[bradleysmum]

Hi,

As fireworks night is approaching, (and indeed the whole fireworks 'week') i've been thinking about how our labs will react to all the noise, especially if they're young pup's and haven't heard fireworks yet. Perhaps some of the experienced lab owners on the site could tell us some helpful tips on how to go about making sure our labs don't get scared by all the loud bangs..we would be very grateful - thanks.

P.S How do your lab's get on with fireworks night?

Have found a few tips in the meantime, everyone elses welcome of course. :wink:

- The safest and kindest thing by far, is to leave your dog safely inside the house with a television or radio playing to drown out the noise.

- Close all windows and curtains.

- Exercise your dog during the day. & never walk your dog while fireworks are being let off.

- Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and tag and is microchipped in case it bolts and becomes lost.

- NEVER shout at your dog if he is frightened as it will only make him more stressed. Ignore him if he paces or whines, if you reassure him he starts to think there is something wrong. Praise your dog when he is calm.

- Preparing a 'den' for your dog so it can feel comfortable, perhaps under a bed with some of your old clothes where it can hide when the fireworks start.

- Trying not to leave your dog alone during such potentially upsetting events.

 

[Labdad]

If you have a younger pup, try playing sound effects records/CDs/DVDs starting at a low level and over time,increase the volume. Trains, planes, gun fire, trucks and tools sounds. Could also take your Lab to hunt trials and shooting clubs to watch. First from a very long distance then gradually closer. This is called desensitisation. Check with your vet for more information.

Found some links. Some contain a nugget others are a motherlode, all are worth at least a look. Some lead to sites with information on other topics:

http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/environment/animalsandpests/Dogs/DogsandFireworks.htm

http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/index.php?id=2056

http://beardie.net/hobo/advice/fireworks.htm

http://www.overthegardengate.net/forums/treplies.asp?message=9155&all=True

http://www.ispca.ie/behaviour/fireworks.html

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2003/11/04/story5318039t0.shtm

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_HolidayFireworks.html

http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/articles/firework.htm

HTH

Have a safe Holiday


Lab Dad

 

[ladyj]

re: your lab and fireworks

i have two 7 year old bitches both luckily totally oblivious to fireworks infact the only reaction i get particularly from my black lab is indignation at being woken up! it must be difficult if you do have a dog who is frightened i think all you can do is keep everything very calm and try to keep the dog quiet and give lots of love and reassurance

 

[kanesdad]

P.S How do your lab's get on with fireworks night?

This will be Kane's first fireworks night but I don't think he is going to cope too well with the noise.

Alfie our previous lab never seemed bothered by noise & took everything in his element & Kane who has not been brought up any different seems to be a bit more wary of noise. WE don't shield hm from it but he seems very jumpy when a big truck goes by, a train or someone goes past the gate & he can't see them!

I think we will be making sure he has done all his business nice & early, keep the windows closed (Probably will be any way with the UK weather) & watch a film & act normally (as normal as possible 8O )

I think some labs are more nervous about noise than others. Saying all that he may surprise me, he does nearly everyday 8)

 

[bradleysmum]

Sounds like a good plan of action you have ready there Kanesdad, i hope it all goes well with little Kane for you.

The problem these days is that fireworks night, doesn't tend to be fireworks 'night' does it, people start having fireworks a week before up until a week after, which makes us all jumpy! Just when we think fireworks night is over, bang- a few days down the line during Corrie, of they start again! lol.

I'm hoping we will be ok with Bradley, when he was very young we were up in the Pyrenees, and they had a firework display not far from where out motorhome was parked, it went on for ages, and Brad didn't seem bothered by it at all, which is good.

Anyway, hope you all have a cosy night in,
Bye for now

Bradleysmum ccasion9:

 

[loz]

Hi, I too am a bit worried about fireworks night but I'll follow that advice as it's extremely helpful so thanks! I've been told that Labradors do tend to cope better with the exposions of bonfire night as they are used as gun dogs but I've yet to experience this time of year with Troy yet so I hope he manages!

 

[bradleysmum]

Hi Loz,

I'm glad you found the information useful, let us know how you get on with Troy. :wink:

Regards

Julie

 

[NicolaL]

Fireworks

We got Smudge yesterday and when I was just bringing him in last night a firework went off in the garden behind us, lighting up the sky and making a huge bang - but it didn't bother him! Probably un-nerved me more! lol!

There were quite a few fireworks around this area last night and they didn't seem to bother him at all. We followed the advice in our puppy book and just ignored them so hopefully that helped - though again, he just didn't seem bothered at all!

Our family dog, a gorgeous Mongrel called Ben, was absolutely terrified of fireworks. He would run around barking and also went upstairs and wet one of the beds once. He also used to shake which was upsetting for all concerned. As we only had him from 2 years old, and he had an unknown history, we can't account for this deep-seated fear that he had.

Sending best wishes to all dog owners at this difficult time,
Nicola.

 

[bradleysmum]

Thx Nicola,

Am glad Smudge is doing ok with the fireworks, must be a relief for you after Ben being so upset by them.

We've been invited to a fireworks party on wednesday, but after hearing so many fireworks recently all over the place...i might be inclined to say no thanks

:laughing8: bye for now

 

[kayc]

Can I just say that Labradors by their very nature should be bombproof. They are a gundog breed and can be trained quite easily. The noise of fireworks are way down the decibel scale to the sound of several shotguns just feet away from Labradors in the field. Unfortunately I am very new to this site,so not sure of people reactions to this, but will say that when a lot of new ownersdo get a new labrador puppy, they tend to tiptoe around it and make everything very peaceful and quiet, just because it is a baby. Honestly though, you are doing it no favours. All my labs will sit and watch fireworks and never flinch at a sound, my 8 week old puppy was taken outside to listen to the noise, curled up in my arms for protection and comfort, she stiffened when hearing the noise but reassurance and cuddles and soothing words she relaxed in my arms and was mesmerised by the sky being lit up. The bangs went un-noticed.
Kay

 

[ladyj]

re labs and fireworks

re message from kayc i totally agree with her on her comments re labs and fireworks, i have found over the years that labs are particularly sensitive to how we as human react to situations and because we quite naturally show concern for our animals during the firework period i do think we can run the risk of transfering our anxiety to our dogs especially labradors i have seen a prime example of this with a member of my family ,he has a 7 year old lab who :-x is absoutely petrified of fireworks made 100 times worse by the fact that my brother in law becomes totally paranoid at this time of the year and the labs whole routine totally changes ie radio suddenly left on, lights left on, keeps lab by his side at all times all of which i personally feel has made the dog a trembling mess at this time of year which probably could of been avoided. hope this doesn't sound overly pompous it really is'nt meant to but over the years this has caused many heated discussions within our family!

 

[kayc]

The most vulnerable time of a puppies life is between 8 and 12 weeks, this is usually the time of homing as well. The stress of being removed from litter mate, mum, comforting smells, noises and general surroundings is tremendous. We then shut it away for another 4 weeks until vaccinations and then maybe another week just to make sure. By the time the puppy is 13 to 14 weeks it has been in a warm safe cocoon. Then what do we do? We shove a collar and lead on it and exect it to ignore all and sundry. It panics. We lift it, mollycoddle it and teach it that noises are bad. The puppy senses through our body and our voices that all is not right and the world is a big bad scary place. We are then left with a quivering wreck. My puppies are taken out in my arms from 7 weeks old and introduced to all the sounds, people, heavy traffic, just about everything except other dogs, and carried everywhere I go. By the time it has has its vacs. it is well socialised and ready to explore. Puppies and owners can then enjoy life and not have the concerns about thunder & lightening, fireworks or juggernaught.

My dogs love life, and are so laid back they fall over
Me too
Kay

 

[jonothan]

P.S How do your lab's get on with fireworks night?

Amy is very sanguine about fireworks. She sits and watches them with detached interest. Bangs and flashes don't seem to bother her at all. Maybe that's the gundog in her?

Jonothan

 

[Paddylab]

Paddy is cool about fireworks and most other noises, he has been around guns since he was a few months old. We introduced him slowly to shotguns etc by standing a field or so away from the shooting and gradually taking him closer until he was right next to the guns.

He now loves a day out on the shoot but he is still under training for retrieving etc. He enjoys the social occasion of being around lots of other dogs and swimming in the ponds. he learns a lot from being around older, steady dogs.

If your dog is nervous of noises, it's only right to protect them from fireworks etc. but try to get them used to noises for the future.

do it slowly and gradually but don't overprotect them.

 

[Jessie]

Jessie is 15 weeks and has shown absolutely no interest in all the fireowrks over the last week or so.

My Vet suggested when she was microchipped a few weeks ago that if I make no fuss about the noises then she would probably follow my lead and do the same. He said that if she still seemed a bit twitchy not to make a fuss of her at all, but maybe slip her a treat if she was still being quiet and well bahaved, then she would associate the noise with a good experience, but I haven't had to do this as she has been completely unbothered by it all.

Next door but one has just had a firework display in their garden and we have been out in our garden with Jess and she has completely ignored it, apart from the odd look up at the sky to see the lights :lol:

 

[kanesdad]

This will be Kane's first fireworks night but I don't think he is going to cope too well with the noise.

How wrong I was. The noise has been building up gradually for the last week. Kane was a bit nervous the first couple of nights. Confidence growing nightly. Last night it sounded like a battle ground. He was fine wanting to go out & do his business under enemy fire without even flinching.

I did say he might surprise me..... 8)

 

[bradleysmum]

Hi Brian, 8)

He's one cool dog your Kane, glad all went ok for him during the firework battle ground. :wink:

Bradleysmum