To help pet owners navigate the challenges of summer festivities, Rover and Varsity Tutors are hosting a free virtual class on pet safety. The event, titled “Rover Presents: Dogs, Fireworks, & Summer Safety,” is scheduled for Thursday, June 27.
Nicole Ellis, a certified professional dog trainer, member of Rover’s Dog People Panel, and co-author of “Working Like a Dog,” will lead the class. Ellis, who is based in Pasadena and has appeared on The Today Show and NBC, aims to address crucial summer safety topics for pets.
“There’s so much education that can be told around dog safety,” Ellis said. “We love that Varsity Tutors is an online tutoring platform, and through that we can offer this free class so anybody can join it.”
The class will cover a range of topics, including sound desensitization techniques for fireworks, anxiety alleviation products, and training tips to prepare dogs for the Fourth of July. Ellis will also discuss swimming and BBQ safety, hot pavement concerns, and other summer-related issues.
“We’re going to be going through training tips that you can do in those days leading up to 4th of July, tips for around your house, tips you can implement during the fireworks as they’re occurring to help your dogs feel safe,” Ellis explained.
According to studies, more pets run away on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year due to noise phobia from fireworks.
Ellis plans to share strategies for mental enrichment, such as using wiki mats and stuffing cones, to tire out dogs before the celebrations. She will also demonstrate how to comfort dogs using methods like thunder jackets or homemade alternatives.
While the focus is primarily on dogs, Ellis confirmed that many of the tips can be applied to cats as well. “We’re going to go over some kitty tips as well. So they definitely can be noise phobic and a lot of this can be implemented with them,” she said.
Ellis said she will also address various stress-inducing situations beyond fireworks. The class will cover often-overlooked signs of stress in pets. She added that a normally treat-loving dog refusing food, excessive panting indoors at night, clinginess, restlessness, sudden alertness, looking around, glancing, and showing the whites of their eyes are all potential indicators of stress.
It’s important to address these signs, she said, noting that stress can lead to destructive behavior, escape attempts, and physical symptoms like diarrhea.
The trainer recommended several products to help manage pet anxiety, including pheromone sprays and plugins, calming jackets, and CBD products. For severe cases, Ellis suggested consulting a veterinarian about stronger anxiety medications.
Those unable to attend the live session can access a recording of the class through the same link afterwards.
For more information, visit https://www.varsitytutors.com/courses/star-rover-2/dp/c6d67963-6fe3-4479-a47b-2d833bda174b.
