13/10/2022
Fire works
Preparation is key, often being scared by a random firework can create the fear of Fireworks.
From a behaviour point of view, many dogs can feel the impact of Fireworks even if they don’t seem to be phased by the noise, sometimes if they go on for a few days it can impact their sleep, which can have a impact on behaviour. A lot of dogs go missing around this time as well, therefore its important to be aware that our dogs may be more stressed than usual.
If you have a puppy or dog, that hasn't previously been bothered by fire works:
* Do something new with your dog, like a treasure hunt in a box (cardboard) with noisy items in it (cartons, paper, foil) and put treats in there, high value treats, do this 3/4 times over the next couple of weeks, and get out when you hear the fireworks so they have something rewarding to do. You could also create a new toy game of hiding toys, practice over next couple of weeks then play when we have fire works. Have a good chew they can chew on if they start to feel a little stressed.
If your puppy/dog is worried:
* Walk your dog early on in the day, and if they have a toilet regularly in the evening, maybe even think about bringing their food forward a little between now and next weekend when the displays start.
* If you have things you do (shut curtains, radio on etc) start to do this gradually now, so it’s not an indicator of fireworks as such. Have your TV up louder, radio on etc, our extractor fan above the oven is the best way to drown out noise for us.
* Speak to your vet about medication, for some dogs they need meds as it is traumatising for them.
* The Healthy Pet Store in Totton have a number of products that can help them to cope. Pet Remedy spray may help, for some it doesn't touch the sides, but others it does help.
* Build them a comfortable den now, in a safe space, if possible raised up off the ground as they can still feel the fire works. Put a radio near to them. If you do this now, then hopefully by the time firework night is here they will have a safe retreat. If they aren't interested, set it up and put treats in there every so often.If you walk your dog at night, change this now due to chemicals released if they go on a walk the same time each day, if you can walk them earlier, do some training and some nose work so they are more settled by the evening.
* Comfort them if they need you, if they want to be with you, on you then let them, you cannot reinforce fear, if they wish to be in a den hiding, then again I would let them.
* Thunder Shirts are great, as are T-Touch wraps for some dogs, again I would use them now though, not just when you hear fire works, or the sight of the thunder shirt could cause anxiety.
* If you are thinking about or are going to have fireworks this year, please advise your neighbours so they are able to prepare their animals, and for some even organise for them to be away from the home.
It's not until you witness a animal absolutely terrified of them, will you understand how awful it is for them, and once they have heard them, how little you can do. Imagine feeling like you are about to have a car accident, time and time again, that awful feeling that it makes you feel, where your heart beats so fast and you can't think straight, thats how the animals feel night after night. You cannot train them to be ok with fireworks, once they are scared, but can help them to feel more comfortable.
If you can imagine, our dogs often are ok with Fire Works, then one catches them off guard, their brain/body responds as it should and increases arousal, cortisol, adrenalin, then another bang goes off, and same happens again, and again. Then they get a chance to recover, however it can take up to 72 hours to reduce the cortisol, but what happens, they hear another bang the next night, they react the same, they are now scared, and another bang, which then confirms to their nervous system they were right to feel scared, next time something in the environment is similar then they can start to feel anxious again.
Gavins Trained Gundog spaniels, worked around guns all their lives, but were still scared of fireworks.
Animal lovers aren't against people having fun, just terrified they are going to lose their pets to a heart attack (which does happen).
If they have been stressed by Fire Works the night before, walk them on a long line or go somewhere familiar as they are a lot more likely to spook if they hear a bang for a couple of days after, lots of dogs go missing and there are a lot of behaviour changes as well.
