numptynoelle
Well-Known Member
Im SO proud of the collie Im looking after at the moment
and a bit proud of myself too if Im honest (dead modest, me 
) This might be a bit of a ramble, reader beware!
Hes a lovely dog, but HATES fireworks he works himself into a right tizz, Wall of Death round the house, barking and whining and the occasional accident. I posted about it earlier this month if you want to read it here .basically, hes not a happy dog.
Well, I should probably rephrase that he WASNT a happy dog with fireworks but Ive put some work into him and hes so much better!
Based on the advice in the other thread, his owners bought a DAP diffuser (which I think really helped him not pining for his owners too) Ive also had the last few weeks off work so hes had his exercise upped too. Hes very treat-orientated (but not fussy, thinks his kibble is a treat) so the first night I had him and the fireworks kicked off, I just got up quickly, left the room and stood by his biscuit cupboard. Being a nosy collie, he stopped his wall of death long enough to check what I was doing still very twitchy and tense but I offered him a treat (kibble) and he was happy enough to take it. He calmed down a bit so I left it at that, with lots of praise. Next night, did the same but also asked him to sit, give a paw etc and he got a treat for each one. Cue a collie frantically going through his entire repertoire to get more treats. Hmm
The boys a quick learner, Ill give him that the next night I repeated the same and he was much calmer still tensed but much more fixated on his kibble than the fireworks. So, over the next few nights at fireworks time, I taught him to pick the fist that had the treat (he has to sit and put a paw on the hand Ive got the treat in) and he loved it. Ive also hidden some chicken under one of three beakers and moving them around. Hes picking the right one everytime.
As the days have gone by, hes so much more relaxed when the fireworks have gone off we havent had a single accident either.
Last night, after a rather strenuous day out well, I was knackered anyway I was on the sofa and completely forgot about playing our treat games at night. Dog was asleep on the sofa beside me, and the fireworks started. Busters reaction? He rolled over, opened one eye, farted, sniffed and went back to sleep. Ive never been so happy to hear a dog fart
. (I really need a new hobby )
Im just so chuffed his owners are back this weekend and Im just so proud of him, hes such a good boy! Lots of wine for getting to the end of this, I know it's very self-indulgent but I do think I've helped this dog and I feel all fuzzy inside (might be the pint I had earlier though) Good boy!
) This might be a bit of a ramble, reader beware!Hes a lovely dog, but HATES fireworks he works himself into a right tizz, Wall of Death round the house, barking and whining and the occasional accident. I posted about it earlier this month if you want to read it here .basically, hes not a happy dog.
Well, I should probably rephrase that he WASNT a happy dog with fireworks but Ive put some work into him and hes so much better!
Based on the advice in the other thread, his owners bought a DAP diffuser (which I think really helped him not pining for his owners too) Ive also had the last few weeks off work so hes had his exercise upped too. Hes very treat-orientated (but not fussy, thinks his kibble is a treat) so the first night I had him and the fireworks kicked off, I just got up quickly, left the room and stood by his biscuit cupboard. Being a nosy collie, he stopped his wall of death long enough to check what I was doing still very twitchy and tense but I offered him a treat (kibble) and he was happy enough to take it. He calmed down a bit so I left it at that, with lots of praise. Next night, did the same but also asked him to sit, give a paw etc and he got a treat for each one. Cue a collie frantically going through his entire repertoire to get more treats. Hmm
The boys a quick learner, Ill give him that the next night I repeated the same and he was much calmer still tensed but much more fixated on his kibble than the fireworks. So, over the next few nights at fireworks time, I taught him to pick the fist that had the treat (he has to sit and put a paw on the hand Ive got the treat in) and he loved it. Ive also hidden some chicken under one of three beakers and moving them around. Hes picking the right one everytime.
As the days have gone by, hes so much more relaxed when the fireworks have gone off we havent had a single accident either. Last night, after a rather strenuous day out well, I was knackered anyway
I was on the sofa and completely forgot about playing our treat games at night. Dog was asleep on the sofa beside me, and the fireworks started. Busters reaction? He rolled over, opened one eye, farted, sniffed and went back to sleep. Ive never been so happy to hear a dog fart
. (I really need a new hobby )Im just so chuffed his owners are back this weekend and Im just so proud of him, hes such a good boy! Lots of wine for getting to the end of this, I know it's very self-indulgent but I do think I've helped this dog and I feel all fuzzy inside (might be the pint I had earlier though)
Good boy!
owners are much harder to train 
