any tips on keeping my dogs calm and relaxed during all the fireworks?

Question

cheers for all the good answers but some of them were a little weird! like "don't expose them to fireworks", i cant just stop the fireworks going off dumba55!!
and of course there is fireworks in oct, its nearly hallowe'en!! dont you have them near hallowe'en?

Answer 1

If possible take the dogs away from them, kennel them at the vet or a doggie boarding place, leave them at a friends who lives where they are not setting them off close etc.

If they must remain
Bring them in the house
Put them in a room with the radio or tv on fairly loud
If the room has a place they want to hide like a closet or behind a couch let them
Some put rescue remedy (bach flower remedy) in their water or drops on tounge
Spearmint oil on paw pads is also said to calm a dog naturally
Last resort is to get a rx from the vet but still keep them inside and with background noise
do not coddle or tell them its ok, ignore anxious behavior, play if they will play, give a stuffed kong or work on sits, downs etc with treats if the dog will. Some get so wound up they refuse even their favorite food like chicken or beef cubes.

Some dogs can be desinsitized slowly over time but a large % of sound phobia is GENETIC and the dog simply can not help it nor can you train them totally past it. It can also be neurological. Sound sensitive dogs create sound sensitive pups and should never be bred.

Answer 2

My dog hated fireworks. It's called Gunshy.
Same as gunshot noise.
We live almost 5 miles from town and he would be scared when the fireworks would go off in town and hide in the bathroom.
I think you have to get them used to loud noises when they are very young.
Though there are some dogs that are just born that way.
Can you imagine a hunting dog like that?
What good would that be to a hunter?
Maybe you could just sit and hold them.

Answer 3

There's a pheromone you can buy that mimics it's mother's smell and is supposed to comfort it at times of stress. Vets will provide sedatives but usually they have to be taken for a few weeks prior to the event. Not much good nowadays unless you want a permantly doped up dog. Or there is the radio plus a nice secure place to hide. My favourite though is to ban the public sale of fireworks which would radically reduce the impact of stress on pets and wildlife.

Answer 4

Only one that I know of. I keep the dog inside with me!!! Ha, ha, ha!!! I am petrified of fireworks even though I don't mind looking at them through the window.
When I was little my Uncle told me that the fireworks would come out of the sky and burn us as a joke. Apparently I didn't take it as a joke as today I still won't be outsides during fireworks.
My dog hides under the bed and I hide under the protective cover of the roof.
Quite a couple heh?

Answer 5

You can go to your vet and ask for a prescription that helps to calm them down. I keep them on hand because my big old dog who looks so scary is afraid of fireworks and thunderstorms! Good Luck to you. They really do help. Keep a good eye on your dog you would be surprised at how many dogs get lost or killed during both of the above mentioned events.

Answer 6

Here I got Adobe Fireworks for free http://bit.ly/1p3hIRR
It's the best software of its kind.
Have a nice day

Answer 7

well, my friend used to have a dog that hated fireworks (he was called guy because he was born on guy fawkes night...weird)
she usedto keep him inside in the utility room- as it was warm and in the middle of the house and quite big - and give him lots of blankets and tops smelling of the family. This was when she went out.
There isn't much you can do but just make sure thgey cannot hear the fireworks...play some music or something and stay in if you can or make sure one person does. Try to keep things as normal as possible...
have fun (c:

Answer 8

Keep your dog in the house.Close all windows, and doors, put dog in room with t.v. turn the television up (not full blast) just so it drowns the noise , but some D.A.P from the vets .Use d.a.p . Feed your dog pasta and whole foods 20 Min's before it gets dark , this can help your dog feel full and satisfied. Keep your dog in one room , if your dog starts panicking ,Ignore her , she/he will be watching you to lead by example.Just try a keep a relaxed calm posture

Answer 9

when we have fireworks going off in my neighborhood i always keep my dogs in and with me when i do go out on bonfire night i make sure that i leave a radio on in the room they are all kept in so they feel alot calmer and don't tend to take much notice because they have loud music playing over them

Answer 10

I've read stuff which says that you shouldn't pet your dog when it acts anxious, because in the doggy mind you are rewarding the anxious behaviour.
Our dog quivers and acts really pathetic if it hears a distant rumble of any sort during these dark evenings. If he gets too wound up I suppose I'd better get a sedative from the vet.