Unfortunately our pooches don’t take kindly to these VERY noisy kabooms. I have consolidated some tips to help our loved dogs from freaking out completely…

From www.paw-rescue.org…

Humane societies and shelters typically take in more stray animals during the Fourth of July holiday because many pets are scared off by fireworks. Below are some tips to help pets cope with outdoor noises.

Don’t take pets to events with fireworks.

If fireworks are being set off nearby, or if you’re having guests over for a holiday celebration, find a quiet, secure place to keep your pets. Darkening the room can help. Crating is also a good idea — place the crate in the quietest part of the home. Make sure you put safe chew toys in the crate to occupy and distract the pet during the event. You can close the curtains and turn up the radio, CD player or TV to drown out noise.

Do not leave pets outside, even in a fenced yard, anytime when fireworks might be set off in the distance.

Rather than cuddle a frightened dog, try to distract the dog from the disturbing noises with physical activity such as playing ball.

Remember that scolding or coddling a scared dog will not help. Scolding will scare and confuse the animal, and coddling serves to reinforce fearful behaviors. Instead, assume your pack leader role and act confident and unbothered by the noise and activity outside. You can give your pet a gentle massage, or use Tellington Touch techniques (see the T-Touch Dog Tip on the PAW website) or even just place your hand calmly on the pet’s head.

If the sounds and lights of fireworks frighten your dog, here’s an innovative technique from the most recent issue of “Unleashed! The Pet Care Forum’s Newsletter for Dog Lovers” (www.vin.com/PetCare/Dogs.htm). Make an “anxiety wrap” using an adult or children’s T-shirt. Put the dog’s front legs through the arm holes, then knot the hem over the dog’s back. This technique is related to the massage and Tellington Touch therapy approaches. Wrapping fabric around an animal can give the pet a feeling of greater security.

From www.About.com – desensitizing your dog through training…

If you have some time before the 4th of July or an anticipated fireworks display in your neighborhood, you can begin getting your dog used to the sounds. This is referred to as desensitization, and it can be done in a few simple steps:

Find a video or recording of fireworks.
Play the video or recording at the lowest possible volume a few times during the day.
Pair the sound of the fireworks with things your dog likes, such as treats, meals, cuddle time, or a game of tug-of-war.
Slowly begin to raise the volume of the recording or video over the course of several days, and continue to pair the sound of fireworks with good things for your dog.
If at any point your dog begins to show signs of fear, turn the volume down to a point where he feels more comfortable.
Repeat this several times each day until your dog can hear the sounds of the fireworks at a fairly high volume without becoming fearful.

Love this video!

DOG MEETS DUCK! This was sent to me from my new friend Billy, whom I met at the Joslyn Dog Park in Santa Monica, CA!

Elizabeth of The Doggie Dish meets some cute dogs at the dog park.

Elizabeth and The Doggie Dish make some new four-legged friends at the local dog park.

From the Doggie Pound…
Callie the rough pup was a puppy mill mom we took her away from that life she’s coming along slowly, she’s so sweet tempered but she looks like a Ragamuffin 10 minutes after being groomed so she looks all hagerty for most of the day.
And then there’s Abby She’s been with us since she was 6 weeks old and spoiled R O T T E N, I can’t wait till Callie gets that way…;^B

NY Daily News – ASPCA to chip in $1M to help homeless dogs, cats find new homes

Response Products, of Broken Bow, Neb., is voluntarily recalling Cetyl M for Dogs, because the product could be contaminated with salmonella.

Police dog relieved of duty – The supervisors of a western Pennsylvania township have relieved a police dog of his duties because he bit a 9-year-old girl off duty. The dog’s handler will be given the option of buying him for $1 and keeping him as a pet. If the officer passes, others will get a chance to buy the dog for $1. Township officials say the dog will not be destroyed.

Veterinary college will offer free eye exams for service dogs – For a third consecutive year, the Virginia Maryland-Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech will join with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and Merial Inc. and participate in the Service Dog Eye Exam Month this May.

Bernie Berlin of A Place To Bark from TheDoggieDish on Vimeo.

WSMV – Members of a Lawrence County animal rescue group were forced to return dozens of dogs they attempted to save two months ago from a suspected puppy mill.

USA Today – Bryce Canyon to host prairie dog celebration

LA Examiner – Search dog heroes…Nadia Bloom update: Search dogs pick up scent of missing Florida girl

WPBF - Police: Man Shot Roommate’s Dog In Face With BB Gun

98 Dogs Seized from North Carolina Kennel

AMAZING! National Ledger – A stray dog was run over by a freight train, but survived. He was hit twice! The tiny little cream and brown colored Shih Tzu was a stray dog in Utah and was wandering near the train tacks when Fred Krause of the Utah Railway Company says he spotted the dog on the tracks.

Man robs Ore. bank, steals car containing 2 dogs

ASPCA – ASPCA goes orange for animals this month to prevent cruelty to animals.

Tails of the City – How to pick a pet sitter

ohmidog! – A Pennsylvania appeals court ruled Tuesday against a Bucks County man who had sought food stamps to help feed his dog.

Mercury News – Police shot and killed a pit bull Wednesday after the animal attacked two people and their dogs and then turned on officers, authorities said.

Singing Chihuahua

Dogster - How to prevent heartworm

ohmidog! – Study says dogs aren’t a cure-all for loneliness…and in other news the Beatles say money can’t buy love either

Tails of the City – Breed of the week: the beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog

Paw Print Post – Dog trainer found right jobs for Dog Chow’s ‘101 Dalmatian’ stars

Gruesome – 43 dogs found dead in Alabama woman’s freezer

Police: Dog heads found in Tampa Bay trash can trash were for veterinary training

Unleashed – This store owner in North Carolina refused to let a five-year-old’s service dog into his store, deeming it smelly. He apparently later apologized. Sheesh. Get with the 20th century dude….

ohmidog! - A stone marker in memory of Buddy, the dog dragged to death behind a pickup truck at Colorado National Monument, was erected Thursday at the entrance to the Roice-Hurst Humane Society.

Tails of the City – Bulldog scores courtside seats for Final Four

Harley, a 5-pound Chihuahua who nearly died after his throat was deliberately slit, is on the mend and living with a new family

The Carlisle Area Dog Parks Association is launching a campaign to raise $150,000 toward developing and maintaining a three-acre site in Shaffer Park in North Middleton Twp., said Gail Black, the association president.

LA/SPCA has identified the owner of the blue intact Pit Bull that attacked a 5-year-old girl in Gentilly, Louisinana Wednesday night.