15/10/2024
Great advice. 🥰
Fireworks season will soon be upon us.
If you have a dog who is afraid of fireworks there are lots of things you can do to help.
It will soon be a little late to desensitise in time for this fireworks season but there's still plenty you can do to support your dog this time round and then put a plan in place to start training your dog to be able to cope.
I thought I should share Indy's story to help those of you with sensitive or nervous dogs.
It started in May 2014 when she turned just 2, her world fell apart in a matter of weeks, I describe it best as a kind of doggy breakdown.
After being attacked by an off lead, out of control dog, she developed so many fears, and, to be honest I thought I had lost my confident young dog forever. In fact, a few trainers told me she would never work on a shoot and probably never be ok around other dogs. One even told me she would have no quality of life.
Isn't it a good job I didn't listen and decided to work with the dog in front of me to help change her perspective on life.
The symptoms of her breakdown were that over a few weeks following the attack she developed severe sound phobias (including clapping, car doors, air brakes, dogs barking, fireworks, gunshot - anything loud and sudden) She wouldn't walk anywhere without jumping at sounds, cowering, shaking and freezing, she became increasingly nervous of dogs, especially small ones, and became reactive, showing increasing aggression as a result. She also became wary of people, and would bark at people she didn't know. It was horrific. She basically shut down.
I was at a loss, I was sad, and, felt as though I had let her down. I enlisted the help of our now very good friend Robert Alleyne a fantastic behavioural trainer (and it was he who told John and I we should train dogs full time and become behavioural trainers - but that's another story)
We had to help her to relearn how to listen to me, trust me, and interact appropriately.
How did we achieve this? A holistic approach to training and leadership...
Through a combination of a very thorough training program which started in the home, ensuring Indy was listening to me, finding an effective reward, rehabilitation, proofing the training, and, other supporting factors including Tellington Ttouch, body wraps, cranial treatment, and, desensitisation we successfully turned Indy around.
It took around 1 year - 18 months to get her to what I would class as some kind of normality, but, we enjoyed lot's of little wins along the way.
Indy passed away in July 2024 at 12 years old. From her rehabilitation to the end of her life she enjoyed walks with our friends and their dogs, and training with other dogs.
During her life she was a demo dog, she appeared in adverts and promotional films, she sat next to a shotgun and picked up on a variety of shoots, she even competed in, and was placed at charity working tests. She also passed her KC working gundog certificate.
Every dog is different. I am not saying it was easy (it wasn't) but it was definitely worth it. Every day I feel grateful for Indy and what she taught me.
Factors which could contribute to your dog being fearful of fireworks include pain, trauma, general sound sensitivity, association.
If your dog is fearful of fireworks there is plenty you can do to support your dog during firework season, but, better still, why not make a plan to desensitise and train your dog to cope better in the future. I'm not saying every dog can be miraculously cured but most dogs can be improved or at the very least be supported to be able to cope better.
Every dog is different and may need a slightly different programme which may include desensitisation, effective reward, rehabilitation, proofing the training, and, other supporting factors like sound therapy discs, phone Apps, Tellington Ttouch, body wraps, thunder shirts, cranial treatment, bachs flower remedies, homeopathic remedies, pet rescue remedy to name a few. You may need to make minor lifestyle changes to support your dog, and, do create a safe place where your dog can settle.
I'd recommend always speaking to your vet before using alternative therapies or homeopathic remedies and seeking the advice of a trainer or behaviourist to help.
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