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4th of July

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Celebrating Independence Day with Your Pom

About Independence Day

Independence Day is the United States' celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This is when there was an official and legal separation of the 13 original colonies from Great Britain.

The 13 colonies were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia

It's interesting to note that it was actually on July 2nd that the Second Continental Congress voted to approve the Resolution of Independence. It was two days later that the Declaration of Independence, which was a more detailed explanation, was signed and approved.

Since 1776, we've been celebrating this national holiday with friends and family. Today, the most common practices for the holiday include parades, barbecues, fairs, and concerts; all held outside in the hot summer sun (as long as it's not raining!). And of course, fireworks.

Since many of these 4th of July elements affect our Poms, here you'll find super helpful tips for your puppy or dog to enjoy the holiday with you.

Pomeranians on the 4th of July

Kody Bear & Bella Mia, photo courtesy of Marilyn Wetter

Summer is a great season to enjoy doing things with your Pomeranian, and the 4th of July - a day of fun, food, and family, is certainly a highlight of that. But, many of the things that make the day special can be tricky to navigate when you have a canine family member.

Let's look at some of the obstacles, and what you can do to make the day a great one!

Common 4th of July Elements that Affect Poms

Can I give my Pom barbecue food?

A lot of holidays revolve around food, so you may be wondering if your Pom can indulge a bit during a cookout. In this regard, while some barbecue foods are safe for canines to eat, there's another aspect to think about...

It's very easy for habits to develop, and if you offer your Pom food other than his normal kibble and treats - even just one time - this can set up expectations.

A Pom may then refuse to eat his own food, or at the very least start begging each time the grill is fired up. And after all, who can blame them?

So, if you are going to offer your Pom some special 4th of July barbecue food, we'd suggest offering a few bites as a rewards, not for a meal. For this, you'll want to order a 'Sit' or other command first, and then offer a tasty treat.

This said, many barbecue foods are salty, fatty, or both, which can cause upset stomach. And others will either be toxic or dangerous.

Here's some cookout foods that a Pom can eat (in moderation):

Hot dogs (organic, low-sodium is best; give small pieces)
Hamburg (plain without condiments or cheese; the lower fat content the better)
Veggies (carrots, green beans, and potato are healthy and safe)
Many types of fruit (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, banana, mango, apple, and kiwi are all safe. Any cores are TOXIC and grapes and cherries are TOXIC).

Never give:

Any meat with bones (this includes ribs and chicken wings)
Anything from the known list of toxic foods including grapes, raisins, cherries, chocolate, caffeine, garlic, and macadamia nuts.

What to be careful about:

With the following foods, it all depends on the exact ingredients. If the dish is a simple one, it can be perfectly safe. You'll want to be sure to check that the recipe calls for NO onions or garlic. Steer clear of those made with Italian dressing. And while a large amount of mayonnaise can cause upset stomach, a bit that's mixed into a dish is just fine for a Pomeranian.

So, with caution to ingredients, a bit of the following is fine:

Potato salad
Pasta salad (if it contains sliced olives, these are safe for dogs)
Macaroni salad

Pomeranians & 4th of July Fireworks

Most dogs are terrified of fireworks, and for good reason.

The loud noise, the quick flashes of light, and burning smell of pyrotechnics assault a dog's senses.

Most dogs are terrified of fireworks, and for good reason. The loud noise, the quick flashes of light, and burning smell of pyrotechnics assault a dog's senses.

So, fear of fireworks, just like with thunderstorms, has nothing to do with a dog overreacting.

Of course, never try to take your Pom to see fireworks. But, sometimes it's impossible to avoid a dog hearing these, even from inside the home.

If this applies to you, here's some tips:

1. Check listings both in your town and neighboring towns to know in advance when fireworks will be going off so that you can be prepared.

2. A thunder vest can help; these work by offering a swaddling and compression method that can help calm a panicked dog. It can be hard to find a quality one in a small enough size; but, the ThunderShirt Polo Dog Anxiety Jacket is a very effective choice and it fits most Poms.

The extra-extra small fits puppies and dogs 7 lbs. and under. And the extra-small fits larger Poms 8 to 14 lbs.

3. If you don't have a thunder vest, you can try to swaddle your Pom in a small baby blanket.

4. If your Pom wants to dash away and hide, allow him to. Part of a dog panicking involves feeling vulnerable. If a dog is allowed to seek 'shelter', this can help him stay composed.

(continued below)

Tux, at 4 years old,

photo courtesy of Leandra

Taking a Pom to daytime 4th of July festivities

There's no shortage of parades, festivals, and fairs on the 4th of July. And maybe you're thinking about taking your Pom along... If so, that's great!

Experiencing different settings is an important part of socialization.

However, trying to walk a Pom through busy crowds can be overwhelming for the dog, not to mention that high levels of foot traffic can be dangerous for a small toy breed.

In addition, if it's hot out, this presents some obstacles as well. So, here's some great tips:

1. Always bring along water. A canine travel water container that serves as both the holder and the bowl can make this easy. Look for a stainless bottle base and pop a few ice cubes in the water to keep it cold.

2. If your Pom will be walking, be sure to have your puppy or dog on harness, and not collar. This is vital for many reasons; but, in a crowd this will allow you better control and the ability to reel your Pom to you quickly without risking injury.

3. If they'll be lots of walking or standing, and you're worried about your Pom tiring out and to solve the issue of crowds being both overwhelming and potentially dangerous, there's terrific carrying options.

This includes a sling bag that allows your Pom to see around, but be right by your hip nice and safe.

Or a sleek pet stroller that eliminates the need to walk and keep your dog shaded.

Below are our recommendations for the items just mentioned: a great water travel container, harness, sling, and stroller. If you do not see the images, try a refresh. And on mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all 4.

Outside in the sun - Staying cool

As long as it's not raining, most likely the plan is to spend a good portion of the day outside. And, of course, you'll want your Pom right there with you.

So if the temperatures are soaring, you'll want to take steps to help keep your Pom cool and comfortable. Here's some tips:

1. Don't shave your Pom. This breed can have a nice trim to tidy things up; but, if you shave the coat it may never be able to grow back again as it was meant to be. At any rate, though the coat is a very thick double coat, breezes moving through the coat provide some cooling relief, and the fur serves to block out some of the sun's rays which could otherwise cause sunburn.

2. Free the coat of dead hairs before a day spent outside. Use a quality de-shedding rake and the amount of dead hairs pulled out will amaze you. This can dramatically reduce the amount of fur that would have made a Pom feel hot.

Keep in mind that you'll be removing a LOT, but you won't be pulling out anything that's supposed to be there. The pile of fur that'll be thrown out are all dead hairs that were trapped in the coat and were contributing to making your Pom swelter in the hot summer heat.

3. Since the sun's rays can bounce off ground surfaces and hit your Pom's belly, you'll want to prevent sunburn if your Pom will be outside for the day. Apply some canine sunblock 20 minutes before heading out.

4. If you'll be in one spot, set up a kiddie pool. Many dogs love splashing in the water. Do be sure to set this up in the shade.

5. Use a cooling mat. These are portable and do not use cords, so they can be brought anywhere, are perfect to set up in the yard, and can also be used indoors. NOTE, that these will NOT feel cool to your touch. They do not emit cold. Rather, they work by drawing excess heat from a dog's body.

6. Or consider a raised cot. These allow for air flow under the body, which is a good method for helping a dog stay cooler.

Below are our recommendations for the items just mentioned: a great de-shedding rake sized small enough for cats & toy breeds, the only FDA compliant canine sun screen, a small cooling mat, and a raised bed that is appropriately sized for Poms.

If you do not see the images, try a refresh. And on mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all 4.

A Final Word

We wish you and your Pom a wonderful 4th of July. Do you have or will you be taking some cute 4th of July pics of your Pom? If the photo matches an Independence Day theme, we'd love to see them & add them to this page.

Email your Pom's 4th of July themed pics to us at Contact@PetPom.com with the subject line of '4th of July'. Be sure to let us know your Pom's name & age, and your name as you'd wish for it to appear (first, first & last, or family name).