My poor dog HATES the fireworks.

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fjudge

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She is actually terrified. Always has been, but im sure she gets worse each year
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Earlier i went and sat with her in the corner where she was hiding, we could hear her panting from outside the room and her breathing is almost out of control! Im sure she will pass out if she breathes any quicker!! But then....every once in a while she just stops panting and holds her breath!! I dont like it when she does that
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I lied with her and put a towel over her so her head was covered and just had one hand on her tummie. After about 10 mins, it stopped her from panting and calmed her a little. But i hate how scared she gets
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Anyone else have this problem with their dog?
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yes my poor little JR hates them too, he just barks and barks and last year he had a fit and we had to rush him to the vets
this year we have put the radio on so he can't here as many of them
 
Poor thing.

My two are not bothered at all. we even took them for a walk last night so the kids could see some fireworks, the dogs were just happy to go for a walk!
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I have a lurcher who hates the loud noise. a lady at dog training recommended Bachs Rescue Remedy as often helping, & then ignoring the dog as far as poss as comforting them reinforces their fear. Its very hard to do, but several people have recommended that we do this so am going to give it a try.
 
I know this is going to sound daft but try putting an old , fairly tight t-shirt on her - this works in the same way as the Tellington Touch technique and releases endorphins which will help to calm yuor dog.

Also try and get hold of some Skullcap and Valerian Tablets which will also reduce anxiety.

No firework problems here ( thank goodness !). We live in a VERY rural area and so have no neighbours close enough to hear and everyone in this area has animals too so hence the lack of fireworks
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One of my mine is petrified and reacts the same as yours, panting until I think he'll pass out. I've always done the same as you, comforted him, curled up on the bed with him etc but it never made any difference. This year I followed some advice and made him a dark cave in the kitchen where he goes when he's scared. I put his bed there and draped a big blanket between 2 doors to curtain it off. He went straight in there and was so much better this year than ever before. My new dog, who's not had a fireworks night here before, was also scared but he went into the cave and the 2 dogs sat it out in there for a couple of hours. It was hard because your instinct is to reassure them and make a fuss but they were so much calmer when I just left them alone.
 
Please don't take this the wrong way but by comforting your dog you are actually making things worse. When you comfort the dog they think you are scared as well which makes them even more scared. They think if the human, my pack leader is scared that this is far worse than I thought.

The best thing to do is find them either a box or a hole they can crawl into and ignore them. If you do't seem bothered and in their eyes you are akin to god they will gradually start to feel that it is nothing to worried about. They look to our reactions to see how to respond to things. So if you are scared of thunder the chances are your dog will be.

It is hard to do because it goes against what you are supposed to do as a caring human being but you ahev to ignore what is going on and carry on as normal.

Emma
 
Why would I take it the wrong way when my post said exactly what yours did? We all learn new stuff along the way when we're looking after dogs, that's why people post questions and ask for advice on this forum, and this year I learnt not to pander to my dogs fears and it worked, but thanks for confirming what I wrote as it's another option for people who haven't tried it.
 
To oneofthepack I have been on boards where you can say things in the nicest of ways and try and be as helpful as possible and you still get flamed, so I was just being cautious. The comment was directed to everyone rather than just you personally. I've not been here long and didn't want to upset anyone, just trying to be friendly
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Emma
 
Well its nice to know that its not just my dog that hates them!! (You know what i mean, not in a good way really, its just comforting!)

Funny a few of you should mention it, but we jyst got back from a day at a show with the horses and when we got home i opened the cupboard where all the coats are hung and its very dark, and just let her sit in there! She hasnt come out yet, so if she is scared, at least shes hidden away and i dont feel bad for not being with her.

We live in a very rural area, but seem to have had a trillion displays each night for the last week!!!! Good job the horses quite enjoy them!!! lol
 
Don't worry about it Emma. It can be hard to write stuff and not get it taken the wrong way.....I know, I did it myself not long ago and got roasted but we're all mates again now, I hope. Dogs back in their cave again tonight and it seems to have done the trick as they're much calmer than usual and it's like the blitz round here at the moment. Even I'm shaking!
 
Our pointer is oblivious to them but our border terrier is just terrified, like yours he hyperventilates and shakes like a jelly and hides under anything poor soul he hates them so much, infact he just hates bangs, a gun shot, thunder, a balloon bursting , you name it hes terrified of it, u only have to clap you hands at him and it sets him off
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im sure its not healthy
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My cocker couldn't care less about fireworks, but hairy mongrel went ballistic on Saturday night- trying to find somewhere to hide, panting, shaking, whining etc. Anyway, a friend gave me a homeopathic calming liquid (valerian mixture) to try, so last night we gave it a go.

The fireworks were a lot worse last night, but little dog just went to sleep. She jumped a couple of times at some really loud ones, and looked at me, but i ignored her and she was much, much better. So I'll definitely use the liquid again.
 
i really feel for you all my GSP couldnt give a dame, we were walking him last thuirsday night and we noticed a firework display and took him in...he stood there watching them with us!!!
 
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