How to keep your reactive dog safe this 4th of July

June 29, 2026- Macey Wolfer- Dontrowrryhefriendly.com

Here's an except from the full article:

..."An overarching theme across many of the experts I spoke with was a need to think ahead. If you have a reactive dog, it’s helpful to have a plan in place so you’re not scrambling for help on the loud and chaotic holiday. 

Think about where your dog will stay, how you’ll keep them safe and contained, and what your plan is for when they need to go outside and relieve themselves.

“Clearly you will need to let your dog relieve themselves, but otherwise keeping them in one room or in a crate will be the next best thing,” explained jme Thomas, executive director of Motley Zoo Animal Rescue in Washington. “It is better to prepare a dog for this by working up to it, not expecting that suddenly your dog will like the crate (or being without you) if this is not what they are accustomed to."

As mentioned earlier, Thomas doesn’t recommend trying out a crate for the first time on a high-stress holiday like July 4th. But if your dog already sees their crate as a safe space, you can use this to your advantage.

“I have seen firsthand how crating on the 4th and during thunderstorms can be beneficial with my own dogs and fosters. One of my dogs would go ballistic until I put her in the crate, then it was like she couldn't even hear the noises and she just went to sleep,” recalled Thomas. 

“The number one rule for the 4th of July is to not leave your dog outside when they are not leashed up and being held by you,” added Thomas. “Even fences that may otherwise be secure are easy for dogs to get out of if they are startled or scared by fireworks…This is not the day to let your dog go by themselves or enjoy the yard as they might at other times, because chances are the yard will not be very enjoyable when it sounds like the end of the world to your dog.”

Thomas recommends CBD in some cases, noting that dog owners should always test it out in advance of the big day. “CBD can be calming to their mind and make the experience more tolerable rather than them being drugged, confused and still scared through it all,” she explains.