a holiday that’s all about fun and celebrations.  But the truth is, just like humans, dogs experience hearing loss over the years as a normal side effect of aging and from high exposure to loud noises. So while it may seem like a fun bonding moment, or a chance to get some really cute pictures of your dog with beautiful fireworks, just be careful because if it’s loud for you, it’s REALLY loud for your little chonk. Protect those ears, and stay safe!

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Today’s Last Laugh:

it’s WEEEEE!

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