Hi, Buster is a 2 year old male staff, very well adjusted, friendly dog.  Fireworks NIght was a bit of a nightmare, the fireworks started about a fortnight beforehand, as you all know, and his reaction was to bomb up and down the stairs, looking for places to hide, generally terrified.  We tried to ignore his behaviour, but generally he would be most settled squeezed up sitting behind one of us on the settee.  His fear grew to not giong outside at all once it was dark, but once Fireworks NIght was over we thought everything woudl be okay.  He has become increasingly jumpy when out for a walk, one night somebody knocked on a door knocker and that made him drag me all the way home, until we have got to the stage now where he will barely go out of the front door, even in day light.  I have been unable to take him myself recently due to work commitments, however my husband and son have had a daily nightmare, I actaully watched my husband the other day trying to get him up the road, coaxing, cajoling, trying to run with him, Buster would go a few paces and then stop.  Once he's in the park, he's fine, but it's actually getting him there which is a five to ten minute walk.  He is generally much jumpier at home, he's always been scared of the ironing board [!] and the scraping of chairs on a wooden floor, but banging cupboards now make the ears go flat, although he's not at the shaking stage, I do wonder what to do.  My gut feeling, I have two weeks off now, is to take him out every day myself during day light hours and desensitise him again to loud sounds etc.  I've had some brilliant advice on here in the past and I'm hoping for some more!  Thanks in advance for any tips you an give me, Nicki

Dont you just hate Bonfire Night when you have animals. Our 9 month old would bark when she heard the fireworks so we turned up the telly and talked over them jsut kept talking to her and reassuring her, it was very difficult but she came through it ok,didnt like going out at that time in the dark so we stopped for a few nights. I am sure that you are doing the right thing by trying to desensitise him. I am no expert but they say they pick up on your stress so are you feeling ok or is that part of the problem, understandbly so if it was.There are people on here who will be experts and can give you speciific advice I'm sure. I wish you well, it will work out!