Victoria Day activities for you and your pets

It’s Victoria Day! We hope you are ready for a day filled with fun and we have a few suggestions on how you can include your furry friends! Here are a few activities you can do with your family and companion animals today. 

Activities to do this Victoria Day 

Make some homemade treats for your furry friend 

There are lots of great recipes you can find online for whatever type of furry friend you have at home. Here are some of our favourites! 

DIY Pet Treats: Apple Peanut Butter Balls 

DIY Pet Treats: Frozen PB & Banana 

Teach your companion animal some new tricks! 

Did you know, it isn’t just dogs who can be trained to learn tricks? Cats and rabbits can be trained for certain behaviours, too. 

Check out some training tips on our YouTube Channel. 

Fireworks? Tips to keep your pets comfortable 

If people in your neighbourhood are setting off fireworks, it’s important for you to know how to keep your furry friend comfortable and happy. Read our blog on Fireworks for the anxious doggo. 

Small pets 

Small animals (e.g., hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, mice and birds) tend to frighten easily around loud noises. Here are some steps you can take to help them feel more at ease: 

• If you’re concerned about noise, you can move your animal’s cage or hutch to an area of the house that’s quieter (e.g., the garage or basement). 
• Rodents tend to burrow when they’re frightened, so make sure you provide extra bedding. 

• Cover your birdcage or hutch with a blanket or towel to dampen the noise and to block out some of the bright lights. 

Dogs and cats 

• Keep your furry friend indoors during firework displays. Make sure to close windows and pet doors leading outside. Startled animals will seek a place to hide. That means if your cat or dog manages to get outside, it can be very easy to lose them. Being inside the house will also help dampen any loud noises. 
• Make sure your animal is wearing his or her collar and ID tags. Microchipping is also recommended to help increase the chances of being reunited with your furry friend if they become lost.  
• Walk your dog before it gets dark to avoid going outside once the fireworks start. 

• Have a safe place for your companion animal to feel at ease, like a crate or other den-like enclosure. 
• You can block out some of the flashing lights by keeping curtains closed and by placing a blanket over your animal’s crate. 
• Your furry friend may pace around, make noise or search for a place to hide. Let your animal be—trying to coddle or comfort them will indicate that something is wrong and add to your animal’s anxiety. By staying calm and relaxed, you’ll help reassure your furry friend that there’s no real danger.