Dogs at a firework display (rant alert!)

sleepykitten

sleepykitten

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So, I went to our local firework display last night, our dogs and cats and horses firmly tucked away safely, telly left on for them (well, the dogs and cats, I draw the line at letting the horses in the sitting room!)

And when I got down to the bonfire, there was a couple with two dogs, one a terrier cross type of thing that was muzzled, and the other a labrador. So, I'm standing there thinking they must be taking them away before the fireworks start, but no, they made the dogs stay there for the whole display!!!!

The labrador was going nuts, barking and yelping and running off as far as his lead would take him, and the terrier thing eventually suffered a partial collapse and was lying on its side panting really hard.

As I walked past the couple, I gave them a very dirty look, and the guy came up to me and said that it was an "experiment" as both dogs were absolutely petrified of fireworks when they were in the house, so they thought they would see if they were any better up close!!! I couldn't believe it!!! he then said to me, "but you obviously know better", and I just thought how stupid you are, look at them, they are both scared out of their wits!!!

Has anyone else seen this sort of thing? Am I just overreacting??
 
eek!! There was a puppy at the one I went to last night which I thought was odd - I don't know if they stayed for the fireworks though. I think they should be banned from the public display - thats really not fair!
 
That is terrible :( Poor, poor animals.

My dog is not scared of fireworks outdoors, even though she goes nuts in the house, but I would never put her through something like that - the crowds, the noises, etc. Surely when it became obvious the animals were distressed any decent owner would remove them from the situation. Hope they aren't traumatised for life, but they might well be!
 
Whilst I wouldn't take a dog to a firework display, I had a lab a few years ago that would have loved it. My dogs/cats/horses weren't that bothered by the fireworks had one that barked a bit but not at every firework, think they're so used to shooting going on that fireworks are fine.

Still remember my first firework night with a horse and had to lead her past a house with bonfire and fireworks - she wasn't fussed bless her.
 
I have a dog that would love to attend fireworks displays but she has seen it, done it, got the T shirt and will mug people for a hot dog. (not physically but with the hypnotic stare)

I don't take her because I'm usually looking after other peoples pets so they can attend such events knowing their pets are safe.

I would not have taken dogs that respond poorly when at home and I would not risk my dog in a crowd in the dark -too easy for a dog to get stepped on or tripped over.

Small children that cry at such displays should be removed too.
 
Ours aren't all that bothered either to be honest, as we live next to an army range so they are used to guns, tanks, flares and low flying aircraft, but i still wouldn't take the dog!!
 
Our dogs go ballistic whilst indoors but are okay when outside with the fireworks.
How did we find this out? By taking them to a display, so I can fully understand where the guy was coming from :).

I would say don't be so judgemental :)
 
To be honest if i leave my dog at home alone whilst there are fireworks or even a thunderstorm, he makes himself sick. He is far happier to come with me tucked up in my coat to watch, he feels at his safest when snuggled up close to me. I would rather he was calm and happy then alone and distressed.
 
last year we were out walking and a load of fireworks went off.... betty sat and watched! she is not bothered by them at all.

i never went out to a display last night, and as a rule probably wouldnt normaly take a dog- but i would take Betty- only because she is not scared by them- but fascinated!

obviously if the dogs in question were distressed then they shouldnt be there... but not all dogs are scared of fireworks. ;)
 
whisp&willow said:
last year we were out walking and a load of fireworks went off.... betty sat and watched! she is not bothered by them at all.

i never went out to a display last night, and as a rule probably wouldnt normaly take a dog- but i would take Betty- only because she is not scared by them- but fascinated!

obviously if the dogs in question were distressed then they shouldnt be there... but not all dogs are scared of fireworks. ;)
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I agree that not all dogs are scared by them, but these two clearly were - i respect that perhaps they were taken there to see if it would be better for them, but I would have thought that as it became pretty clear that they were traumatised, they should have been taken away fairly quickly.
 
I think it's fine if your pets aren't scared, but those two obviously were! How horrible.

There was a little Sausage dog at the one I went to yesterday and he was fine, looked like he was enjoying it!

My doggie would like it, she's deaf and I think she's rather fascinated by the lights.
 
Our dogs are fine with fireworks too. The hotel up the road does wedding fireworks every day at weekend at 10pm, and one lab goes rushing out to the garden to watch! The only reason they are shut in the house when we have our own bonfire is that we have all the food in a marquee outside, and I know, being typical labs, they'd be in there all night hoovering scraps and begging at guests!

That said, if I knew that our dogs were scared of fireworks I wouldn't take them to a display! Perhaps out in the garden at home to try and aclimatise, but not to an actual display.

For anyone struggling, I think that the thing that made our lab love fireworks so much was the "fun gundog drives" at game fairs. They launch a dummy with thing that makes a pop/bang and the dog has to go and fetch the dummy/toy. Now our dog associates bangs with fun - perhaps that would help other dogs scared of bangs a bit??
 
Poor old Quigley is terrified of fireworks, and was right off his tea last night, but the pups (all of 10 weeks old) were sitting watching the pwetty lights as after dinner entertainment.

Ive seen dogs at displays, some absolutely fine, and some not, but you wouldn't risk it, would you?
 
I agree at the point the dogs became distressed i would go straight away although as others have said many are better when seeing them. I watched a display last night and a dog was there just slept through it each dog is different they were irresponsible for staying when dogs obv petrified
 
There is a couple who go to the Forest Green Bonfire every year with a dog who is petrified. I really don't know what goes through their tiny minds, but I bet it isn't much...

Saw a dog at the Coldharbour one, too. Also shaking and panting. :(
 
Our dog is fine if he is outside with us but freaks out at them if he is alone, and he is perfectly happy when out with us so I see why the guy took his dogs to see if they were the same, but If I was him I would have taken them home as they were so distressed.
 
Our Springers sat and watched from the back garden last night! 6 month old Harris loved it!! As previous posters have said, depends on the individual- ours beat and shoot (well they can't hold a gun...) weekly so have been used to guns etc. Wouldn't take em to a display though.
 
My oldest dog has been to a private display at a party as doen'st mind bangs. I was keeping an eye on the youngest latest addition as she would only have been a very small puppy last time round. It didn't read as if the OP was against dogs at outdoor/fireworks but more that the dogs were so distressed. And actually, if any of mine were that bad I would stay at home with them. I live in a village which has a massive fireworks display and bonfire and the whole village shuts down for it. One of my neighbours older dog hates it so is dispatched to a friends house far away.
 
Good grief! I took one of my girls out to a quiet spot in the park last night to watch the fireworks, because she loves them (and the park is a little creepy after dark on my own!). She used to sit up on the flat roof with me at my parents' place years ago and watch them with me too. But I'd never, ever take a dog that was afraid of fireworks anywhere near the things, let alone a big busy display. What were those people thinking?!
 
My lurcher has mixed feelings about fire works. We locked him in the livingroom but he cried to come out so I put him on his lead and took him in the garden and he loved them for 5 mins then wanted to go in. My cat on the other hand took refuge in my wardrobe
 
Wow, what a way to try and help them - NOT! Although my black Lab was sat on the doorstep with me watching the fireworks last night. I think he thinks they are guns and he loves going out with the shoot!
 
At the display I went to last night - in blackheath, the second biggest display in london, so you can just imagine - some tool took his baby bulldog. Poor thing was going beserk. Owner was a bit peed off that he "had to take him back to the pub". Strange folk about...
 
I can't see an issue if dogs don't mind them, our spaniels are gun dogs, and at worst get mildly confused there are no feathered creatures dropping from the sky following bangs. Hattie loves bonfire night, she is another one that would mug anyone for a burger, which is why I never take her with me!!
 
Annielusian said:
I think it's fine if your pets aren't scared, but those two obviously were! How horrible.

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This.

Some people love taking their pets everywhere and if the animals are happy and not in the way, then I don't see anything wrong with that. However keeping them there, when they are clearly NOT okay is more than a little bizarre to me.
 
My late GSD and my current Golden LOVE fireworks - Tara would try and chase them, wagging her tail and Misty sits and watches them, mesmerised :) (I think its 'cause its her birthday and she thinks they're all for her! ;)) My current shepherd is fine until a big one then she jumps a little but nothing more.
However I don't think I'd take them to a firework display I'd be worried about their ears - sometimes they even hurt mine :(
There's a big difference between them going out for a wee and having to sit through a 30 minute display - NOT the best way to get your dog used to fireworks :(
K x
 
I despair of the human race I really do. If a dog doesn't mind fine, but for God's sake where are these people's brains, they shouldn't be allowed to have pets. Ban the bloody things, they cause so much distress to so many animals and if your's don't mind, good for you but a hell of a lot do so let's consider the vulnerable and not the don't cares in this society. Sorry bit of a rant but I get so bloody mad at smug people who claim all their animals don't mind, I bet a lot of them do but the owners are so selfish they don't see it!
 
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