My aunt's dog is deathly afraid of fireworks. What can be done to calm him down while they're going off?

Question

girly_girl I'm talking about the 4th of July and the dog was at home, so he can't exactly escape them

Answer 1

pet him make him feel secure and reasured

Answer 2

A company called Homeopet makes a harmless medication called "Anxiety TFLN" (thunderstorms, fireworks, loud noises) that I have seen work really well. It's available at some health food stores and pet supply stores.
Speaking in a sympathetic way to you dog, holding him, and giving him treats are all WRONG things to do! When a person does those things, the dog thinks that you are approving of the way they are behaving! You should go about your business and not give the dog extra attention. You could turn music or TV louder to help drown out some of the noise. And really, try the drops from Homeopet!
Also, DO NOT start giving your dog ANY human medications without a vets advice.

Answer 3

Bring your dog into your house, to a room that is towards the middle of your house with a stereo. Put on the music, calming music that is load, but still comfortable to your ears, try to have as many people that your dog know around, like a pack so that it will feel protected and assured...I do this every year with my German Shepherd and he does well with this method. Good luck the next time fireworks go off.

Answer 4

Just be thankful that July 4th only comes once a year. Just sit and snuggle with the dog while the fire works are going off. I have 2 Great Pyrenees that are afraid of thunder and lightin' , Nothing else.Great guard dogs. You should try to snuggle with a 100 and a 125 lb dog in a thunder storm.

Answer 5

Hold him close for the whole thing..pet him to make him feel safer and secure..and if that doesnt work. There is a sleeping pill that my friend's dog takes that makes him sleep through the whole thing! Doesnt heara sound! It really works and helps a lot. The dog isnt damaged in any sort of way from the pill..just dont let your dog outside during fireworks..other wise he wil find a way to escape the sound. (which is running and running)..you dont want that. Good luck!

Answer 6

Please don't give your dog benadryl as one person wrote!
I'm sure you already know that,
I have had this problem with my border collie, we have always had to just sit with her when we know there's going to be fire works, new years eve, Australia day etc; one new years eve we actually paid to have her put in the vet clinic kennels for the night so that we could go out.
Never leave her alone when you know there is going to be fireworks, these are so scarey to animals.
Just look at the lost animals listings in your newspaper a day or so after a big fireworks display, many many animals just flee, trying to get away from the noise.
Anyway, our beautiful border collie passed away a couple of years ago and we were lucky enough to rescue a border collie cross staffy, and yep! sure enough, she's scared of fireworks too!

Answer 7

Being afraid of fireworks is usual for the animals. Dogs hearing is much more sensitive to noise than ours. Nothing really can be done. I have not seen a dog who could get used to the noise. Just be with him at times of these happening and also thunder has the same reaction - patting him and telling him its ok. bettyk

Answer 8

Probably not going to get him out of this. I suggest you put him in his kennel and someone stay with him while they are going off. The safer he feels the better.

Dogs are either okay with loud noises or not. Some can handle hunting, others not. The only other thing you can do is follow hunters training tips since the dogs have to be okay with guns going off over their heads. You will have to talk to a hunting trainer or seek help from a book.

Kathy G.

Answer 9

Hardly anything. I have been trying for years to keep my dogs calm during the fireworks, but they refuse to believe me.
We stuck all four of our dogs in their travel crates in the garage for the war zone that was our neighborhood on the Fourth of July. One dog complained like anything but all four were safe and sound for the night. We actually rescued someone else's dog running in complete panic on our block from being run over, and took him in and locked him in our yard. My neighbor was not so lucky - her poor german shepherd pup is still missing.
Your best bet is to get a travel crate like the kind they sell at Wal-Mart or Petsmart and lock them in it while the fireworks go off. Your dog might complain, but at some point in time it will realize it is safe, nothing bad is happening to it, and the sound goes away after a while. It will find the crate to be it's safe spot whenever it freaks.
Good luck.

Answer 10

How old is the dog? My 1year old Jack Russell stud was afraid of loud bangs and pops, but to break him of running off I took him to a gun range when we went to shoot and I kept him close to me till he just stopped trying to run. Now he doesn't even flinch. Let the dog know that the scary sound is not going to hurt it. It will take some time, but once the dog realizes that the sound doesn't cause harm to him, it will be more relaxed when bangs and other loud noises come around.

Answer 11

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