Fireworks.

[SHADOW_THE_STAFF]

On 5th Novemeber it is Bonfire night in the UK, this means there will be fire works going off all over the country all night (and the days coming upto that date), what does everyone do to keep their dogs calm with fire works booming all over the place?

In the US you have fire works on 4th July dont you? How do you all cope?

So far shadow has been fine (there have been a few people setting them off already) but im not sure how she will be on the night when they are non stop. Lee and I have been invited to a friends 21st birthday party, so we've arranged for shadow to spend the night with lee's parents and their dog. We'll go to the party later than arranged that way I can see how shadow reacts when they're going off constantly. Hopefully she'll be ok having doggie and human company in lees parents house.

Just wanted to know what every one else does?

 

[Dreeza]

hmm...oakley's never had an issue w/loud noises...during thunderstorms, he likes to look out the window, lol

but i remember reading that you arent supposed to soothe your dog too much, or else they are being rewarded for their fearful behavior...instead...make sure that they are inside, cause the fireworks can hurt their sensitive ears...and basically just have his parents play with Shadow like they normally would to distract her from them. Do they have a basement? maybe it would be quieter down there?? just make sure she feels nice and safe...and also dont let her parents get nervous about it...cause im sure you know, then shadow will react to their nervousness, and just make it worse...

hope that helps?

 

[filarotten]

Roxie and Brutus have no problems with loud noises. However, Maggie is scared to death of thunder, gun shots, fireworks etc. (I was always afraid she would have a heartattack, she would shake allover.) I try to make sure she is in the house. Her favorite spot is under the bed or a cabinet in the guest bathroom. The strange thing, since we were caught in the last hurricane, (the noise was terrible.) She no longer shakes when she hears loud noises, she just hides.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

Mayberry is terrified of fireworks and thunderstorms, so the Fourth of July is usually a nightmare for her. We give her Valerian and it has helped a ton!! I give it to her daily (as it says to) and if there's going to be a storm or fireworks, I give her extra. If the other dogs get a freaked out by some loud noises, I give them a little. It works great!

 

[Gempress]

Keep Shadow indoors. If she starts really freaking out, put her in her crate or on a leash and give a mild sedative (like the kind they make for traveling dogs). Here in the States, July 5 is the number 1 day for lost dogs being turned in to shelters. During the fireworks on July 4, many pets get into a panic and run away. Some friends of ours lost their dog when it became panicked on 4th of July, and broke through a window of their house. They never found him, poor thing.

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

We keep Jack and Chloe in the house, and just give them extra comforting. I've heard of people having to sedate their animals on the 4th of July. I used to have a Border Collie/Lab and she was absolutely terrified of fireworks, gun shots, thunder, it was really sad.

 

[Babyblue5290]

Lucas has no problems with fireworks, but Tot stresses out big time so we put him in a smaller sized rooms (a room not a closet lol) and turned the radio and tv on really loud so he didn't hear the bangs. He calmed down almost immediatly and had no problems.

 

[blue]

Bluedawg did great on the 4th, and at my neighbors birthday party with fireworks. Maybe it was the crowd of people as a distraction, but BD didnt seem botherred before we went over.

The problem was everytime they loaded the mortar was all the dogs would run and try to see what was dropped down the tube!!!

 

[Whitedobelover]

so far what has worked inthe past with our shih tzus is we would allow them to have a place to hide... crate... blanket etc...

 

[smkie]

took them with me and then stayed the rest of the night close by..mary is not fond of them at all and my neighbor across the street shot them off until 4 am. The big displays were not the problem..it is the bottle rockets and black cats. tho m80s are illegal someone always seems to have a few. they shoot off so many here the streets look like they are covered in fog.

 

[SHADOW_THE_STAFF]

thanks for the great advise guys. I'll talk to lee's parents. Im sure she'll be ok cos there have been rockets wizzing overhead when we're walking her an she doesnt even notice!