31/12/2024
Sharing again, due to New Years.
I am are on hand to help, and advise.
Together, we can get through this.
We'll be hunkering down after a long walk with pet remedy diffusers, lo-fi music blasting, safe spaces, full bellies.
It is, unfortunately, fireworks season, and for a lot of pets, and their owners, this can be an incredibly stressful time!
Here are some tips on how to best help you cope. This is primarily aimed at dogs, but may be of use to other pets within the home, too.
Create a safe space or a den for them.
Is there an area that you can create a den (remember building a fort as a kid?!) for them? Something covered, easy access, insulated from outside noise if possible, and in the quietest part of the home. Put their bedding, blankets, toys, and familiar items in there for them.
Stay with your dog in the home, and comfort them as much as possible! Stay with them after dark, sit with, and comfort them as much as possible. Just being together will give them an immeasurable amount of comfort.
Do walk them in the day, earlier than normal, as well as feeding them earlier, too.
Practice things that they are good at, and that they enjoy. This could be some tricks that they know, cues to behaviour. Keep the criteria easy to achieve and the rate of rewards high so everyone feels like a superhero!
Scent work! Scent work is a naturally calming, rewarding behaviour, and dogs love sniffing! Hide their biscuits or tasty morsels around the house for them to find, follow, and congratulate them on every piece they find.
You can also hide treats in sheets, towels, egg boxes, toilet rolls, cardboard boxes. If they shred the latter, that's fine, and this can help calm them.
If you have a smart TV, computer monitor, and speakers? Put on some music! Classical, gentle reggae, story time for dogs, experiment and see what your dogs like.
I am a big fan of Monterey bay aquarium, and they pair lo-fi beats to their aquatic organisms. Its a favourite of mine, and it helps calm my beloved, Maja, somewhat. Dogs can see hues of blue, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M5kukiPjMQ
DO check, and ensure that your property is secure, and escape proof. Check garden, fences, boundaries. Ensure there aren’t any ways to escape, and block them up if possible. Make sure entrances/exits are locked, and secure.
Take your dog out to do their business early!
Stay as calm as possible, and try not to react to the fireworks yourself. Dogs are incredibly perceptive and can sense if you're behaving unusually.
Give your dog a deeply satisfying chew, beforehand! Chewing is a natural, relaxing behaviour with a whole host of benefits.
Make sure that your dogs are microchipped and that their microchip details are up to date. For residents within, and local to Eynsham, I am happy to provide “The Nose Knows” identification tags, and to be an emergency point of contact!
Practice this routine so dogs see it as something normal, as opposed to unusual behaviour, and something to be alert about.
Speak to your vet about medication, and how this may help your dog.
Give your dog even more love than normal, and try to comfort them as much as possible.
In the event of an emergency, please call me. We will take your pet to an our of hours veterinary practice!
I am available via video call or in person to explain things in more detail, give ideas, suggestions, demonstrate, and practice with you.
We will get through this.
All the love in the world.
Maja, and I.
