Fireworks frighten dogs
Protect your dog inside
Keep your dog inside because more dogs go missing on the 4th of July than any other day of the year.
Watch out for dogs running away from the sound of fireworks.
Tips for keeping your dog calm during loud noises
“In response to a question about thunderstorm anxiety, in his June 24, 2008, column, well-known veterinarian Michael Fox suggests, “Wrapping a dog quite tightly in a thin towel or small blanket can do miracles, giving anxious dogs a feeling of security. Cut an old cotton sheet and get your dog used to being wrapped around the torso like a mummy. This action can help many dogs cope with thunderstorms and fireworks.” Why I Hate Fireworks by All-Creatures.org
Read more: http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/hate-fireworks/#ixzz36WvnOhH6
Calm your dog all year
“University of Washington psychologist James Ha, a specialist in animal behavior, has several suggestions, each with its own set of pros and cons.
Ha, an associate professor with a side business as an animal behavior consultant, says there are three main ways to handle noise phobias: management, treatment and drugs.”
For readers who live with worried or scared dogs, read more on Science Daily Calming Your Dog’s Anxiety
By Deborah Taylor-French on Dog Leader Mysteries
What works to calm your dog?
Please share any tips with my readers.
Nature by Dawn says
Luckily Maya and Pierson are not afraid of fireworks… so long as they are inside. I think it would be a different story if they were outside.
Rosee Riggs says
My dogs don’t like fireworks, understandably, but they have learnt not to panic when they hear them. The same applies, by the way, to thunder.
My dogs stay alert but they are calm. I achieved this through building up a relationship based on trust and support. For several years, I would lead them through the streets to do their business well before midnight, even though there still were scattered fireworks. (I live in Vienna, Austria, and we have fireworks in New Year’s Eve.)
Recently, though, people – mostly children- have taken to throwing fireworks out of the windows onto people in the city. This is of course very dangerous and I would never ask my dogs to trust me if I could not guarantee the outcome.
So I moved house where we have a garden and I spend New Year’s Eve in the country. Nevetheless, they can still hear fireworks from afar. I just carry on my business calmly and my dogs usually come to sit at my feet under the table. One of them usually chooses to sit on my lap. I tell them everything’s alright: I have heard the fireworks too and they are not coming inside. Acknowledging that I have heard them helps a lot. I believe that it is a dilemma for dogs that they hear and see more acutely than we do but can not always rely on our noticing things as clearly or reacting appropriately.
I have never used thundershirts or medication or any other kind of help. The most important thing is that I have built up a close relationship with my dogs over time based on respectful and clear communication. In other words, they know 100% they can rely on me to protect them.
cdog5 says
Excellent advice which I’m taking today for our crew. Have a safe and happy holiday!
dogleadermysteries says
Yes, inside is far better.
Most of my dogs have shuttered with each boom, I wish I had known some of the methods in this post to help them.
dogleadermysteries says
Fantastic comment Rosee, thanks so much.
Yes, dogs need a solid relationship with a calm caregiver. Plus the fact that you know you must be consistent, and not allow your dogs to become hurt or injured built incrediable trust. Do continue to check back and leave notes for us.
dogleadermysteries says
Thanks Debbie, I am sure your dogs are in great hands. So far, neighbors have restrainted themselves (personal fireworks are illegal here) but allowed in a close neighboring city.
We expect some terrific booming around 9:45 PM. The usually wake us up, so our rabbit and dog won’t sleep either.
Rosee Riggs says
thank you, Deborah, I’m looking forward to checking back soon!