How does Your Dog do Around Fireworks?

[Annabell]

With the 4th coming up next weekend, I thought this would be an appropriate topic. Also if your dog despises fireworks, what do you do about it?

I've only been through one 4th before with Fable, but she didn't really care about the fireworks. She was more interested in the treats I was giving her. And in general, she's just not a noise sensitive dog so she doesn't react to thunderstorms or anything of the sort, either.

 

[Cali Mae]

Cali doesn't mind fireworks or any loud noises really. The only exception is the smoke alarm we have near our entry way... occasionally it goes off when someone is cooking, and she will start shaking, panting and will slink towards the door... and it'll last until the alarm is off and she realizes it's no longer going off. I usually just hold her when it happens and take her to another room since nothing works to distract her from it.

 

[*blackrose]

Cynder is perfect, has no anxiety or fearfulness. She'd probably be great even being out and about during fireworks displays.

Abrams isn't fearful of the noise, but he is very offended. All popping and booming and whirring is considered a potential intruder. Once he gets over it he's fine, but he gets SO offended by the invisible people weilding colorful bombs when he first hears them.

Two of my prior dogs were noise-phobic. They were given happy pills the day of the 4th and crated/confined, with fans/TV/music on to drown out noise.

 

[CrystalGSD]

Poor Crystal turns into a puddle of stress. She usually ends up crawling under a bed until the firework show dies down.

 

[MicksMom]

Caleb's reaction used to be, "Hey, there's a party out there and I want to be part of it." He'd run and look out the front door. Now just picks up his head and looks around when there's a loud one, if that.

 

[milos_mommy]

Milo will occasionally bark if there's a really loud one, but mostly doesn't react. Benji never reacts at all. Our neighbors shoot off fireworks every single freakin night from the week before memorial day until after labor day, so they'd better get used to it.

My old dog was terrified of them. He'd climb onto the off-limits couch (the only time he ever did) and shake, or hide between the tub and toilet. As he got older we worried he might have a heart attack during a thunderstorm.

 

[DJEtzel]

Recon hates them. It used to be that a loud pop would result in him fleeing. This could even be loud bass in a song on a PA system. We started pairing things like playing frisbee with the noise with some success, and also downloaded a sound app that recreates fireworks noises that we play to often. On top of that he gets 3 or 4 different supplements and a pheromone spray. We've been making steady progress, thought nothing phenomenal until today... We were at the dog park and some rounds were fired off nearby - Recon didn't notice them for about a half an hour. He did finally notice them, but had a quicker recovery time. Last night fireworks were going off and he was hiding in my friend's tub with her cattle dog for most of the night.


Patton and Pilot are rock stars and have never reacted to fireworks from inside or outside, and hang out while I shoot regularly. No issues there, thank goodness!

 

[Laurelin]

Mia and Summer are fine. They don't care at all.

Hank so far hasn't reacted to any gunfire noises we've heard while out but it's all been pretty far away. I will probably find out tomorrow night because there's always fireworks this week in the evening near the agility field. I don't expect a problem but we'll see.

 

[BostonBanker]

Meg thinks they are fabulous. She's been out with us on the boat to watch them, and she was fascinated. Gusto's never come, because the weather hasn't been great the last few years, so we haven't gone out. But he doesn't care about hearing them at all.

 

[Slick]

He mostly doesn't notice them. He might be a "tiny" bit more on edge than usual. Overall, pretty indifferent.

It's interesting, because in general, he is not a huge fan of super loud noises and will try to avoid them.

I guess we have just never had fireworks quite near enough. Like, neighbors have had them, and that was fine, but I don't know how he would react if I was actually firing some at our house.

 

[SoCrafty]

This will be Addie's first time hearing them. But she does OK with thunderstorms unless the thunder is extremely loud and shakes the house. But she has heard gunshots around here too and doesn't seem to mind. I think she will be OK.

 

[PlottMom]

We used to take Daisy and Keena with us to see the fireworks shows, so Keena will probably go with us this year. I may take Bruce along, as nothing seems to phase him.

Rage and Liz are noise-phobic. You can tell they are stressed and they try to sleep in a corner. They'll be staying in their crates.

 

[teacuptiger]

Roxie's cool with them. I've taken her to shows and stuff, and she loves sitting on my lap and watching the show.

 

[eddieq]

Xena doesn't like them, nor other loud noises like that. She has the same reaction to people setting off fireworks as she does to thunder, the smoke alarm or other shrill/sudden noises: She goes into the bathroom and sits/lays quietly. She doesn't panic and run around like a nut, she just basically goes and hides. Once it's over, she comes out.

So we don't bring her to the fireworks shows and I know to walk her before it all starts on the 4th (around 9 PM here). We don't give her a hard time when she hides. We just talk soothingly to her and such.

 

[GoingPostal]

None of mine care, we are usually in bed by the time they go off on the 1st and 4th of July and they barely notice. Same with storms. Smoke alarm freaks the oldest dog out badly and my cat stresses over storms though.

 

[JacksonsMom]

If they're far enough away in the distance he doesn't mind. Anything loud and thunder-sounding though? Nope, he's under the bed or shaking.

 

[Babyblue5290]

Since they are illegal in any capacity here (even sparklers), Talon has never seen a firework so who knows. My guess is he'd be a nervous wreck.

Artimis grew up right next to an army base that would shoot the cannons at all times, so he's so used to loud bangs it doesn't phase him. However, seeing them freaks him out, so as long as he isn't outside right next to them he is fine, but when he can see the flash of light he gets super clingy.

 

[Samsonyte!]

Sam doesn't care at all. Never has. He just goes about business the same way he always does.

This is Wilson's first 4th of July with me and I'm a little worried because he's pretty noise sensitive, but usually to things that are near him so hopefully he'll be fine. He doesn't mind thunder and people have been lighting off fireworks for the last few nights and he hasn't been bothered.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Rider goes and hides in the bathroom. I've done a lot of counter conditioning with both fireworks and thunder, so he doesn't shake uncontrollably or pant a ton anymore, but he still isn't pleased. Once we go to bed, he comes to snuggle with us. But he won't snuggle on the couch with us-- just remains in the bathroom.

Other three are fine. Last year I did give Tulsa a Kong since she was only a few months old, but we've had no issues with noise. Iggy thinks birds should be falling out of the sky and why can I not see them!? Harlow is indifferent, just as she is about the rest of the world. Lol!

 

[Jadex]

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" is Ryker's reaction to them...every time. It sucks to have to listen to him all night. Gypsy doesn't seem to care about them.