5 Star Crash Tested dog kennels, proven to save K9 lives. Shop Now.
Our highest rate product: the GUNNER Food Crate. Learn More.
The day after New Year's Eve is usually chaotic for animal shelters and humane societies across the country. With the fireworks and general shenanigans that go along with our national holiday there’s plenty of opportunities for dogs to get in harm’s way – and potential motivation for them to escape too.
Even if your K9 doesn’t necessarily have storm anxiety or noise sensitivity – and is conditioned to gunfire – they can still get stressed during the loud and haphazard noise of fireworks, the bright lights and the barrage of the boom-boom-boom.
Below are a few tips from our own experience to help prepare.
You are anticipating the fireworks, but a dog’s acute senses makes him that much more sensitive to the all-of-a-sudden, magnified sounds that come out of nowhere. Some fireworks produce strong odors that may also heighten that anxiety. Just be aware that if your dog is spooked, he’ll get a rush of adrenaline and stress hormones.
If you’ve crate trained your dog correctly, he should feel most secure in his den; that’s his safe place. Be sure he’s in his comfortable place, preferably in the middle of the house, to wait it out when instinct tells him to seek cover. Place it in a spot that is easily accessible and away from windows. Put their favorite toys and blankets inside. Drape towels or blankets over the kennel windows to enhance the “den setting.” The dog will eventually see it as a comfort zone to hunker down in the sounds hit.
This is really for the dog owner with a puppy, but exposing your dog to loud noises and recordings at an early age will oftentimes leave him unfazed the rest of his life. If it’s too late for that sometimes practicing with loud noises – gunshots, even recorded firework sounds – leading up to the holiday can lower his sensitivity. Make sure to associate a treat with those loud noises too, like food or a retrieve.
If you know your dog panics around loud sounds, thunder or fireworks, plan accordingly. Leaving them at home alone and not crated – especially outside – sets them up to try to escape, do damage to themselves, or to your home. If you have left the house, be sure the windows are closed. We also suggest turning the TV on loud, or placing a fan nearby, to provide a white noise effect and muffle the frightening noises.
Always look to the expert for the best advice. If your dog has had a severe reaction in the past they may recommend a mild sedative – and some people even use Melatonin or Benadryl (though, fair warning: they do have the reverse effect on some dogs).
Things happen; your dog runs away because he’s scared, or even goes off looking for the mark. Follow the old Boy Scout motto so that if the worse happens, you can find him. If he’s not already chipped, at least make sure you’ve got updated ID tags secured to the collar.
Dogs feed off of your emotional state and he’ll be looking to you for reassurance that there is no real danger. Understand that he needs that from you – and simple things like giving a reward, or exercising him for a bit, can help.
PROGRAMS
Affiliate Program Military, LE & First Responders Content Creators Breeders & Trainers Program5207 Linbar Drive, Suite 704 | Nashville, TN 37211 | info@gunner.com.
© Edmonds Outdoors, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Terms Patents
ADDED. COMPLETE YOUR SETUP
PERSONALIZED KENNEL NAME PLATE
ADDED. COMPLETE YOUR SETUP
FOOD CRATE NAME PLATE
ADD TO COMPLETE YOUR SETUP
FOOD CRATE NAME PLATE
Looking for your previous results?
Sign in to view saved Fit recommendations
Interior | Exterior | Empty Weight | |
---|---|---|---|
G1™ SMALL | 21.75" (L - Floor) x 14.5" (W - Floor) x 15.5" (H) / 16.5" (W) at kennel's widest interior point | 24.5" (L) x 18.625" (W) x 19" (H) / 20.5" (H) with carry handles | 27 lb. |
G1™ MEDIUM | 25" (L - Floor) x 18" (W - Floor) x 19.75" (H) / 19" (W) at kennel's widest interior point | 29.5" (L) x 20.5" (W) x 23.5" (H) / 25" (H) with carry handles | 38 lb. |
G1™ INTERMEDIATE | 30" (L - Floor) x 18" (W - Floor) x 25" (H) / 19" (W) at kennel's widest interior point | 34" (L) x 23" (W) x 28.5" (H) / 30" (H) with carry handles | 48 lb. |
G1™ LARGE | 33.25" (L - Floor) x 21" (W - Floor) x 29" (H) / 23" (W) at kennel's widest interior point | 40.25" (L) x 28" (W) x 33.25" (H) / 34.5" (H) with carry handles | 72 lb. |
EXTERIOR
|INTERIOR
INTERIOR: 21.75" (L - Floor) x 14.5" (W - Floor) x 15.5" (H) / 16.5" (W) at kennel's widest interior point
EXTERIOR: 24.5" (L) x 18.625" (W) x 19" (H) / 20.5" (H) with carry handles
EMPTY WEIGHT: 27 lb.
EXTERIOR
|INTERIOR
INTERIOR: 25" (L - Floor) x 18" (W - Floor) x 19.75" (H) / 19" (W) at kennel's widest interior point
EXTERIOR: 29.5" (L) x 20.5" (W) x 23.5" (H) / 25" (H) with carry handles
EMPTY WEIGHT: 38 lb.
EXTERIOR
|INTERIOR
INTERIOR: 30" (L - Floor) x 18" (W - Floor) x 25" (H) / 19" (W) at kennel's widest interior point
EXTERIOR: 34" (L) x 23" (W) x 28.5" (H) / 30" (H) with carry handles
EMPTY WEIGHT: 48 lb.
EXTERIOR
|INTERIOR
INTERIOR: 33.25" (L - Floor) x 21" (W - Floor) x 29" (H) / 23" (W) at kennel's widest interior point
EXTERIOR: 40.25" (L) x 28" (W) x 33.25" (H) / 34.5" (H) with carry handles
EMPTY WEIGHT: 72 lb.
Sign in to save your recommendation
Your result has been saved! You need to be logged in to your account to see your saved recommendations
Your returned results have been sent to our Customer Experience team. We'll be in touch as soon as possible to talk through your fit recommendation.
Your request has been sent to our Customer Experience team. We'll be in touch as soon as possible to talk through your fit recommendation.
You will need a soft measuring tape, your dog, and 2 minutes to find your perfect fit.
Tip: If you don't have a soft measuring tape, use a piece of string or a leash then compare.
Measure from base of tail to end of nose, keeping the tape along the spine.
Still need help measuring? Watch our video here.
Still need help measuring? Watch our video here.
GUNNER is the original 5 Star Crash Tested kennel, per the Center For Pet Safety. We created this crate specifically for transportation and that factors into our fit recommendations. In the best interest of your dog, we advise a snug fit for safe travel. If choosing the GUNNER crate for home kenneling, simply slide the toggle above to the right to see the best size.
When primarily used for travel, we always recommend a tight fit in the GUNNER kennel. This protects the dog in the case of an accident: the less wasted interior space the better. Think about it like this – if you’re hitting the brakes too hard, or get into a wreck, you’d rather that your dog have less room to move around inside the kennel. Many customers have also found that their dog feels more secure when traveling in a tighter area too.
For further explanation on this point, let Seth Bynum, a Veterinarian, break it down for you.
For further explanation on this point, let Seth Bynum, a Veterinarian, break it down for you.
Check out the below visual. When the door is closed, the proper fit for safe travel could mean that your dog:
• Is curled
• Paws are tucked
• Rump/tail is resting against the back
Here’s another look for how your dog might look in a crate sized for safe travel, when the door is open:
Dog Name
Dog Name
Dog Name