The dog will know that you are there if you are there! Reassurance that you are there may only be misinterpreted as confirmation that there is indeed something very scary about fireworks. It is very important to act in a perfectly normal way and go about your business as usual. Dogs pick up on our feelings so easily, and by remaining completely oblivious of the bangs and whizzes may sound harsh, but it does work.

I think because I like fireworks and have always encouraged the dogs to enjoy them too we have never had any issues. Of course certain breeds do seem to be more intolerant of them than others.

We start lab pups out with music playing and wind chimes just so they learn to ignore louder noise . But when I have a pup I'm going to train for retrieving . I start by a few loud claps at feeding time and move up to a 22 blank at a distance and get closer depending on pups reaction. The dog learns to associate the loud noise with some thing good. I have 1 lab that chases thunder she loves a storm so much that if it storms more than 12 hours we have to kennel her. No one tought her that although I love a good thunderstorm myself don't underestimate your dog reacting to your actions