Fireworks and my dog.

[Keith 66]

Of the three dogs i have had, No 1 a lurcher x was petrified of fireworks & thunderstorms & also gunfire, first time he heard a 12 bore was walking past the farm & a lad let his gun off, that was it dog ran home in terror across a main road. I took him shooting starting with an air pistol knocking plastic bottles of a fence post (he was partial to crunching them), went up to an air rifle & plugged a few bunnies & he thought "This is a bit of alright!", moved up to the .410 & not so keen but then one day the pigeons were pouring in up the farm so off we went with the 12 bore, I tied him up so he couldnt run, first shot he wasnt impressed but second shot dropped an incomer that fell a few feet in front of the hide. After that he was cured of being gunshy. Never cured him of fireworks & thunderstorms though!
Second dog a smooth border collie was the best gundog i ever had, He loved fireworks & would go mad with excitement wanting to go out & rush round the garden barking at them.
Current dog isnt keen but not as bad as the first.

 

[Ton-up]

We got a new rescue collie 6 weeks ago, he's really nervous, scared of everything, so we are dreading fireworks starting. Our Jack Russell doesn't like them either, she wont go for a walk in the dark for about three weeks after the fireworks stop.
In contrast I had a collie/lab cross and firework night was the highlight of his year, barking and running up and down, he'd stay in the garden all evening and come in knackered..

 

[mark roberts]

Our dog is petrified of them and will shove himself into any small space to escape. Wont go out to relieve himself. Last year we tried a mild sedative which we gave him on the run up to bonfire night. We also got a scarf and wrapped it around him quite snugly which seemed to calm him. I dont understand the need for the really loud fireworks at the towns display.

 

[Ubique]

About this same here mate.

It's spoiling my puppy dogs little life at the moment.

---------

Also not sure of the course of action to take?

Do we acknowledge the dogs fear - let it up on your lap and give it a hug and console it (this may make it worse in the long game)?

Or do we ignore the behavoir and just pretend it is normal and hope she becomes accustomed to it?

As I said in my first post - this is new ground for us - all previous dogs we have had - have been OK with fireworks.

Reassurance makes it less stressful - but be careful to not reward, a bloke I used to work with had terrible trouble with his Great Dane when he decided to try and distract the dog from fireworks by giving it a bone to gnaw on, the dog learned that if he paced around drooling, he'd get a bone....

They do look to the pack leader(s) for guidance, if you're getting stressed (at them being stressed), it can amplify their anxiety.

 

[Blobber]

Out of our 7 1/2 half dogs only one is bothered about fireworks, as above you need to show there is nothing to be afraid of so do not make a fuss, act as everything is normal, we make sure there is sound in the rooms the dog goes in so TV on in the lounge, radio on in the kitchen
If you go on the Dogs trust website there are desensitization sounds you can play, mainly aimed at young pups but can work for older dogs, not a quick fix for the oldies but seems to have worked for all the litters weve had over the years

 

[Robotstar5]

Round here we can get them from mid-day onwards, can't see anything due to daylight so it must be just the bangs they want to hear

 

[brightspark]

The knuckle scraping Neanderthals around here have been at it for over a month, seems every other night at the moment. Scant regard for livestock and pets.

Bob

they shouldnt be allowed to sell fireworks till a few days before bonfire night they never used to

 

[Morris]

they shouldnt be allowed to sell fireworks till a few days before bonfire night they never used to

FTFY

 

[fizzy]

This still makes me laugh - could have ended up badly though.

Little dogs always have the biggest attitudes. Our Jack Russells loved fireworks night.
They also loved the petrol lawnmower. Would wait patiently until the engine was running - then bite the wheels when it started moving. Henry was also fair game.
Our cocker Spaniel used to love gunshots - even the tanks firing at Castle Martin. But a little spit noise from the coal fire and she was hiding behind the settee

 

[Ubique]

they shouldnt be allowed to sell fireworks till a few days before bonfire night they never used to

A few years ago, 2008 or 9 I think, some young snots thought it'd be great fun to fire a few fireworks into and over Hedley Court on two consecutive nights in late October, on the third night, some 'Regiment' lads were securing the perimeter... IIRC the young snots decided to walk into a Civ. Police station and confess, where predictably, no action was taken.

 

[premmington]

Reassurance makes it less stressful - but be careful to not reward, a bloke I used to work with had terrible trouble with his Great Dane when he decided to try and distract the dog from fireworks by giving it a bone to gnaw on, the dog learned that if he paced around drooling, he'd get a bone....

They do look to the pack leader(s) for guidance, if you're getting stressed (at them being stressed), it can amplify their anxiety.

So... The sugested mantra is:

"be calm and the dog will (might) be calm"...?

 

[roofman]

Seeing this is the last Halloween we will be in this house, I am toying with really pusing the boat out with this years treats. Home made delicacy’s…. What could be better than toffee apples made with onions and Brussels sprouts dipped in chocolates….Should be memorable

Trick or treat?

Just need to put up the new doorbell…

View attachment 421959

love it

 

[Ubique]

So... The sugested mantra is:

"be calm and the dog will (might) be calm"...?

Yes, but also reassure, just not with treats

 

[premmington]

Yes, but also reassure, just not with treats

I'm a soft touch for the feral yard cats at the workshop and the dogs at home...

They just "work on me" for what they can get...

 

[arther dailey]

Of the three dogs i have had, No 1 a lurcher x was petrified of fireworks & thunderstorms & also gunfire, first time he heard a 12 bore was walking past the farm & a lad let his gun off, that was it dog ran home in terror across a main road. I took him shooting starting with an air pistol knocking plastic bottles of a fence post (he was partial to crunching them), went up to an air rifle & plugged a few bunnies & he thought "This is a bit of alright!", moved up to the .410 & not so keen but then one day the pigeons were pouring in up the farm so off we went with the 12 bore, I tied him up so he couldnt run, first shot he wasnt impressed but second shot dropped an incomer that fell a few feet in front of the hide. After that he was cured of being gunshy. Never cured him of fireworks & thunderstorms though!
Second dog a smooth border collie was the best gundog i ever had, He loved fireworks & would go mad with excitement wanting to go out & rush round the garden barking at them.
Current dog isnt keen but not as bad as the first.

strange eh, they like the 12 bore and unfazed yet a distant fire work has them shaking and terrified ,hate seeing them like this.

 

[northwest]

as above you need to show there is nothing to be afraid of so do not make a fuss, act as everything is normal, we make sure there is sound in the rooms the dog goes in so TV on in the lounge, radio on in the kitchen

This is our approach, the Westie used to be terrified of them but he is deaf now so as was mentioned Cloud and Silver Lining at play here. George the Afghan doesn't know so he just goes along with whatever we do and we just ignore them and he is fine, the Black lump doesn't care as it is all beneath him so we are good. Didn't used to be like this though, my Irish Water Spaniel was terrified of them and we found a very tight fitting dog coat worked wonders.

 

[mtt.tr]

Our ex military springer who has done two tours and was nearby when an ied went off used to be really bothered by fireworks, lightning and thunder.

We draw the curtains and he sits on the sofa with us also only time he get to sleep on the bed.


But 5 years on he's not that phased anymore

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Gingie our last cat would always want to be outside when the fireworks were going off. In the beginning we used to lock him in ....then we realised he didn't give a stuff...reckon he enjoyed being out there!

He was a nutter though...neighbour told us the foxes were stalking him...in reality he'd worked out when the food waste was being put out and would lay in wait for the poor foxes...it was his regular routine .

 

[Keithmac]

Unfortunately thick people with no money enjoy setting expensive fireworks off, can't afford to feed their kids but can afford a box or two of fireworks it seems..

My eldest lab wasn't bothered at all until one night when she went out for wee a commercial firework went off, shook the house and she ended up hiding down the bottom of the garden, I had to carry her in as she was petrified.

That's been it for her now, 4 years later she's still nervous when the scrotes start letting them off..

Youngest lab doesn't bat an eyelid..

 

[brightspark]

theres a 1st hardly any fireworks last nite and tonight neither looks like the dogs going for his run shortly