Fireworks Fear with Dr. Ashley Bellard

Generated from the episode's published captions and lightly edited for readability.

Welcome back to The Bandit Show. I'm Bandit with Sit Means Sit Dog Training. Today, I'm joined by Dr. Ashley Bellard from The Vet Gal and Guys. She's been a veterinarian for 20 years, which means she has seen dogs panic, hide, chew, claw, escape, and turn July 4th into a very expensive family memory. Doc, welcome to the show. Thanks, Bandit. Happy to be here. Doc, level with me. When those things go off, is my brain screaming, "We're under attack? " Or am I just being dramatic? Dogs are rarely dramatic.

They're more instinctual. Aside from loud noises, they notice things we often don't, like changes in barometric pressure or electrical changes in the air. These can cause a fear response, which often shows up as shaking, panting, or hiding. Okay, so I'm not dramatic. I'm instinctual. Finally, a diagnosis I can use in arguments. My humans think I'm being a wimp. Is fireworks fear a real medical thing or a just-get-over-it situation? Fireworks fear is real. It is a chemical release of neurotransmitters and hormones that create uneasiness in your dog.

Boom, real thing, chemical thing, not a rub-some-dirt-on-it thing. What are the tells that a dog's actually losing it versus just mildly annoyed? Excessive nervous behaviors like panting, shaking, hiding, and destructive behavior are all signs of stress. Because of that chemical release, your dog cannot always control these responses or self-soothe as easily as we can. That's the part humans miss. Panting, shaking, hiding, destructive behavior. At that point, we are not mildly annoyed. We have entered full gremlin mode.

When I'm freaking out and my human pets me and says, "It's okay, buddy. " Are they helping me or making it worse? Helping. You are your dog's safe place. Staying calm helps them pick up on your good energy. Gentle and loving pats can go a long way in a stressful situation. Good. Calm humans and gentle pats are approved. I will be adding that to my writer. What actually works the night of? Thunder shirt, dark room, white noise, the good drugs? Rank them for me.

All of those can help, but medication is number one when needed. Medications help regulate those fear-based reactions. In second place, a thunder shirt. And lastly, grounding. Sitting with your dog in an enclosed space like a bathtub or shower can really help calm the nerves. So, the plan is medication when needed, thunder shirt, and grounding in a quiet enclosed space. Basically, science, a hug shirt, and a bunker. I respect it. What's the wildest July 4th case that's come through your door? What haven't I seen?

Mangled paws from scratching and climbing through kennels and doors. Fractured teeth from dogs trying to bite through kennels. And sadly, lots of missing patients. If your dog does not like fireworks, be responsible and do not leave them outside. Last one. Can training help ahead of time, or am I doomed to hate July forever? Training can help. Kindly desensitizing your dog to loud noises, starting small and working your way up, can make these situations less traumatizing. Practicing commands, doing tricks, or anything that encourages focus can also help.

The sweet spot is training and intervention when needed. There it is. Training can help. Desensitization can help. Distraction, commands, tricks, and focus can help. And that is exactly where Sit Means Sit Dog Training comes in. So, if your dog turns into a panting, hiding, drywall chewing disaster when fireworks start, don't wait until the sky is exploding. Get your dog trained. Call Sit Means Sit Dog Training today and tell them Bandit sent you and hide the hot dogs. Not because of fireworks, because I have eyes and no shame.