i have an 11 mth staffie bitch, she was scared on 5th nov. but last night and tonight she is crashing into doors walls anything in her path , nothing seems to connect, food toys other dogs  she is terrified. have been trying advice by dog trainer to ignore her and behave normally, its seems to traumatic for her to ignore  thanks sorry

It's horrible seeing them so terrified, isn't it? :(  The advice to ignore her fear is very sound, because dogs read 'reassurance' as 'praise' - ie, you're reinforcing their belief that a fearful reaction is the correct one. But it's very difficult for us, with our human outlook, to respond in a way that seems callous and uncaring. I can entirely sympathise.

My lot were always fine with fireworks until during the false Millennium celebrations a misaligned rocket exploded at about 15 feet over our garden - when all the dogs were having late-night wee! After that they became gibbering wrecks, who'd try to dig through brick walls and concrete floors if they were confined when fireworks went off - even firework noise on the TV would mean one wet himself in fear. :(

Last night that dog was the only one who insisted on lap-sitting while he quivered with fright; a vast improvement I put down to using (and following the instructions to the letter) a CD of firework noises. My other dogs weren't bothered in the slightest.

I suggest you try this - it's made an enormous difference to us.

thanks for your response , she was ok till some joker threw a banger quite close ( not intentionally at us) . sounds like a really good idea, i will definately start trying to desensitize her now, hope fully she  will be  less traumatised next year; jeangenie can you tell me where to find one . appreciate your advice

i have a dog who is absolutely awful with any noises - makes my life pretty hard it could be traffic, trains, slamming of doors, thunder, fireworks, etc...
i found ignoring her actually made her worse and so i try wrapping a towel or sleeping bag around her and hold her very tight. it calms mine down slightly but then mine always seeks reassurence instead of crashing about the house.
not sure what else to suggest as i found desesetisation doesn't work with mine - it can be at full volume and she sits there as calm as ever.
good luck and staying calm your self helps alot
also if you know there are going to be fireworks a good stodgy carbohydrate meal helps make them slightly sleepy.
also putting cotton wool in their ears and bandaging their head loosly also calms mine down as she can't hear them as much.
another idea is a tee shirt on her - a doggy one does best as they are fitted- this helps make them feel secure like a baby with a safety blanket.
good luck
hth
anna

my last breeding bitch (not this one the one before her) dove thru a glass window because of new year fireworks once we had an emergency trip to the vets she ended up being stitched in so many different places. Now when ever i know there will be firworks i put dogs/pups in the laundry because there are no windows and nuthiung they can injure themselves on if they get stressed

anna, thanks, i do feel a need to contain her as she is crashing around, woudnt like her to get injured, or in turn injure our other dogs. i locked them in another room last night, for their own safety, like wise the cats. cheers

Poor little thing. Mine usually bark like mad at fireworks, but for some reason last night they didn't utter a sound. The damn things were so loud they were scaring ME, but not a squeak from the dogs - weird!! I wish they could stick to pretty lights and not always bangs. :-(

fireworks I hate them. My mum lost her westie and we think she died with the fright :(  I hate the loud bangs  and they make me jumpy so god knows what it does to our poor doggies .  Should be banned ps she was old sorry didn`t mean to upset you or anything

thanks for the advice and empathy to all, wish they didnt bang

I don't think anyone's mentioned the DAP yet, this is something we've found extremely helpful although some owners say it has made no difference to their dog's fears.
We now get one for Nov 5th and start about 2 weeks before, and also get one for New Year now.

My dog will now snooze through bangs unless they are literally next door in which case she will just come and sit close to us, there is no shaking or fear like there has been in the past.

Out of interest, my dog was brought up by the breeder to be used to loud noises and fireworks with a tape from the Blue Cross, and it worked well for the first year, but fireworks are  something she became frightened of later, after some unexpected bangs close by.

Lindsay
x

I have a dog that is scared of them too...where do you buy the cds from?...sound like it might be worth a try.

Did anyone see the New Year firework display in London on tv last night? as beautiful as it was, I couldnt help feeling sorry for any dogs that lived nearby!

My dogs have always been scared.  Someone suggested that if they could actually see them they'd be a lot better.  Well on bonfire night, myself, Carina, Anton and Lydia (the last three are my dogs :d)  all sat on the settee, I opened up the curtains and they were actually mesmerised by the different colours shooting up in the sky, they didn't quiver at all. 

My mum and dad's pup was petrified last night and actually weed everywhere.  I wondered whether the let them see trick would work for her and it did !  She actually sat through tonights fireworks with no problem!

I know that this won't work for every dog but I'm actually shocked at how much mine enjoyed them being able to see them.

Surely this is a gun dog breed and as such a few fire works should'nt affect them. They should be quiet at home working the Beat and on the gun line.

Staffies (as mentioned in the original post) aren't a gundog breed! Besides, fireworks make a very different noise to gunfire.

:d It was hinted at me!! 

Yes my breed are a gundog breed but there is a large difference between the gun going off and loads of fireworks.  The sound of the gun doesn't bother my dogs at all!  Oh and by the way I have done some gundog training and also have sold some of my pups as working dogs and they've done very well THANK YOU!

I'm sure that there are many working gundogs who aren't bothered one bit by gunshot sounds but are by fireworks.  As I said if they are outside or able to see why the noise is there they are fine.

>where do you buy the cds from?...

I've seen them in Pets at Home.  I've used them too, very good, although some dogs can tell the difference between the CD player and outside but still it desensitises them to the sound.  I played mine until Sheba ate, breathed and slept fireworks :-D

>Someone suggested that if they could actually see them they'd be a lot better.

I know I am lucky because my dog doesn't take any notice of fireworks, car door banging shut is something else but fireworks she's ok with. We have a side room and I caught her Bonfire night standing on back legs watching fireworks.  I stood with her for a couple of minutes but she must have got bored and went to bed and slept.

Last night I was getting pretty fed up with someone very close by letting off very loud banging fireworks (not just bangers these were booming :rolleyes:)  but luckily even these didn't bother our dog.

>Surely this is a gun dog breed and as such a few fire works should'nt affect them. They should be quiet at home working the Beat and on the gun line.

wish that was true , my goldens get piss scared.