Photo courtesty of Flickr.

Happy Fourth of July for you and your dog!

Fourth of July also means parties and picnics, so be sure your dog has somewhere to go that is out of the way of the hustle and bustle of friends and family who may be visiting.

Keep an eye on guests coming in and out of the house and opening the door. An open door is a perfect chance for your dog to explore the neighborhood, which you’re probably trying to avoid.

If you’ll be setting off even small fireworks at your home, keep your dog away from them if possible. Not only might they try to chase any that go off on the ground, but even the noises from home fireworks can cause your dog anxiety and stress.

You may want to avoid letting your dog out in a time frame when fireworks are going off, so be sure they’ve gotten plenty of exercise that day and had many chances to do their business outside.

Tire your dog out with a game of fetch or any other activities they enjoy so that they may be more likely to be exhausted enough to sleep right through the evening activities.

If your dog is in a situation where he does get stressed out, take him somewhere safe and comforting to him, whether it be his crate or a separate room. Spend some time comforting him and making sure he’s not somewhere he could cause damage or hurt himself. If easily distracted with toys or bones, be sure to have some on hand to throw his way to keep him occupied.

Fourth of July can also mean that it’s getting hot where you are. Be sure to follow the usual guidelines for avoiding heatstroke in your pet. Be sure they are supplied with plenty of water and if they are outside for extended period of times, plenty of shade. It’s easy for a dog to go from due to activity to heavily panting because they were in distress.