Fireworks - how are we doing?

[CorvusCorax]

I don't know if this will help anyone in future but I've just seen a product called Rex Specs Ear Pro pop up on my Facebook which might be of use to people who have dogs struggling with fireworks.
I think they're ear protectors for service dogs and I am not linking to any particular sales page but might be worth checking out for some of you.

 

[splashgirl45]

We have extremely loud fireworks at a school at the other end of my village but even though I am completely double glazed and made sure all the windows were completely shut, it’s still really loud. My current dogs seem ok, although one of my terriers wants to go out and sort them out… glad my last lurcher isn’t still here, she would have been a panting, crying wreck. My 7 month old lurcher boy seems ok so far…??

 

[scruffyponies]

None of my 4 bother.
New puppy (Presa Canario) obviously hasn't heard them before, but she is very selective (gives the impression of intelligent thought!) about what she reacts to. Fireworks don't make the list.

 

[monte1]

We are very fortunate that our three dogs (spaniels and lab) do not really mind them at all, perhaps because they have beat and picked up on various shoots ? - as they often want to go out to see if any birds have dropped after the bangs -
But, we have also always taken them outside to see what the noises are from puppies, same with thunderstorms and the like, to try to normalise the sounds.
I know not everyone's animals are so accepting but I am grateful that ours are not scared

Our horses are the same as there is a family shoot on our yard, they really do not care about the gunshots at all and any new arrivals soon learn that it is nothing to worry about from observing the behaviour of the other horses.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Whilst desensitisation can help, reaction to external stimuli can often be genetic.

 

[skinnydipper]

Noise phobia can start at any age and in any breed and can worsen if left untreated.

 

[paisley]

Whippet isn’t great with them. Used to be, then neighbours went to town one year, and he’s not really coped since.
We have our own improvised ear defenders for him?

 

[TheresaW]

Bo has been on a calmer for the last couple of weeks, and there are pet remedy plugins. There is a big display tonight over the back. Has been well advertised, so as prepared as possible.



Other Collie takes no notice at all. The 2 huskies, Luna gets a bit panty, Toby howls every time he hears a loud one. From previous experience, the display only lasts half hour at the most. It’s all the random ones that go off that really p me off.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

Our springers hated them, the younger one especially, she was terrified and there was no consoling her Unfortunately we lost them both last year and now have a sprocker who doesn't seem to take any notice of them at all, lets hope it stays like that.

 

[meleeka]

They are awful here tonight. Hopefully it’s because rain is forecast tomorrow night so people are having them tonight instead.

I’m not too happy with my yard neighbours who are having a party without any warning. I can see the bonfire over the fence about 30m from my stables so ponies aren’t happy but are staying out tonight.

 

[scats]

We got some calmers from the vets for our girls. Bess is the worst, she’s a nervous wreck. Her and Lily-Rose are snuggled in bed with me at the moment. Dread to think how bad they will be tomorrow.

 

[Ratface]

Whippet isn’t great with them. Used to be, then neighbours went to town one year, and he’s not really coped since.
We have our own improvised ear defenders for him?
View attachment 101811

He looks the spitting image of Queen Victoria! I hope it works!

 

[Morwenna]

Just heard the first fireworks here. The main village display is tomorrow but there are always some who feel the need to have their own so I was expecting some tonight as the weather is much better than the forecast tomorrow. I was in the middle of making some dog treats at the time and puppy was so absorbed in trying to eat the raw mix she didn’t even notice the fireworks. I let her out for a wee and she heard a few bangs, looked up a bit confused but had her wee and came in when I called and got a few still warm from the oven treats. Now she’s taken herself off to her crate for a nap. Fingers crossed the rest of the night and tomorrow go as smoothly!

 

[Alwaysmoretoknow]

Why do the bloody things have to be so 'flipping' loud? Surely the observational pleasure comes from the sparkling colours and not the hideous booming bangs? Luckily for me my selection of crocks give not one crap but lots of other animal keepers of all sorts of species aren't so fortunate. Would a petition for a ban on excessively loud fireworks be more successful than a blanket ban for all types maybe?

 

[Morwenna]

Agreed. It’s not just animals affected by the noise. My nephew is autistic and, while he likes looking at fireworks, he finds the bangs overwhelming. A lot of people with PTSD, particularly ex-military, are also really badly affected. Laser displays are so much better than fireworks I honestly can’t see why we still bother with them.

 

[Smitty]

I have absolutely no idea why these are still for general sale in view of the suffering, injury and damage they cause. And that is just the people who use them legitimately. It doesn't account for the mindless thugs who put them through letterboxes, tie them to animals, lob them into crowds, or, I read yesterday, try setting a fire station alight.

On the other hand, my dog loves them. He will spend forever in the garden telling them off or failing that, will sit by me barking loudly until I either play with him or give him a treat. It's a win win for him

 

[skinnydipper]

I have absolutely no idea why these are still for general sale in view of the suffering, injury and damage they cause. And that is just the people who use them legitimately. It doesn't account for the mindless thugs who put them through letterboxes, tie them to animals, lob them into crowds, or, I read yesterday, try setting a fire station alight.

On the other hand, my dog loves them. He will spend forever in the garden telling them off or failing that, will sit by me barking loudly until I either play with him or give him a treat. It's a win win for him

Barking could be his way of coping with anxiety caused by the fireworks.

 

[Smitty]

Barking could be his way of coping with anxiety caused by the fireworks.

I honestly don't know. If he hears them he demands to go outside and has to be lured back in. He will sit out there emitting a bark every 30 seconds or so. Once inside he will sit by me staring at me and barking until distracted with either a treat or a very dangerous (for me!) game with his squeaky ball - I have to try and take it and he pretends he is going to savage me, plenty of growling and posturing, whilst taking no notice of the mayhem outside. If they start whilst I'm asleep he will wake me up for a cuddle, and he is not very cuddly, so I guess that they do affect him to a degree.

My last chap was absolutely pitiful and would run round panting, trying to hide, urinate and drool, even with tabs from vet, thundershirt, calmer etc. It was dreadful.

But anyway, this year so far they have not been so prolific I don't think. Maybe we are both going deaf ...

 

[fetlock]

I'm absolutely dreading tonight.

After neighbours decided on Halloween to have a full on fireworks display, along with several others, my cat's been a nervous wreck all week, particularly bad last night, when fireworks were going off but not excessively.

So it's going to be a long and difficult night with her tonight.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I knew we had a display on just up the road from me last night so had given my dogs the calming treats they have been having for nearly a month now and added Zylkene to my older girl's food as she is worst affected. Display was due to start at 8 so I was intending to put ear defenders on the old girl before then but got beaten to it by some others going off. Popped her ear defenders on then and told her to go to bed. She settled looking anxious but not as stressed as usual and coped right through the main display. Only really got upset badly once when a very loud one went off close by that made me jump. All in all much better than I expected. Do it all again tonight as another display a mile away. I hate the noise and all the problems it causes.

 

[skinnydipper]

I knew we had a display on just up the road from me last night so had given my dogs the calming treats they have been having for nearly a month now

Could you give me the name of the calming treats, please.

 

[meleeka]

We used to give our dog a few squirts of Rescue Remedy on a treat. It worked very well.

 

[TheresaW]

Could you give me the name of the calming treats, please.

We bought some from a company called NutriPaw. Not sure how effective they are though. Bo is on YuCalm.

Luna was the worst she’s been Thursday night. Thundershirt will hopefully be here this morning.

 

[Birker2020]

Dog sat by the patio window as the fireworks were going off three gardens away so I opened the door, she stood outside, lifted her head to the sky and watched about six fireworks then came back inside when a screamer went off.

She's been known to sit in the middle of the garden watching them.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Could you give me the name of the calming treats, please.

They are made by Nutripaw. Dogs love them but not sure how much they have helped. Need a good loading period, not a quick fix. I added Zylkene as a boost. The ear defender I got here
Pip's Bootique: Anti-panic Snood for Dogs. I think that was a big help once she got over having it on.

 

[skinnydipper]

Thanks,@Errin Paddywack, @TheresaW and @meleeka.

I bought the anti panic snood last year. Also have a Thundershirt but didn't think it helped. Adaptil plug in and Pet Remedy plug in and wipes. 2 desensitising CDs - Sounds Scary and Zylkene CD. Also tried Zylkene capsules in the past. Through a dog's ear and Canine Lullaby CDs and downloaded calming music for dogs. I might have missed something

The Alprazolam on prescription works for her but if I would like to try and avoid it if possible.

Our current regime is Alprazolam then out for wee at teatime then the pair of us in the lounge with curtains drawn, TV on, and doggy calming music playing at the same time. She has chews, I throw small treats around the room for her to find and we run through some of her tricks. With a bit of luck she will settle down.

Yesterday wasn't good. When I took her out for a wee at teatime, fireworks started in the garden next door but one. It took her a long time to calm down. Then later, when the fireworks should have stopped at 11.00 pm, we went to bed about 11.30 only to be woken after 12 by earth shattering fireworks. It was dreadful.

Not looking forward to tonight.

I'll have a look at the Nutripaw treats and the Rescue Remedy that Meleeka suggested and see if either of those will help her.

 

[Morwenna]

Classical music / calming music for dogs did nothing for my old boy but we read a study that said reggae music helped so we tried it and it really did make a difference for him.

 

[SAujla]

They have been going off here since 5pm and still are now. I know of several dogs in my area who don't cope well and there is a lot of barking going on, mostly stress related I assume. They are so damn loud. A friend of mine has had great success with a tent indoors for her dog if it's worth a try for anyone, especially NYE

 

[fetlock]

Not been too bad a night for my little cat. She’s spent it next to me on the sofa and burrowed under a throw, with a face like thunder but relatively chilled overall.

 

[Spotherisk]

We live out in the sticks, there have been some fireworks, but also my husband is a shooting instructor, so loud bangs are to norm however here is Rew modelling upside down fluffy things for you! Seriously not impressed and couldn’t care less about fireworks.