18/10/2024
Fireworks - the bane of anyones life who lives with a fearful 4 legged companion.
🥳Myth!
Showing kindness or giving your dog attention will reinforce fear (suggesting they will show fear for affection in future)
What a load of tosh! So your pal hates spiders, you give her a hug but she finds the hug so reinforcing, she goes around looking for spiders in future, just so she can get another hug? Erm, no, emotions cant be turned on and off like that, or we would all be able to feel happy all of the time, right?
🥳Myth!
Make a den and put the dog in surrounded by covers
Domestic dogs are not den animals, and if you put them in a crate/pen/den where they feel they cannot escape from (fight or flight) then they will stress even more! Let them move around as they need. If needed, close doors to rooms where they could get stuck. Close the curtains instead.
🥳Myth!
Classical music is calming for dogs. Maybe for some, but unless the music has an association then it wont do what you expect.
We listen to music and can marry it up with a time, place, event or person and it brings back memories and therefore emotions... when did your dog last enjoy Madame Butterfly as a birthday outing with good friends and a lovely meal to reminisce on?
Taiko Drums are a better option as they can drown out some of the bangs with their irregularities.
🥳Myth!
Your dog is only afraid of fireworks when they happen, so they are being stubborn not wanting to go their walk in the dark in the days that follow.
Dogs live by associations and sadly, with fireworks comes smells, sounds and yes, dark nights. So for your dog, the dark can be a predictor of those scary noises/smells. Don't walk in the dark around firework busy times (i know thats hard to predict), and learn some new tricks or do some magic scentwork or sniffing games instead.
🐾🐾🐩🐾🐾
Please start thinking about getting help with firework phobias now, even if your dog is ok, do some prep - its worth it.
Drop me an email if you want to chat, I have had a dog previously who was petrified of them, and made the association with the washing machine on spin cycle - so I know how stressful it is for all the family when your dog can't settle like usual.
And please don't leave your dog home alone while you have your own display in the back garden!
Photo credit: macrovector for freepik
