Fireworks - how are we doing?

[SaddlePsych'D]

Are your dogs bothered/not bothered and how are you managing firework season? Just wondering what works.

We got Ivy just before last fireworks night. I'm fairly sure when we walked her home from the foster house (she was very close by!) there were fireworks going off and we did okay getting her home. She paid attention to them and next door's dog barking but mostly just looked up at us to check if we cared before flopping her head back down for sofa snoozing. We assumed at the time she just wasn't bothered but now wondering if she was just a bit shut down from moving house.

We moved house a few months ago and I would say she does seem more bothered this year. Perhaps not enough time settling in to the new house combined with a couple of experiences of fireworks going off close by when she has been outside. She's not dashing about or shaking or barking but last night she was definitely not happy. She refused a kong with chicken in (!) and instead of her crate/den decided to squish herself into a random uncomfortable looking corner. She's not one for coming to me for reassurance. I'm trying to give her some reassuring strokes/talking to her but also leaving her to it a bit in case she just needs space and I don't want to over do it/make her feel I'm worried too. I'm going to restock on chews this weekend, we've got the classical music for dogs playlist, the crate den, and I will take her on longer walks pre-evening.

 

[Barton Bounty]

One of mine is deaf and she doesnt care, the other doesnt like the loud bangs though! First fireworks off yesterday! Bit premature ?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Mine are all conditioned to loud noises/bangs/gunshots etc but there were kids letting off fireworks (proper ones, not bangers and nothing to do with Diwali!!) at the end of the lane last night at 6.30 when it was still light, so I rang it through to the police non-emergency number, all the dogs in the neighbourhood were going ballistic. Mine were OK, the little one let out one bark but I think that was an outrage bark that I went outside without her, to check out what was going on.
I just whacked the telly up full blast and sat in my bedroom, which is at the back of the house, I don't know if any cops came out.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I was wondering about conditioning and whether I should be proactive about this instead of waiting to see if it becomes more of a 'thing' for her. Would it be like pairing firework sounds with rewards?

Sounds like an outrage bark was justified!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Yeah, teach her that its nothing to worry about ?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I was wondering about conditioning and whether I should be proactive about this instead of waiting to see if it becomes more of a 'thing' for her. Would it be like pairing firework sounds with rewards?

Sounds like an outrage bark was justified!

It's a tricky one as firework sound effects aren't really the same as the real thing but for sure you can try and create a positive association with what you have going on around you.

To begin wlth, don't string it out, when I was training my youngest to the gun it was bang, mark, a huge amount of food, half or all of her daily allowance and then put her away rather than doing the human thing of 'I must stay out for this amount of time/repetitions and distribute the food in even amounts during that period', go for big wins early.

When no one was around to fire the gun, I took her to hockey practice, the ball hitting the boards is very loud and sharp.

Start slowly at a distance and gradually come closer to any stressor and look for the signs in terms of body language.

 

[MurphysMinder]

One of my heelers is absolutely petrified of fireworks, but will sleep through the fireworks on the Sounds CD, so I don't really think they work for desensitizing. We have a hotel near here that has ridiculously loud fireworks when they have a wedding (which is frequently). After a lot of complaints they do now email people so I can make sure I stay in and wack the tv up loud but he is still aware of them. Hotel is a couple of miles away but you can feel vibrations from the bangs. Last lot, which were last week, were so loud that people on the fb page for a town 8 miles away put up posts worrying that it was explosions at a nearby RAF base !
Poor little guy is going to be very stressed the next 2 or 3 weeks as Bonfire night seems too last at least that long and of course there is no pre warning when the bangs will happen. Bedtime run in the garden can be very challenging !

 

[Morwenna]

Mine hasn’t heard any yet (the fact that the village display is back in this year is hopefully reducing the number of people who have their own). She’s heard thunder and guns firing at training and been fine with those but my old boy was an absolute wreck so I’m a bit wary (though he was fine for years and suddenly got terrified).

 

[skinnydipper]

There have been fireworks at some time during the evening round here since 13 Oct. My dog gets extremely upset. We have managed to get through them so far without resorting to medication but I will give her the prescribed meds when things get worse.

Someone thought it was a good idea to discharge fireworks at about 11 o'clock this morning.

People who buy or support the use of fireworks despite being aware they cause distress, injury and death to animals, need to take a good hard look at themselves.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

One of my heelers is absolutely petrified of fireworks, but will sleep through the fireworks on the Sounds CD, so I don't really think they work for desensitizing. We have a hotel near here that has ridiculously loud fireworks when they have a wedding (which is frequently). After a lot of complaints they do now email people so I can make sure I stay in and wack the tv up loud but he is still aware of them. Hotel is a couple of miles away but you can feel vibrations from the bangs. Last lot, which were last week, were so loud that people on the fb page for a town 8 miles away put up posts worrying that it was explosions at a nearby RAF base !
Poor little guy is going to be very stressed the next 2 or 3 weeks as Bonfire night seems too last at least that long and of course there is no pre warning when the bangs will happen. Bedtime run in the garden can be very challenging !

Yes timing what was the evening walk and then the bed time toileting is tricky! I brought her dinner forward half an hour so we could head out early. Not back 5 mins and a load went off, before it was even slightly dark outside. She's taken to her corner again but she's laying flat out/more relaxed instead of 'sphinx style' ready to get up and not with her back to the room/head shoved behind a box. Got some music going and lickmat ready. The walk was quite long so I hope that will help a bit.

It's a tricky one as firework sound effects aren't really the same as the real thing but for sure you can try and create a positive association with what you have going on around you.

To begin wlth, don't string it out, when I was training my youngest to the gun it was bang, mark, a huge amount of food, half or all of her daily allowance and then put her away rather than doing the human thing of 'I must stay out for this amount of time/repetitions and distribute the food in even amounts during that period', go for big wins early.

When no one was around to fire the gun, I took her to hockey practice, the ball hitting the boards is very loud and sharp.

Start slowly at a distance and gradually come closer to any stressor and look for the signs in terms of body language.

Perhaps if I somehow hide a generous portion of chicken to hand and wait until some go off and then bam! Chicken surprise! The fireworks sounds via speakers catch her attention but don't seem to bother her, at the lower volume anyway. I wonder if they could help with building the positive association, in case the real thing gets her too worried to care about chicken (which is quite worried as she loves chicken!). I guess like you say it might not translate over to the real ones.

There have been fireworks at some time during the evening round here since 13 Oct. My dog gets extremely upset. We have managed to get through them so far without resorting to medication but I will give her the prescribed meds when things get worse.

Someone thought it was a good idea to discharge fireworks at about 11 o'clock this morning.

People who buy or support the use of fireworks despite being aware they cause distress, injury and death to animals, need to take a good hard look at themselves.

Your poor dog, that must be hard to watch. It's hard when we can't just tell them it's all okay!

The ones going off at weird and random times is really annoying. At least in the 'peak' times we can try to adjust around these but if they are going off at random times including in daylight it's impossible.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I didn't find the sounds CD any use at all at desensitising any of mine. My older girl turns into a panting shaking mess at the first bang. She has been on calming treats for about 3 weeks and I gave her Zylkene as well for Diwali. Total waste of money, no better than usual. The other gets worried but not so panicky. We have two organised displays within a mile of us on Fri 4 and Sat 5 so for those times I think I will load the dogs in the car and drive somewhere quiet.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Pups are interested but not bothered. They were keen to go outside during the thunderstorm. Weirdos. Bear has never been bothered.

 

[Rowreach]

Our council decided yesterday that they are cancelling the huge town display that was meant to be taking place this weekend (we do fireworks at Halloween here, we don't do Guy Fawkes for obvious reasons ...). I was absolutely delighted at the news - not that my dogs are at all bothered by them and we're miles away anyway - but I've been told I'm being very unfair to all the poor little children who are missing out. I'm pleased for all the town animals, and I have never understood the logic of blowing up tens of thousands of pounds for entertainment. I struggle to enjoy a sparkler tbh

 

[skinnydipper]

Our council, who evidently can't afford to employ people to empty litter bins and poo bins from one week to the next, are putting on a free display, bragging about how loud they will be and selling ear defenders.

 

[SOS]

Gentle reminder that Diwali took place recently so perhaps some of the fireworks were from that? Not just early bonfire night.

I think fireworks will never be banned but they absolutely should be regulated to be only set off at organised events by designated people.

Regardless of the poor animals, most of the humans in the world shouldn’t be allowed explosives!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Our council decided yesterday that they are cancelling the huge town display that was meant to be taking place this weekend (we do fireworks at Halloween here, we don't do Guy Fawkes for obvious reasons ...). I was absolutely delighted at the news - not that my dogs are at all bothered by them and we're miles away anyway - but I've been told I'm being very unfair to all the poor little children who are missing out. I'm pleased for all the town animals, and I have never understood the logic of blowing up tens of thousands of pounds for entertainment. I struggle to enjoy a sparkler tbh

Same but I think it's more to do with cost than animal welfare!!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Gentle reminder that Diwali took place recently so perhaps some of the fireworks were from that? Not just early bonfire night.

I think fireworks will never be banned but they absolutely should be regulated to be only set off at organised events by designated people.

Regardless of the poor animals, most of the humans in the world shouldn’t be allowed explosives!

As I said, it's not for Diwali around here and no one does bonfire night, it's Halloween. And kids shouldn't be being sold fireworks, it's absolutely kids letting them off here.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I’m very lucky that P isn’t bothered at all, she actually has sat outside to watch a display (not mine!) once. And fell asleep halfway through.

I like watching them in theory, but wouldn’t set them off myself as know how much stress and devastation they can cause ?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I didn't find the sounds CD any use at all at desensitising any of mine. My older girl turns into a panting shaking mess at the first bang. She has been on calming treats for about 3 weeks and I gave her Zylkene as well for Diwali. Total waste of money, no better than usual. The other gets worried but not so panicky. We have two organised displays within a mile of us on Fri 4 and Sat 5 so for those times I think I will load the dogs in the car and drive somewhere quiet.

I liked that but I don't 'like' that. Poor pup.

Ivy is going to my mum's over fireworks night period. On the one hand feeling a bit worried about not being there but on the other I think it could end up being easier for her there as it's a less built up area so hopefully less going off.

Ivy spent most of last night awkwardly squashed in the corner again. This was apparently preferable to the cosy crate den she eventually moved into around 3am.

 

[skinnydipper]

It doesn't matter to animals who is setting off fireworks or what they are celebrating, the effect is the same.

 

[skinnydipper]

 

[fiwen30]

Fair few last night, many more tonight. Very weird - we’re at the end of a quiet cul de sac, and heard hardly any last year.

Mercifully dog and cats all seem chill, though I’ve got the windows closed, curtains drawn, and quiet music on. Partner is at work, so I’m just keeping the vibe nice and calm, and so no one is getting worked up.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Fair few last night, many more tonight. Very weird - we’re at the end of a quiet cul de sac, and heard hardly any last year.

Mercifully dog and cats all seem chill, though I’ve got the windows closed, curtains drawn, and quiet music on. Partner is at work, so I’m just keeping the vibe nice and calm, and so no one is getting worked up.

We had a handful quite close to us. Ivy is hanging out upstairs which is usual for her but she's been doing this new hiding in the corner thing. Keeping an eye on her via camera so as not to disturb her. Been up to see her, she's not too happy about them but doesn't seem to be shaking or overly distressed. We stocked up on chewy things today so we have some things to hand for actual fireworks night to keep her occupied and relaxed as possible.

 

[Escapade]

I'm lucky she doesn't seem to mind. Twice last year we've had them set off within about 20m of us (in town at 2 in the afternoon!) which at the time I wondered would it affect her negatively, but she still pretty much ignores them

 

[CorvusCorax]

Currently doing ablutions with Gary Davies' Sounds of the 80s up full blast on the phone.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

We had Strictly on at quite high volume but some very closeby mortar type ones actually made us feel like the house was shaking. P dog is refusing to have hugs but has simmered down enough now to be on a cushion next to DH.
Is it December yet?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I don't understand why some of them have to quite so loud/booming!

 

[CorvusCorax]

I see that all of the local community groups having fireworks have posted their start times to the local town page so people can keep their pets in, which is decent.

Some really loud types going off sporadically close to the house, will see what last walkies is like later....

 

[ArklePig]

It was really bad near me yesterday- my dog is a weirdo, she barked loads at them and has done over the last few days, the radio did nothing but when we were talking directly to her she managed to be distracted enough to not notice the majority of them. Keeping in mind this is a dog that 6 weeks ago would howl and bark at the sound of feet on stairs I was expecting much worse. Had to be talking directly to her though, not to each other.

 

[meleeka]

There haven’t been many near me. One of my dogs doesn’t like them but manages and the other, who loves to watch them, is deaf now so can’t hear them anyway. My FIL owned her before (he died 3 years ago) and I have a lovely memory of him standing on the back step with the dog on his shoulder oohing and aahing over them.