Is your dog scared of fireworks? Here you will find our top 10 tips for helping a dog that is scared of fireworks!
According to the UK Kennel club, it is reported that a huge 80% of dog owners have said there dogs show signs of being scared of fireworks. Noise phobia is a real problem that dogs experience and has to be dealt with in a calm and sensible way.
Signs that your dog is scared of fireworks may present as
- Hiding, cowering, shaking
- Flattening of the ears
- Panting
- Licking lips
- Whining
Most of us are already aware how our dogs feel about the approach to Guy Fawkes night or New year as they start displaying some of the above. But how do we as owners protect our dogs from this? What can we do to lessen the anxieties?
As a professional behaviourist company we have helped owners up and down the UK and abroad, to help their dogs to get through this difficult time. Here are our top 10 tips for helping a dog that is scared of fireworks
1: Using sound training to help your dog get used to fireworks.
A preventive measure that can be used in advance of fireworks. Streaming or playing a CD of fireworks sounds, on a regular basis throughout the year. You can start with treat rewards when the sound is playing, also using praise or giving them a favourite toy can be seen as positive association by your dog. Then a pause of the sounds followed by resuming and only rewarding while the sounds are playing. Repeat this method a few times waiting for your dog to be expectant of a reward while the sound is playing. You can gradually increase the volume over time and get your dog used to all the banging and whizzing. Be sure that you are not causing any stress to your dog with the noises, look out for the signs of anxiety as listed above, This is not a guaranteed method but in many cases can desensitise your dog to fireworks. We also recommend changing the recording from time to time so they get used to different sounds and not just associate with one particular noise.
2: A long walk/mental stimulation exercise before the fireworks start
Getting your dog tired ahead of the evening festivities can be a useful way to help them to be more relaxed during the celebrations. We suggest more than their usual daily walk routine, go that extra mile and throw in a few fun games. For example, hiding treats in the grass or woodlands. Make them sit and wait while you hide the tasty delights and then allow them to use their noses to sniff them out. Repeat this several times to allow them to expel that mental energy. When you return home, give them a rabbit ear or something they can lick, like a Kong toy, this will further help them to calm down after the exercise. It may just be the answer to helping them to be less scared of the fireworks.
3: Making a safe space for them to hide
Maybe your dog bolts off to their crate or under the bed when the fireworks start. Don’t stop them from doing this!! If anything make this the safe place for them to go. Add a cover to the crate and put something in it to occupy them, like a high value treat or a Kong Toy with some doggy peanut butter. Put a blanket under the bed or behind the sofa or introduce a new toy to them. Trying to stop your dog from using its safe space is not going to help them conquer their anxieties, it will only make it worse. Allow them to find a place where they feel calmer and don’t make a fuss.
4: Distraction can be a useful tool for some dogs
When the fireworks start, try to engage your dog in some form of play. This can be throwing a ball around the house or using a lure. Perhaps a good old fashion game of tug with a rope is all you need to help your dog disengage from the outside distractions and focus on the positive play with you. Many dogs that are highly food motivated, so using high value treats and food can be another positive way to keep them distracted. Our 12 year old German shepherd has become nervous of fireworks in his old age. We hide some cheese and tuna chunks around our house and let him find them while the noise is going on, this has worked well for us and allowed him to focus on his favourite thing “Food”
5: Stroking your dog and staying calm yourself
It is important as owners that we stay calm, not allowing ourselves to be stressed by our dogs actions can transfer over to them. We recommend getting them to sit or lie close to you and giving them long calming strokes. This action can have a really positive outcome for some dogs that are scared of fireworks.
6: Anxiety Vests
This method relies on your dog being used to wearing a thunder jacket. You should be training them to be comfortable wearing one ahead of any firework times of the year. Just like swaddling a baby, a tight vest can have calming qualities for your dog. We have recommended this one here and they come in many sizes.
7: Dampen the noise
Just like the recordings of fireworks method to help desensitise your dog from the noise, using calming music can also help to dampen then noise of the booming sounds the fireworks make. Drawing curtains, using a cover over the safe space you have provided can help too. We also used the vacuum cleaner as method to drown out the noise which worked well for our dog.
8: Medication
Scientific studies show more than 50% of dogs in the UK that have been prescribed medicinal remedies have seen stress and anxiety reduced in their dogs during fireworks noise. As a professional behaviourist we always recommend consulting with your vets before trying any calming sprays or pills. It is important we believe to use medicine as a last resort and first try one or a combination of the other methods.
9: Combining your efforts.
As stated above, maybe you will need to implement a series of the above tips to help your dog. Most of the time it will be trial and error until you find something that works. By trying our tips out though, you may find a way of helping your dog through this difficult time.
10: Seek professional help
If you have tried everything and your dog is showing traumatic behaviour then seeking professional guidance may be an option for you. As we have worked with 100’s of people and their dogs with noise phobia, it is quite possible that we can help you and your dog find a solution to at least reduce the fear and anxiety that fireworks or indeed any loud noises that trigger them. Studies show getting ahead of this problem and introducing methods to our dogs when they are puppies, will seriously reduce the chances of the developing noise phobias. All though for some, the sad fact is that they may never quite manage to be calm. But we can still still be responsible owners and put the effort in to help our beloved pets.
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