Hi, this is Buster's first year of fireworks [he's 1 year old] and unfortunately he has reacted quite badly. We followed advice from this board which was basically to ignore his fear, carry on with what we were doing etc etc., but he went into the garden on Friday night and a massive firework went off, and we've basically not been able to get him out the door since. My son went to take him out yesterday and only got to the top of the road and Buster dragged him home, we've tried enticing him with all the games he loves to get him out in the garden during the day yesterday [loves "on your marks, get set ..."], he's got a spacehopper which we got out ... but to no avail. I have decided to just leave him to get on with it, he managed to rush out for a wee this morning and was back in very quickly, so at least he's still doing that, but he doesn't want to go out for a walk at all. I don't want to force the issue, but where should I go from here? Nicki

Nicki
I am wondering what to do on the night too.
We have had them going of for weeks around here and there were lots going off on Thursday night .
Gus hasnt reacted to them so far except for when one went whizzing past the kitchen door - it was really loud and really bright and even I couldnt help jumping .Gus ran!
Just wondering how I am going to let him out for a wee on the night without frightening him to death :(
My last Staffy, Sam, was petrified of them and its horrible to watch them so frightened
Lel

I was out walking Kindie last night and she was watching the pretty ones (Akitas have exceptional sight) with no problems. Then a huge 'screech bang' was set off in the field we were in. She s**t herself and bolted. I'm so glad i never let them off the lead, i'd never have gotten her back!!!!!
That thought got me so mad!
So, she bolted, with me on the other end of the lead heading for home. Then another went off closer to home, so she was stuck then between the two noises. She stopped dead, laid down and shook!! I was so upset for her, she's never been nervous before. I managed to lift her 11 stone lump of a body up so she stood up then we ran home. And i mean ran!!!!!
She got in, bolted upstairs and got into my bed, on daddies side, and i joined her. She was so scared!
Its getting well our of hand now! If that had been Mia, 4 months old, got knows what sort of a state she'd have been in.

High Lel,
I think that the 'fireworks' are going to be a problem for the rest of this week at least, (if not longer), with Wednesday and Saturday being the worst.
You asked about "The Last Wee". Well I take my Gas-Bucket out just before it starts to get dark, before the bangs and wizzes start, and again in the garden after 11 o'clock when, hopefully, most of the fireworks are finished. So far this seems to be working.

Why can't they just have 'Sparklers'!!!!!
regards,
Harry C.

Hi Harry
because he isnt making much of a fuss when he hears them now I am worried about him wanting to go out when they are all going off and then scaring the life out of him - eek - i hate them !!

I know it's a bit late for this year, but my Mother has been trying the Fireworks CD, along with a DAP diffuser. Her Golden always gets into a terrible state, barking continually and puffing and blowing and getting very agitated whenever he hears fireworks. Last night she could hear fireworks nearby, but her dog gave just one woof then settled down again! Lets hope it lasts!
:)

hello gemini,

taz is exactly the same with fireworks. He literally sits shaking and tries to fit into the tiniest places to escape. When you think of how loud the noises are and how many times noises are amplified to dogs it must surley be a racket.
Taz seems to be worse this year than last.
So far i have been ignoring him when hes crying and shaking, because i am going out wednesday night and i don't want him to depend on me for comfort from the noise.
I have been putting the television on slightly louder than usual, closing the curtains and keeping the lights on in most rooms-(he has run of the house).
I have filled his kong with melted cheese- (keeps him good for ages)- when i go out, to ocupy him.
Has worked so far xx good luck xx

Its so hard to act indifferent to fireworks when they make you jump as well though !
Lel

I must have the most laid back puppy ever!
Last night the next door neighbours had a long display (4hrs+ !!), I was a bit annoyed as they didn't even warn us :( . All was fine though all Khanu did was bark back at the other dogs barking! Even the ones that made me jump he slept through, can't believe my luck! :)

Sal is totally unphased by them (so far) fingers crossed. I will have to be out Wed night too as it's my niece's 11th birthday party. But won;t be gone long. So it will be a case of curtains closed telly on in each of the rooms and Sal in the kitchen with her kong.

Karen

Hi everyone, yes they're going off again now and he keeps hiding behind us on the settee, or cowering in his bed, depending on which makes him feel better at the time! It's very hard to ignore him, especially for the kids who desperately want to give him a cuddle, but I know from experience of other friends' dogs, that could make him a million times worse. The only thing I shoud be "grateful" for is that we don't live in the inner cities, a friend who lives in Brent has had them going off for over a fortnight now, and says it will go on for at least another two weeks, ours have really only got going in the last two days. Will try JG's idea next year though ... must think ahead! Good luck everyone. Nicki

I did'nt have a problem with Buddy last year (his first bonfire night), this year is totally different. He hates to go out when it gets dark and if were already out and one goes off he bolts for home almost choking himself in the process. I've tried not to give in to his fear and carry on walking him but it's so hard when you can see their terrified. Just a short while ago we were coming back home in the car and the fireworks were in full swing (the pretty ones) and i had all on getting him out of the car when i did he was trying to jump the gate (good job he was on the lead). He's ok once he's in the house just lays on whatever he feels like and if a loud one goes off he just lifts his head looks around then lays back down again-- it's just aswell cause it's like world war 3 out there.
Best wishes to all of you and your doggies hope they don't get too freaked out.
Budmag.

Were having to change our routine so the long walk happens in the morning and another one before tea so we miss the fireworks, in case. It s really annoying SB as he cant walk his dog until the weekend. It upsets me to hear terrified dogs howling all over the area. A huge GSD whos usually Mr Macho is a yelping wreck just now which is horrible.

This is Saffys third bonfire night (although very young on the first one) and she is still okay with them. We have not experienced any loud ones though while out walking yet. I just hope it lasts. My two cats didn't seem too bothered at first last night, but as the night wore on one of them began to hide. I hope they don't get any worse either. Hope your dogs don't suffer too badly.

Fiona and Saffy

Hi there

I don't know if they are any use but when I was in my local Pets at Home store on Saturday they had a display of what looked like mild sedatives - the girl behind the till said they 'take the edge off.'
Hopefully my Archie will be ok, its his first firework night and so far he only seems to bark once or twice at the very loud ones that make the house rattle!

Best of luck to all
Cathryn

My dog has reacted a bit worrried for the first time this year :( Her breeder used the Gwen Bailey fireworks cD on the litter at weeks old and so for the first few years she was totally fine.

I have invested in a DAP diffuser which seems to have just taken the edge off her reaction :)

We have also taken to quickly feeding her a choice titbit every time a firework goes off, and again this seems to help a lot. She is starting to associate the noise with pleasure - a piece of cheese, etc. She is already shaking less which is brilliant :) :)

Some dogs are so scared they cannot eat :( Isnt it awful? :(

I recently invested just over £20 in the fantastic "Sounds Scary" Cd. It is absolutely excellent and i highly recommend it. (Which one does your mum have, JG?)

It has 20 min. of whistles, bangs and screeches, 20 mins. of bangs and pops, 20 mins of complete fireworks, and from track number 4 onwards, individual firework sounds for use in Phase 2 of counter conditioning :)

I'm not attempting to use it yet, because i was a bit too late in buying it for this year but will start to put the programme into effect from maybe one week's time, after most of the fireworks have been let off ourond here, but before New Year!

I can't recommend the CD hignly enough. A friend has the CRash Bang Wallop one, but that has much less behavioural help and only a very few minutes of actual fireworks.

Sounds Scary has a very good instruction manual which explains about fear, phobias, why dogs have them and what makes them worse, how serious is the dog's problem, how to use the CD, desensitisation, counter conditioning, will the dog need drug treatment, how does the owner measure improvement and how to seek further help if necessary. It's available from www.soundsscary.com

Lindsay

does anyone know why some dogs find it so scary, especailly those that have been raised in happy homes from puppies while others are completely unfazed by it. i took out darcy on ur normal walk and there was someone having a display in the field so the forewoks were right above our heads and I dont think she even noticed let alone paniced about it.

are some dogs just wimpier than others or is it likely they were scared by a loud noise when little???

Any ideas anyone

Mine were all fine with fireworks up until the youngest were 2 years old. That coincided with the 'Millennium' celebrations, and a lat-night rocket nearly landing in our garden at last-wee time.

They're not too bad with the bangs, it's the screeches, whines and wails which terrify them.
:(

Hi Lindsay,
The CD my mother has is the Veterinary Calming Programme "Fear of Fireworks", by Claire Shorthouse.
:)

I don't know of that one, JG - is there a website for it do you know?

Lindsay
X

hi everyone, those fireworks are a pain and i may have the solution, i use these for my dogs as they are petrified,and get very distressed, i have been using these for 2 years now and they do work thet are called SERENE-UM, they make the dog calm and relaxed as if they had had a good meal and they are all natural, you can get them from the pet shop or buy them from the supplier. i found out about them on there website which is.
www.markandchappell.com you will get all the info you need, you can also get free vetinary advice from the online vet. i have emailed him a few times with various pet problems and he is very good.
give them a try they cost about £5.00 per packet for 30 tablets and do not have any side effects,they can even be given to pregnant bitches and nursing bitches i am using them with my bitch at the moment and she is nursing 7 puppies.
i hope this info is helpfull to all of you.
violet-anne

Hi,

My two dogs are fine but my mum's is petrified, my mum uses serene-um too and although they don't calm chloe completely she is a lot more relaxed. My mum used them last year and on bonfire night itself she appeared calmer than she would have been without them.

The other night my mum ran out and she was growling and walking up and down and couldn't relax but the next day with the serene-um she was much better.

I have one dog who isnt realy bothered, and then i have one who is under the computer desk with her head on my feet, she hates the fireworks. And so do i

My oldest dog is terrified of them and for the past couple of years, once the fireworks start going off he refuses to go outside when its dark. I got round that by whenever we left the house during the day, he would get a treat. Seeing as he's ruled by his stomach that seemed to do the trick. I have the DAP diffusers in and also bought the Sounds Scary CD but left it too late to start. I've also got him on Valium this year and he is much improved.

My dog club have obtained the Fear of Fireworks Cd at a reduced price of £15 if anyone is interested. I bought a cd last week and it is brilliant, also playable on the computer which is a great help.

Nij

Ooh, could you email me with the details please? Click on my name to get my address. Thanks.

well i hear people saying ignore dog, but as a few of you say it hasent proved to be helpful, my last two dogs have been showed what they are when pups / well months old ..by taking them to the window when first see fireworks and talk about them in a way ur dog will know is nice. i call her over to come see , and say ooo arent they pretty, she knows what pretty is cuz everyone calls her a pretty girl:D so pick a nice word and try it for those of you who ignoring never worked .my dogs now they sit at my window for hours.

if u think about it this way .... what do some behavourists recommend? the cds of the noises to be played , if there used to these things then they wont be so scared .

I have the opposite effect with my springers they love the bangs and want to go outside to see where they are coming from, they must think its a gun going off so have no fear.

Details received - many thanks, I'll look into it.
:)