Bonfire
Night is a time of year that is dreaded by many dog
owners and their dogs. The sky is lit up and many dogs
suffer fear and terror at the sound of the firework
explosions.
Bonfire night can actually be a real ordeal for many
pet dogs. Of course, fear is a normal reaction which
is important to survival but fear that is out of proportion
to the danger can be problematic to both the owner and
the dog.
There are a number of things you can do to plan ahead
for bonfire night and actually on the night itself to
make things more bearable for your dog.
Desensitisation
It is not just fireworks that can cause fear in our
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pets.
Many are also terrified when they hear thunder or other loud
noises.
By introducing your dog in a gradual and controlled
manner to the sounds they fear, you are in effect desensitising
them to the sounds. This is relatively easy to do but must
be done very slowly over a number of months and with constant
monitoring of your dogs responses. It is important not to
rush any of the stages. Jumping ahead before your dog is ready
will have the opposite effect to the one you want to achieve.
You
can create your own sound recording or alternatively there
are a number of CDs available on the market designed specifically
for this purpose.
The
'Sounds for Behaviour Therapy CD' caters for 30 different
types of sound such as crowds, trains, planes, cars, fireworks
and more. |
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Crash
Bang Wallop also do a 'Sound Therapy CD', or you might prefer
their special Firework Edition. This CD will hold your hand throughout
all the stages mentioned above, offering advice and spoken instruction
and divided into 5 easy stages. It also includes a training booklet
for extra help.
Once you have made or purchased your sound recording, play the
sound very quietly as background noise while you both go about
your usual day-to-day activities. Do not draw attention to the
sound or fuss your dog. Gradually, for each session, increase
the sound volume. The time you need to take on each stage can
vary from dog to dog. Take your cue from your pet and do not proceed
to the next stage until they are completely happy with the current
volume level. Eventually the sound will become insignificant to
your dog and they will ignore it. This is desensitisation.
There are also a number of other products
that could help a fearful dog, such as the D.A.P. Diffuser and
various calming remedies.
DAP
Dog Appeasing Pheromone (D.A.P.) plug-in diffusers emit a synthetic
substance that mimics the reassuring pheromone produced by bitches
for their puppies.
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Ideally
the diffuser should be used 24 hours a day, beginning at least
2 weeks before bonfire night and continuing for a week or
so afterwards. It can help your dog to remain calm and can
comfort both puppies and adult dogs during fearful situations
such as episodes of loud noises and fireworks.
D.A.P. is also available in a spray form for more local applications
to bedding or indoor kennels. |
Alternative Treatments
Homoeopathic remedies can be useful, such as Bach Flower Remedies.
Rescue remedy treatment should ideally be started a few days before
bonfire night. Put about 5 drops (read the label) into your dogs
food or water each evening.
Other natural remedies such as skullcap and valerian act as a herbal
anxiety-relieving combination and can help at times of stress.
Thundershirt is an anti-anxiety shirt for dogs. It is a drug-free
solution for dog anxiety. Whenever a dog is anxious, fearful or
over-excited, Thundershirt's gentle, constant pressure can bring
calm and focus.
Thundershirt's patent-pending design applies gentle, constant pressure
on a dog's torso, and this pressure has a dramatic calming effect
for most dogs. Pressure has been used to successfully reduce anxiety
for many years. Many TTouch practitioners even recommend the Thundershirt
over traditional Tellington TTouch body wraps because Thundershirt
is effective and so easy to use.
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Thundershirt’s
gentle, constant pressure has a terrific calming effect.
Thundershirt |
Remain Calm
During the time of the fireworks you must make sure that you do
not inadvertently reinforce your dog’s unwanted behaviour
by paying them extra special attention. This will only lead your
dog to think that it is right to feel fear and also that by showing
fear they gain your attention and comfort. This will reward their
fear response and make it more likely to recur. Instead, remain
calm and act as you usually would. Ignore fearful behaviours and
reward calmness.
Lead by Example
Your dog will mirror your attitude. Giving your dog cuddles could
make it seem that you are fearful too. If you remain calm then you
encourage them to remain calm. Dogs also learn from each other.
If you have a friend who has a dog that is not afraid of fireworks,
invite them round for the evening. Your friend's dog will help set
the right example. A word of caution - learning by example can work
both ways. If the visiting dog becomes anxious after observing your
dog's fear, do not continue.
Tired Out
If your dog has been for a nice long walk and is physically and
mentally tired out, they will be much more likely to settle in the
evening and less likely to worry about the noise, lights and activity
outside.
Comfortable Surroundings
Take simple measures to make your dog comfortable such as closing
the windows and curtains so that the sounds are not as loud and
your pet cannot see the fireworks going off. It might also help
if you provide your pet with a safe house such as a cosy den full
of blankets. Make sure your dog views his den as his safe house
by providing treats for him while he is in there and making sure
he generally associates it with nice things.
Ideally,
start this a week or two before firework night. All the blankets
provide the perfect place for your dog to bury and hide when
the noise starts.
Comfort Food
Some dogs can also benefit from being fed a meal
high in carbohydrate (such as well-cooked rice or pasta) which
will help them to feel sleepier that evening. |
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Distract
Take all focus away from the fireworks by playing music
and start a game with your dog, generally keeping him busy. Maybe
treat your dog to a new toy and save it especially for Bonfire
night. Some tasty treats will also help to create good associations
with this time of year.
Other Precautions
- Find out the exact date of local firework displays.
- Ask neighbours to warn you in advance of any private displays.
- Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and ID tag incase
they escape in fear.
- Top up your dog's water as an anxious dog may be more
thirsty than usual.
Further Reading
www.dogsandfireworks.com
gives advice for owners with dogs that are scared of fireworks.
It has an eBook, an mp3 of firework sounds, a newsletter
option and if users feel that the site is helpful there
is an option to make a donation to Dogs Trust.
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