I think the dog and I will BOTH be hiding under the couch come Independance Day.
Actually, I worry that my anxiety is going to rub off on the dog. I may just have to let Daddy sit with her- Mommy might not be calm enough to set a good example for her.
Melissa Thom Webboard User Reg: 12-04-2007
Posts: 2781
Loc: Upper Left hand corner, USA
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For my dogs the fireworks are a big it depends. I usually do my best to avoid them being around them but sometimes the fireworks happen near home or they happen well after or well before the 4th of July.
I find that in general my dogs that I've worked with around firearms or a starter pistol do ok with just about everything except the crackling sparky jumping jack fire crackers which for some reason are a dog anxiety item more so than the mortars, firecrackers, sparklers and other things that are loud, explosive and everywhere here. Usually the fireworks start and everyone goes in their crates which are in the quietest part of the house usually starting this week through the week after th 4th of July. No anxiety meds needed just a safe place where no one is allowed to get too worked up and the noises are somewhat muffled. I find the key is to not over react and feed into any uneasyness and also not to force interaction of the event on the dog. It should be a neutral activity.
Reg: 08-29-2006
Posts: 2324
Loc: Central Coast, California
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Actually, Melissa, you've just reminded me of a suggestion Will Rambeau has posted a few times.
Desensitizing a dog to fireworks (or gun fire) using a CD or something downloaded off the web. Playing it very low, and for a short period of time in the beginning, and working up to the point where the dog ignores it entirely.
Granted, fireworks are not a year-round problem but for a dog with extreme anxiety, it could help get them through the few weeks around the 4th.
Melissa Thom Webboard User Reg: 12-04-2007
Posts: 2781
Loc: Upper Left hand corner, USA
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There is a great bit on de sensitizing dogs to noise in a book called Training the Hunting Retriever by Jerome B Robinson. The main example used is for teaching a dog not to be gunshy but I know the same method could be used to firecrackers.
Mike J Schoonbrood Webboard User Reg: 04-30-2005
Posts: 2784
Loc: Toronto, ON
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Quote:
Someone made a suggestion to me to bring him to the firework show for "exposure" to new things but as always I wanted to get you guys opinion.
Too young, too much, too fast.
Start slow and somewhat quietly (as in, not exploding right over his head) while playing. Gauge reaction, increase volume/decrease distance, over a period of time depending on reaction. Throwing him in the middle of a fireworks show with stuff going off everywhere loudly can screw him up for a very long time if he is not fine with fireworks.
Reg: 08-05-2007
Posts: 323
Loc: Lake City, Coeur d' Alene, ID
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I live very close to downtown where a spectacular fireworks display takes place every July 4th. In addition I live close to a Indian reservation where fireworks are sold to the public. These are not what's commonly known as the Safe and Sane variety. This is the big stuff.
Even though it's illegal there are private neighborhood displays on almost every street in town. In other words all hell breaks loose here on the 4th of July. Every year the dog pound fills up around the 4th with freaked out runaway dogs. Some people get their dogs out of town to stay with friends or relatives in the country.
I never had a problem with my previous dogs. But I have a couple of new dogs that have never witnesses this "war zone" event before. I purchased some firecrackers last week and started setting them off gradually building up the intensity. So far no problem.
On the big night I plan to crate them with a cover and close the windows in that room. Hopefully they will weather the storm.
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Re: puppy and fireworks
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