At the risk of being branded un-patriotic (fine with me but that’s another topic), I am declaring the 4th of July my least favorite holiday. It’s not political – but the bloody fireworks freak my poor dog out so much that even a full valium (the vet recommended a quarter to a half pill) had absolutely no effect on him. For three days, as the sun set and the bangs began, Tetley was a miserable, panting, pacing, barking mess.
I’ve tried everything including a ‘Thundershirt‘ purchased hopefully just a month or so ago. He likes it, probably because he knows how handsome he looks in it — but it isn’t as effective as the company’s website video suggests (surprise!) — he is barely calmer – but I’ll take it.
Also, the noises bother me too, reminding me quite convincingly of the real thing: mortar shells whistling before the thud of landing, gun battles in the hills and the streets of Bosnia and Croatia. Not nice, not fun — not at all.