Time flies! The 4th of July is in one week. Do you have plans to BBQ with friends and family? Maybe even some fun time at the lake or a river? Going tubing? Put in your grocery order to avoid the crowd inside the store? What about your furry friend? Have you made any preparations there? 
Did you say you are not sure what preparations to make? Keep on reading. I’ve got a check list and some strategies for you to make this a safe 4th of July for your dog.


First and foremost:
Is your dog’s microchip registered to your name? Have your address and phone number on the registration been updated? Are there emergency contacts listed? 


The good stuff:
If you know that your dog is anxious during storms, it’s also safe to assume that your dog will be nervous during the fireworks. Now is the time to make an appointment with your vet to get some calming medication for your dog. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend any OTC calming aids from the pet store; they are just not strong enough to deal with a dog’s anxiety during an event like fireworks. I am also very skeptical of thunder shirts, the cradling effect that these shirts supposedly provide seems to be far-fetched. Dogs don’t cradle each other. 


Safe space:
Create a safe and sound-proof space for your dog inside your house, where it is mostly shielded from noise and light shows. A closet with soothing music, a basement spot, or something similar to put your dog’s crate would work well.


A schedule:
Don’t be the kind of person who takes their dog out in the middle of the fireworks. Please, just don’t! Work out a schedule from the last feeding to the last potty break to avoid having to take your dog outside during the peak time for fireworks. Be smart, make a schedule, and know your dog’s bowel movements. 


Can’t get away from fireworks?
Make your dog a reservation at an excellent boarding facility that doesn’t encounter many, if any, fireworks (shameless self-promotion here). Your dog will thank you. Often, boarding places that are further out do not experience a high volume of fireworks like other facilities within suburban areas. 


Want to desensitize your dog to fireworks?
Here’s a strategy: you still want the noise to be muffled but audible for your dog. Make firework time, happy time. Inside the house, play with your dog, engage with your dog, and have a really awesome time so that the fireworks will become just background noise. Once you have accomplished that, you may do the same thing outside. Still a bit shielded but more exposed. Once that works well, you may let your dog see the light show, but you still will need to engage in play and such with your dog. This strategy does require you to be present; you will not be able to enjoy the fireworks if that is what you wanted, but you can enjoy some you-and-me time with your dog.

​Happy and safe 4th of July. Let me know if you have any questions!

The other day, I had to go to an Apple Store to have my iPhone repaired. I thought this would be a great experience for one of my dogs to work on her manners when out in public. When we entered the store, she walked by my side, sat down when I was getting greeted, walked by my side as I walked to one of their help desks, and during my conversation with the store assistant, she lay right next to my chair. After dropping off my phone to burn some time, we walked around this shopping mall and entered a restaurant because I wanted to grab a bite to eat. At the restaurant, she walked by side as we were approaching the counter and sat next to me while I was ordering my food and taking care of the bill. Then we went to a table where I sat down, and she laid down and stayed there the entire time while the waitress brought me my food; I ate and again walked right beside me as we were leaving the restaurant, back at the Apple Store same thing. The Apple Store associates and the restaurant staff commented on how well-behaved my Malinois was, which was greatly appreciated. 
We all love to take our dogs with us everywhere, and it can be a very rewarding experience for both owners and their four-legged companion. However, ensuring good dog etiquette is essential for a harmonious environment. From staying off tables to refraining from nuisance barking, here are some things to consider when taking your dog out and about to enhance everyone’s experience and keep dogs a welcomed guest. 
Your dog should absolutely stay off the table. Neither two and for sure not four paws have a place on the table. It shows respect for the restaurant or other venue you are at and keeps the table clean. Yes, you may intervene, “But my dog sleeps with me in my bed,” but have you thought about where your dog has walked around during the day? You wouldn’t put your bare feet on a restaurant table either.
Please be courteous to waitstaff and other patrons and keep your dog close to you so it does not trip anyone, which could cause potential injuries to both dog and person. The easiest solution for that is to put your dog in a down-stay underneath the table or, if there is a bit more space, right beside your table.
Jumping on people—that’s a big one. To be honest, no one but you likes to get jumped at by your dog. It catches people off guard, scratches them, knocks over children, and just promotes chaos. Please teach your dog to politely sit or do a down-stay while being greeted by people. Even dog trainers don’t like to get jumped at by your dog. 
Speaking of greeting, not all dogs like to get greeted by your dog. Especially when your dog is running up to them, do you like everyone you meet at the grocery store or would you even hug the next stranger running up to you at the store? Letting your dog invade another dog’s space without asking the dog owner for permission is just plain rude. You never know if the other person might be training with their dog, or maybe their dog is reactive towards other dogs. Please be respectful and ask first before letting your dog approach another dog.
Nuisance barking is another thing. When you teach your dog commands, you should also teach your dog that barking is not compatible with those commands. This can function as an off-switch for nuisance barking. You ask what nuisance barking is? That is barking at nothing, barking for the sake of barking. Some may say that is a way for dogs to communicate, but I can assure you that your dog can express himself/herself in a less noisy way.
​As with so many other things, it’s the training that makes public outings an excellent experience for everyone. Doing the commands only in a very controlled environment will not prepare you for public outings. You have to train there. Be an advocate for all the other dogs and their owners, and teach your dog the ins and outs of public manners. This will set the path for a more welcoming environment for all of our four-legged companions. 

​We all know that public socialization is necessary for puppies, but did you know that you need to extend that past the puppy phase?
Why do you ask? 
Puppies go through different phases of maturing, with the most crucial phase for public desensitization being the phase between the 2-4 months of age because they are the most fearless and outgoing there. After that, they get more conscious about their environments and try to categorize events as good or bad. As the pup matures, it will go through many of these phases, and staying on top of them with adequately guided exposure is vital for raising a well-mannered dog. The key point here is desensitization; the more they see and get exposed to things and events in a teaching way, the more they will get used to it. For example, the first time I saw a giant roach ( aka palmetto bug) and a snake here, it freaked me out. I was about to burn down my house if it wasn’t for my exterminator; I am not kidding. The more I saw those giant roaches over the years and got educated about them, the less they fazed me, and now I may say “Eww” before sweeping them away. 
In the same way, you need to keep exposing and educating your dog about public environments. It is never just a one-and-done. Even as adult dogs, they need to see and experience things outside their usual and routine environments. Keep taking your dog to Lowe’s, Home Depot and Tractor Supply, and keep practicing their obedience there. Btw, that is also a good way to exercise your dog during the summer months when it is too hot for long training and play sessions outside in the open.