How to cope with Fireworks this New Years Eve
Firework season can be a stressful time for dogs and their owners. The feeling of being unable to avoid the unpredictable noise can cause immense anxiety. Here are my tips for coping with your dog.
1. Walk your dog during daylight hours.Every year dogs escape their collars out of sheer terror and can end up lost or worse, hit by a car. Don’t take the risk, even if your dog isn’t scared of fireworks. All it takes is one loud bang close by and your dog can develop a phobia of fireworks.Make sure your dog is toileted before fireworks kick off.
2. Give your dog a large meal.This may help them sleep better and the additional energy may help their body cope with stress.
3. Give your dog lots to do.Long lasting chews,Kongs, Lickimats, Snufflemats, Treat Searches around the home.
4. Block out sound. Use brown noise, the radio, TV, meditation music, the round of rippling water (on youtube). I use ‘lectro fan speakers which play a variety of brown, white and pink noise. You tube has some great soundtracks you can play on your computer speakers, but these may not be loud enough.
5. Put the dishwasher and tumble dryer on. One great tip is to put old shoes in the tumble dryer so they clang around and mask the bangs outside.
6. Build your dog a den. Using a duvet and chairs, create a hidden safe place your dog can retreat to.
7. Let your dog hide. If they need to go under your bed, relax rules for a few days if you don’t normally let your dog upstairs. Allow them to find their place of safety. If this is their crate, do not close the door.
8. Reassure your dog if they seek it. Fear is an adaptive emotion, designed to motivate individuals to find safety. You cannot reinforce fear by reassuring your dog because at that point in time, they are not thinking about anything other than their survival. If reassuring your dog helps them feel safe-please give them a cuddle. If your dog does not want attention, leave them be.
9. Do not leave your dog alone. On the 5th of November and 31st December, do not leave your dog home alone.
10. Throw a party!
When ever your dog hears a bang, throw them some treats and do a happy voice. This may not help if you dog is terrified, but it may help dogs with lower levels of fear associate fireworks with good things.
11. Speak to your vet! If your dog is terrified, your vet may be happy to prescribe fast acting medication to help them relax. It’s better your dog is sleeping that in a highly stressed state.
Remember! Any dog of any age can develop sound sensitivities. In fact, sound sensitivities frequently develop in dogs aged 6-8 years of age. This is thought to be due to pain, where startling at sound hurts. However, dogs of any age can develop negative associations. If your dog is currently fine with fireworks, do not take this for granted and don’t take risks-such as walking them in the dark or letting them out into the garden to watch the fireworks.
