My dog and fireworks

Any tips please, just found her hiding upstairs under the bed and the fireworks have not really started yet. Poor little thing is terrified every year.

 

With my dog it's a case of closing every curtain and turning the TV up - he usually sits between me and the missus on the sofa watching TV

 

Dog's Trust magazine Wag had a few tips.

*Build a den for your dog out of towels and blankets and start introducing her to it a few days before the 5th with treats inside.
*Don't ever try to coax your dog out from hiding. If she wants to hide then let her until she wants to come back out again. However, if she voluntarily comes to you then comfort her.
*Play other noises such as the TV to drown the noise out.

*In future years, train your dog to get used to it by playing firework sounds quietly and rewarding her for not reacting. Gradually increase the noise level. This needs to be done quite a while in advance though.

 

Yep - Brian is here at my feet suffering terribly as all hell has let loose close by.

We tried some sort of sedative last year - not sure it worked.

Trying to drown it out with loudish music is the best you can do.

 

Mine doesn't get scared he just barks like mad and thinks it's a game. Suppose that's good really.

 

I've put a few treats under, put dog calming music on off you tube and my little lad is sat with her.. Some good tips there thanks. Took her for a walk and she was trying to hide under parked cars, I definitely need to do something for her next year.

 

I managed to desensitise my dog to them. Sadly she died 3 years ago. It is a really difficult thing to do though.

 

There's training sounds and guidance on the Dog's Trust website here: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/dog-behaviour-health/sound-therapy-for-pets

You need to start it a good 3/4 months before Bonfire Night really. Other advice on there also says to try to do walks during daylight hours and feed her a large meal early so she'll get sleepy (and because she might be put off it later by being scared).

Give her a fuss from me

 

I think the Dog's Trust are great, but their dog training advice is very wishy washy. I understand they don't want to be seen as being cruel to dogs, from a PR point of view, but a dog needs discipline & love in equal measures. They don't do discipline. If you lead your dog it should be secure in walking through a battlefield of explosions at your side. It is hard to do, but it can be done.

 

I'm fortunate in that my dog isn't bothered by them at all. I've had dogs that were terrified by them but I never managed to overcome it. Good luck.

 

A few years ago we were advised to get an adaptil diffuser. It's rechargeable and gives off a scent which we can't detect but dogs can. We plug it in a week before Bonfire day and a week before News Year Eve and it works a treat. The year before we got it our dog was a quivering wreck and the following year he was ultra calm. https://www.adaptil.com/uk/Products/ADAPTIL-Calm-Home-Diffuser

 

Cannabis oil works like a treat bonfire night and new year

 

Yep - Brian is here at my feet suffering terribly as all hell has let loose close by.

We tried some sort of sedative last year - not sure it worked.

Trying to drown it out with loudish music is the best you can do.

What about the dog?

 

She been on my knee for the last few hours asleep all settled now and all quiet outside now. Only 3 more firework nights to go. Cheers. I do like bonfire night though loved it as a kid in the seventies eighties having a fire in the back garden burning everything we could find, all the relations round and pie and peas.

 

when I was younger I thought that maybe the point of keeping a dog may come to me with experience and wisdom.
I’m now middle aged, fat and still ugly and I can’t for the life in me see the point in keeping one.
They smell, they make your house and clothes smell and if you think yours is different then you have very polite friends and family.
As for dogs in pubs? They should be treated as the vermin they are and licensees should be fined accordingly.
Just my opinion like, oh and everyone else’s as you impose your shitcrackers on others.

 

go to bed

 

I'm also not a fan of pet dogs in houses as I find the smell and hair everywhere extremely unpleasant. But as long as it's not in my house I'm absolutely fine, and I fully understand that many people wouldn't ever be without their furry friends. They're just not for me.

As for pubs, I've got absolutely no problem with them allowing dogs in, especially if it's in an area just serving drinks. Can't see why it would bother anyone as long as the dog is well behaved.

 

Headphones and a dog-hatmask I would expect would sort it

 

Ours used to go upto lads bedroom and watch out of window with them