fireworks and dogs

babytiger

babytiger

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eileen
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Well its coming up to the time of year when we have fireworks for weeks on end and we have a wee JR that gets absolutely terrified(only the last 3-4years ***)
Does anyone else have pets that are also terrifed and how do you calm them down.We have tried leaving television on,cuddling her,nothing seems to work. Thanks to anyone that can help.
 
Rescue remedy worked for a friends dog, you can get it in boots, just use a drop or 2 on the tongue.
 
We have been told that if you put a lot of effort into reassuring them, it reinforces that they are exhibiting the right behaviour.
Speak to your vet and maybe get a DAP plug in, in the room the dog will be.
There are also products specifically for dogs you could try like :
http://www.oscars.co.uk/productselection.ikml?id=8&range=92#377

Our retriever is scared of fireworks. usually he isn't allowed on the furniture, but on scared nights we make him a sort of nest on the sofa and he settles. We try not to make too much fuss of him.

There are also tapes oyu can buy to try to desensitise pets to the noise - I guess they start quiet and you build up to louder? Again, our vet does these

L

L
 
Susie Thanks I may look into that for her.
 
Lois We have tried making her beds,she tends to go under the bed and gave her a duvet but she gets into such a state we're scared sh will have a heart attack. she's 15 now and it never used to bother her.but will look into some of the remedies you suggest thanks
 
My last dog was a Golden Retriever that loved watching the fireworks. Nothing bothered her at all.
I now have a Working Cocker. She was 11 months old on her first bonfire night and all went well. The following year was quite worried and has been ever since although last year she was a lot calmer. She's OK is shes indoors though. Now I try and get her out around 4pm and again around 10pm. Where we live theres no need to have her on a lead as she just runs into the woods behind the house. She can get a bit aggitated - but just until she picks up the scent of the deer or foxes then all is forgotten.
 
We have had two Westies, the first would just run around the garden barking at them

The second was terrified of fireworks and thunder storms.

We tried all sorts, DAP plugins from the vet, rescue remedy, etc. don't think we
ever found anything that really worked.

As she got to about 15 she started losing her hearing and it was only then she calmed down with them.
 
I just make sure I get her out early, although to be honest we have been caught out while walking and she has been fine. In the house though it has been as bad as her actually being sick.
Last couple of years it has been early nights, me and my Westie, curtains drawn, TV in the bedroom loud, i-tunes playing on the Laptop, through headphones under the duvet where pooch is nesting ( trembling ) under my legs. I don't really want to have to sedate her as I kind of think she may still hear things and be terrified but not be able to show it, at least I can be calm and re-assure her if I know she is worried.
 
There are valium type sedatives that stop them being able to react, and then more natural remedies - skullcap and valerian, rescue remedy etc that do not work in this way and may have a calming effect, but don't dull the dog's actual abilities to react, if that makes any sense whatsoever

L
 
Over the years we've had both extremes - a great big rangey Labrador who hated fireworks and went loopy on firework night (and new year, the indian holidays, the chap down the road's birthday etc etc!) and then a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who loved anything like that and would scratch at the window pleading to go out and watch! I used to take her along to a grasstrack racing meeting which had a big firework display at the end each year and she loved the whole thing!

I agree totally with the concept of not over-fussing - it simply encourages the dog to think that they must be right to be reacting as you're "upset" about it too....having said that it's easier said than done if you've got a seriously distressed animal. Bearing in mind the age of yours, I think you really need to seek your vet's help on this one. Good luck.
 
Mollie jumps a mile if I sneeze so loud bangs scare her to death and its not nice seeing her tremble with fear as Eileen says, she is getting on a bit
 
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