My dog is petrified of fireworks and now they are being let off every weekend.What can I do to help her?

Question

I know I could get her tranquilisers from a vet, and I think I would be prepared to do that if it was just for one night, but they go on for weeks beofre and weeks after the event.She literally shakes from head to toe and sits on top of whoever is in the house at the time.Anyone elses pooch suffer the same?

Answer 1

I have a greyhound who's afraid of thunder and don't like using the tranquilizers the vet prescribed. They leave him way too dopey for too long a time on only a half dose. What I use and should help your dog too is an all natural remedy called Bach's Flower Essences, Rescue Remedy. I don't know the size of your dog, but mine gets only 4 drops. They take 15 - 20 minutes to take affect and take the edge off so he calms down. He's still nervous, but not shaking himself to pieces. You should be able to buy it from either a holistic vet, health food store or drug store.

Answer 2

Dont drug her it wont cure anything. You dont say how old she is but this idea should work, Get a video or DVD with a firework display on it (you may need to make your own) start by keeping volume low and gradually increase every time you play it. If she reacts its too loud. It works on the same principal as taking her to a display but you control the noise level. Gradually she will become so accustomed to the noise it will not seem a threat. If you also react to the noise with pleasure instead of annoyance she may even get to like it. I used this technique with thunder and it worked! You may not have time to do this before the yearly deluge of noise though so trying to block out the noise by replacing it with another TV Radio etc could help. If She is a young dog try and introduce her to as many noises as possible anyway and she'll be far more relaxed. Reassure her gently if she is frightened of anything not just noise. If you can let her see it doesnt bother you (even when it does) she'll respond to that. If you can, Ignore her behaviour. Any attention will make her worse not better. I say if you can because its really difficult not to comfort them.You will need patience to do it but will be rewarded with a happy confident dog not a shivering wreck.
Its not a quick fix, there isnt one, it will take time but well worth the effort.My Dog now totally ignores Thunder and even getting caught in a storm doesn't bother her. An older dog may never really get over her fear but should still become more manageable


Good Luck.

Answer 3

Our two dogs are the same and unfortunately there is not alot you can do, we always try to be around but i think that we need to show the world that it is not a 6 week event and that people have pets and young children for that matter that get upsett by these things . I so hope the government put in a ban for these every year accept for organised events. Good luck and remember there are others like you out there that will be comfort ting their pets.

Answer 4

My dog is the same, even thunder frightens him.
I've tried using Bachs Rescue Remedy, it's a natural calming potion thing, put a couple of drops in the dogs food or water, it seems to help Bonzi, he's still a little stressed by the whole thing, but nowhere near as bad.
You can get it from Boots etc.
Hope this helps you and anyone else who has the same problem.

Answer 5

Wow! Where do you live? I thought they only let off fireworks on the 4th of July, and at Olympic events-openings, and Presidential Inaugural celebrations! I would call your local fire department, or your local police department, and see what you can do about this.. Explain to them that if your Poor dog is suffering from this noise, that all the dogs in the neighborhood, have to be suffering, along with newborn babies, or just babies in general... there's got to be something they can do! How sad! I feel sorry for your poor dog! I know what your going through a little bit, ..because, where I'm from we used to have the Grand-Prix, every April... And anyone that brought their dogs, or babies, I felt so sorry for them! And I actually thought how "Selfish-and thoughless" it was for the parents, to bring their babies, and dogs down to these events...Those cars, you could hear for miles in Long Beach,Cal. If you could hear them for miles, what was it doing to their childs hearing or their poor dogs hearing? You know.. this cant be good.. Good-Luck, finding out whatever you can from the Fire Dept.! My Sympathy's to you, and your Poor dog!!

Answer 6

Try and find a dog trainer in the local area and book a one-to-one session. A good trainer should be able to show you techniques to help calm your pet.
Teaching your animal not to react is much better than pumping it full of drugs. You'll both end up feeling far more confident and perhaps you'll want to continue training?

Answer 7

Sorry, yet you may no longer provide up your canines from being terrified of fireworks and attempting to run and cover, because of the fact it truly is their instincts working and warning them of possibility. in addition they have extra gentle listening to than people. people could be petrified too in the event that they did no longer comprehend what the sound develop into and it harm their ears. each and each Halloween hundreds of canines and cats pass lacking from homestead for the duration of fireworks reflects. no longer all of them locate their some time past homestead so continuously lock your canines contained in the homestead on Halloween.

Answer 8

My mums Golden Labrador suffers exactly the same. I reckon fireworks should be banned.. the dogs go through hell! Theres not a lot you can do although we cover Ellie in a towel which seems to help.

Answer 9

my old dog was. she would hide behind furnature or go to the basement. same way with storms. my other dog could care less. nothing ever bothered her. my new dog hasnt gotten to see fireworks yet and so far storms dont bother her (except the wet part of them). we're going to bring her to see the fireworks when they happen, that way maybe they wont scare her if she sees that people sit and watch them. i dont know if thats an option with your dog being that she's already terrified, but maybe lighting a roman candle a few yards away and making her sit with you to watch it might help a little

Answer 10

Hi we had a elderly dog and had trouble every year with fireworks,she used to cry,knock furniture over,and run all over the house,I took her to see the vet,every year he would leave her some tablets at the desk for us to pick up.but has you say it isnt just for a night its for weeks.