Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:17 pm Post subject: Fireworks!!
The silly season is almost upon us
Sadly it's already started where I live with the kids playing with them in the street
This will be Fidgits 2nd firework night although she would have only been 2 weeks old at that time last year.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me getting her through this without her turning into a gibbering wreck like my previous pooch used to be.
At the moment the bangs outside are loud but fairly infrequent (2-3 a night). She jumps a little when they go off and out of the corner of my eye I can see her looking to me for reassurance. At the moment I'm ignoring her but I can see she's not too happy about the bangs and as you can imagine I'm feeling bad about ignoring her when I can see she's not happy.
Am I doing the right thing? Plus I'm kinda worried that if she's jumping now with the odd one, how will she react on the night (s) ahead when they are more frequent?
All advice on this one most appreciated. I realise what I do now will affect how she is from now on so I'd like to get it right now if possible.
I have been lucky that my dogs are not scared of them, when they were pups I took them outside on Fireworks nights and played with them and since then they have been fine.
However, my mum's dogs are all scared, to the extent that they hide behind the settee and start digging up the carpet. So she uses the DAP plug in, you put it on for two weeks leading upto fireworks night, and these seems to help them a lot.
I bought the CD with loads of loud noises on, including fireworks and i've been playing it to Alfie but i'm not sure how helpful it'll be for him. Last year it sounded like we had a huge firwork display next door which went on for over 2 hours there wasn't even a break inbetween them so i could let Alfie out for a wee, everytime he went out, a firework would go off and he'd run back in
Sherpa was always upset by fireworks too... ..he would hide and pant and drool and then pace about the place trying to find a safe spot to hide it would seem..
I did use a D.A.P diffuser and i'm sure that did help..BUT i'm totally sold on Bach flower rescue remedy ... I couldn't believe the difference it made to Sherps he's still aware of the bangs but is so much calmer ..no pacing/panting or drooling...he 's so much more settled.. it's safe to use not expensive and if it works for Fidget you'll be over the moon honestly
I was also told not to react or fuss over him..make it appear as normal an event as every other day without fireworks .. so i give myself a couple of drops of the rescue remedy too so that i'm chilled
I am soooooo lucky both my dogs were 'shot over' as puppies and are not 'bang' shy. They dont take much notice of the other noises either. I started playing out in the garden and lots of high praise noises when they didnt react to the firework noise and treats and games. Willow will bark at the 'lights in the sky sometimes - but its more a 'look at the pretty lights Mum' rather than 'fear'.
Sparky was reported to the police as missing on one occassion- we eventually found him behind the TV- never thought he would be able to get there so never looked. As I said I am so lucky with my current two.
I do however pick my walking times with care to avoid the young Hoolies who like to throw bangers at people and think its funny to hear the dogs howling.
Although Baxter was only about 12 weeks old last year, he was bit concerned about the bangs when he was indoors.
We completely ignored him, and then took him outside to play footie in the garden (in the dark!). We found he didn't give a monkeys if he was outside - too much else to do!
He's the same with storms - he's not really bothered, just looks round for reassurance every now and again (which we ignore so he sees we're not bothered by it) but ignores it completely if he's outside!
Ruby was teeny last year too and wasnt that bothered she did run in when one happened unexpectedly though. We live abotu 5 miles from an RAF base and the planes go over really really low and they are deafening and when outside Ruby doesnt bat an eyelid anymore (even though I sometimes flinch at how low they are) so I am hoping this constant noise will have sound proofed her. Mind you knowing my Rubes I think I may get in some rescue remedy - off to google it now.
oohhh just bought some - ON EBAY - is there anything you cant get on there? Whats the doggie dosage Tizia anyone? It looks fab I might take it myself pmsl hehehehe
Leo absolutely loves the fireworks.
Last year I took him to the firework display and he just sat and watched it in awe.
Even a few days afterwards, when kids were still setting fireworks off, Leo was up at the window looking out, noseying to see what was going on. lol
This year again i plan to take him to the park and i'm sure again he'll really enjoy himself.
Although my OH's dog hates them. He tries to cuddle up to you when he hears them.... Although i always tell my OH not to baby him or give him attention as this can make matters worse. Best just to ignore them and go about your routine. Showing them that nothings wrong.
But i know some dogs can take it extremely bad. When i lived with my parents, one of our dogs which we had was absolutely petrified of Fireworks. It would soil all over the house and cower and whine and cry everytime she heard a firework being let off. It was very traumatic for her.
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there wasn't even a break inbetween them so i could let Alfie out for a wee, everytime he went out, a firework would go off and he'd run back in 
