July 4th Safety Tips for Dog Owners

Bark Busters Offers July 4th Safety Tips for Dog Owners

Goal of World’s Largest Dog Training Company is to Keep Dogs Safe, Comfortable During Holiday Festivities

   
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – June 18, 2008 – With the excitement and commotion of the annual Independence Day holiday approaching, Bark Busters, the world’s largest and most trusted dog training company, offers helpful tips for the estimated 44.8 million U.S. dog owners on how to keep their dogs safe and calm during July 4th festivities.

“Independence Day celebrations are great fun for people, but the loud noises and bright lights can be traumatic for dogs,” said Liam Crowe, CEO and Master Dog Behavioral Therapist of Bark Busters USA. “The explosions, excited voices and visual stimulation create confusion and fear.”

“Animal shelters report that the July 4th holiday brings record numbers of runaway dogs to their doors,” Crowe continued. “These dogs have been frightened and made frantic by fireworks. But by being aware and thinking ahead, we can keep our dogs as safe and comfortable as possible during Fourth of July revelry.”

Crowe offers the following tips for dog owners to prepare for Independence Day:
•    If you are going to a fireworks display, leave your dog at home where he will be safest and most comfortable.
•    Don’t leave dogs outside. If you cannot bring them inside, cover their outdoor crate or kennel with a blanket to offer them some protection from the bursts of bright lights and loud bangs. A dog’s sense of hearing is acute—over 10 times more sensitive than humans’.
•    Never leave your dog in the car. A partially opened window does not supply sufficient fresh air for him to breathe, and it creates an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
•    Keep your dog away from the front and back doors. Your dog may be under significant stress, which could result in unnecessary injury to others or cause him to dart out the door and become lost.
•    Create a special area or “den” in your home where your dog feels safe. A properly introduced crate or kennel can be a calming refuge for him.
•    Some dogs become destructive when frightened. If you don’t use a crate, be sure to remove items from the room that the dog could destroy or could hurt him if he chewed them.
•    Keep windows and curtains closed to reduce noise and bright flashes.
•    Turn on a TV or radio at normal volume to distract your dog from loud noises and help him to relax.
•    If possible, stay with your pet during the majority of the fireworks. A dog often reacts more intensely to loud sounds and flashes of lights when you are not with him.
•    Consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your dog while you are away from home.
•    Always keep proper identification securely fastened to your dog’s collar in case he gets out. Consider talking to your veterinarian about implanting a universal microchip in your pet, and make sure that your veterinary hospital and animal shelter have your correct contact information in their database.

“Independence Day is a time for fun and celebration,” Crowe said. “By taking these precautions, you and your pets can have a safe and happy holiday experience.”

Bark Busters dog behavioral therapists, such as Liam Crowe, are renowned authorities in understanding, correcting and managing dog behavior. Bark Busters’ natural training system can successfully train any dog, even a puppy, by leveraging the same communications methods—body language and voice control—that dogs follow as part of their instinctive pack mentality. All training takes place right in the home where the problems generally occur. In every market where Bark Busters is established, a majority of veterinarians familiar with the technique recommend the company’s services.

About Bark Busters:
Bark Busters, the world"s largest, most trusted dog training company, started in Australia in 1989 and came to the United States in 2000. Since inception, nearly 400,000 dogs have been trained worldwide using its dog-friendly, natural methods. With 250+ franchised offices in 42 states and more than 400 offices in 10 countries, Bark Busters is continuing its mission to build a global network of dog behavioral therapists to enhance responsible dog ownership and reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment and euthanasia of companion dogs. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers a written lifetime guarantee. SPCA International selected Bark Busters dog behavioral training services as the “Best of the Best” in its category. No other training company or dog trainer received such a distinction. To fetch a trainer in your area, call 1-877-500-BARK (2275) or visit www.BarkBusters.com, where dog owners can complete a Dog Behavioral Quiz to rate their dogs" behavior.

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