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Dogs And Fireworks
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Just wanted to share with anyone who has a nervous dog - my rescue collie is very scared of loud noises and anything new -much better than when I first had him but still very anxious and trembles at anything new. Anyway, a week or so ago we had some very loud fireworks on the next property (thanks for telling me neighbour!) and he threw his toys out of the cot big time. He was terrified.
So, downloaded a fireworks desentising track and began playing it on sound level 1 which is so, so faint I couldn't hear it but over a few days got the level slowly up to 25 without him batting an eyelid. Then another neighbour told me they were having fireworks in four/five days time (last night) - didn't want to spoil the way things were going with the firework training so got some Xanax from my vet for that night - this suited him perfectly and he didn't react to the noise at all even though it was pretty loud - when asked,he even went into a crate I've set up as a den for him which he has been wary of and never gone in before - apparently with other sedatives like ACP the animal can still hear etc but is unable to move but with Xanax there is no recollection at all (I know Xanax is only recommended for short term use and would never give it to him without just cause).
I'm sure there will be those who disagree with what I've done and have suggestions but, some AB dog lovers may find this works for them.
I hope so because the beastie is fast asleep next to me, no adverse effects from last night and the firework replay up to 100 (max)!.
Hope someone finds this helpful
So, downloaded a fireworks desentising track and began playing it on sound level 1 which is so, so faint I couldn't hear it but over a few days got the level slowly up to 25 without him batting an eyelid. Then another neighbour told me they were having fireworks in four/five days time (last night) - didn't want to spoil the way things were going with the firework training so got some Xanax from my vet for that night - this suited him perfectly and he didn't react to the noise at all even though it was pretty loud - when asked,he even went into a crate I've set up as a den for him which he has been wary of and never gone in before - apparently with other sedatives like ACP the animal can still hear etc but is unable to move but with Xanax there is no recollection at all (I know Xanax is only recommended for short term use and would never give it to him without just cause).
I'm sure there will be those who disagree with what I've done and have suggestions but, some AB dog lovers may find this works for them.
I hope so because the beastie is fast asleep next to me, no adverse effects from last night and the firework replay up to 100 (max)!.
Hope someone finds this helpful
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We've been lucky the *** (female dog) we lost in August, right from the first year we had her, just sat by the patio doors and watched them, never twitched, the big bold boy we have now is not so keen but just gets himself a quiet spot out of the way 'til it's all over, the downstairs bedroom seems to be favourite since we moved here.
Oh the wonders of modern science.My father was a Police dog handler /trainer.
His picture with our "wardog" is in the avatar. That was a patrol in Cyprus 1956 attached to 45 Royal Marine Commando.
That dog was the bravest most intelligent working dog I have ever known and believe me I have seen hundreds.
He tackled armed gunman,survived pipe bomb attacks in the Panhandle etc etc.
He had no problems with any gunfire or fireworks whatsoever.
He was, however, petrified of Thunder. It turned my best schoolboy pal into a shivering wreck.
If he could get into the house via our attached lean-to outhouse where he lived he would climb up the stairs into my small bedroom and burrow under my bed clothes. If my bedroom window was left open he would jump out of it onto a jutting concrete roof above the front door and always be found in the Garage Sergeant's Office about 3/4 mile away shivering under his desk at Hendon Driving School.
That dog could sense an approaching storm hours before any human.
He could be trained to ignore all explosive bangs and function brilliantly as he was trained to do but could never cope with thunder.
What my father would of done to have that recording device to accustom my trusty pal to thunder storms.
His picture with our "wardog" is in the avatar. That was a patrol in Cyprus 1956 attached to 45 Royal Marine Commando.
That dog was the bravest most intelligent working dog I have ever known and believe me I have seen hundreds.
He tackled armed gunman,survived pipe bomb attacks in the Panhandle etc etc.
He had no problems with any gunfire or fireworks whatsoever.
He was, however, petrified of Thunder. It turned my best schoolboy pal into a shivering wreck.
If he could get into the house via our attached lean-to outhouse where he lived he would climb up the stairs into my small bedroom and burrow under my bed clothes. If my bedroom window was left open he would jump out of it onto a jutting concrete roof above the front door and always be found in the Garage Sergeant's Office about 3/4 mile away shivering under his desk at Hendon Driving School.
That dog could sense an approaching storm hours before any human.
He could be trained to ignore all explosive bangs and function brilliantly as he was trained to do but could never cope with thunder.
What my father would of done to have that recording device to accustom my trusty pal to thunder storms.
My biggest fear with Mac is that proper fireworks outside are completely different to a recording played inside - there are vibrations and soundwaves etc associated with 'proper' fireworks so I suspect he's going to need the backup of drugs to overcome his stress - I'd prefer not to but the stress he undergoes is not funny so for the sake of a few pills occasionaly I'll try and spare him that.
Agree it's a pity your father's 'wardog' couldn't have been helped at least a little by tapes etc, but thunder, like fireworks has hidden forces we all don't pick up on but our dogs do - anyway we can only do our best for them can't we?
Lovely to hear about your father's wardog - bet he was a cracker - brave men and dogs together.
Glad to hear your patience and training is paying off RSVP - Fireworks are one of those sounds that you can't normally help your dog with until the time comes around again, so the recording idea sounds great.
Luckily, our hound isn't too bothered about them, just snoozes, but we took him to very noisy places as a pup to get him used to bangs and crashes (airports/ steam railway stations/ markets and walks in fields when there were farmers shooting nearby) so I think that may have helped with the firework bangs.
The cats however..... good grief! they are petrified even though I've been shutting them inside from 6.30pm each night. Must pop out and get a feliway - Can you get Feliway type plug-ins for dogs too? Might this help also RSVP? Just a thought.
Anyway, thanks for sharing that, I will look into the recordings and see if they work on cats too....
Luckily, our hound isn't too bothered about them, just snoozes, but we took him to very noisy places as a pup to get him used to bangs and crashes (airports/ steam railway stations/ markets and walks in fields when there were farmers shooting nearby) so I think that may have helped with the firework bangs.
The cats however..... good grief! they are petrified even though I've been shutting them inside from 6.30pm each night. Must pop out and get a feliway - Can you get Feliway type plug-ins for dogs too? Might this help also RSVP? Just a thought.
Anyway, thanks for sharing that, I will look into the recordings and see if they work on cats too....
Peaspeculiars I'm not sure about the downloads for cats but I don't see why not -except that cats are so bent on world domination they may not have time to sit and listen to fireworks but certainly worth a try - stock up on medical supplies though.
May try a pheremone type collar or diffuser - will see how things go but thank you for suggesting it. I believe the collars need to be quite close to the skin and he has a very thick ruff but it's certainly an option.
Good luck with the cats (don't forget to register your blood group with the medics first though)
May try a pheremone type collar or diffuser - will see how things go but thank you for suggesting it. I believe the collars need to be quite close to the skin and he has a very thick ruff but it's certainly an option.
Good luck with the cats (don't forget to register your blood group with the medics first though)
As you've probably found out through your research rsvp, thunder shirts don't work for every dog which is a pity. However it worked for mine at first, and it still works to a degree, but he was still getting distressed but not so badly after I put it on him at the weekend. So I gave him 1mg tablet of Melatonin and that really helped. I shall do that again on bonfire night. Mine even hates the sound of heavy rain on windows.
As it's the swaddling effect of the TS that comforts, you could wrap a long scarf quite tightly around his torso and see if that calms him a little before you go to the expense of buying one. Just a thought;-))
As it's the swaddling effect of the TS that comforts, you could wrap a long scarf quite tightly around his torso and see if that calms him a little before you go to the expense of buying one. Just a thought;-))
Thank you canary42 - really kind words which are appreciated.
Ladybirder I'll try the scarf swaddling trick, many thanks for the tip. Don't have a problem buying Mac.... aka' He who is using up my pension fund at an alarming rate'.... a thunder jacket but as you say, it isn't going to necessarily work on him. He will have whatever he needs but there's no sense in wasting money.
He also hates heavy rain but have downloaded a track of heavy rain and one of hail as well as the fireworks one so hopefully we'll overcome that fear too given time.
Have had the fireworks on most of the time lately and he's pretty chilled about it - my ears feel as though they're bleeding though.
Stay well
Ladybirder I'll try the scarf swaddling trick, many thanks for the tip. Don't have a problem buying Mac.... aka' He who is using up my pension fund at an alarming rate'.... a thunder jacket but as you say, it isn't going to necessarily work on him. He will have whatever he needs but there's no sense in wasting money.
He also hates heavy rain but have downloaded a track of heavy rain and one of hail as well as the fireworks one so hopefully we'll overcome that fear too given time.
Have had the fireworks on most of the time lately and he's pretty chilled about it - my ears feel as though they're bleeding though.
Stay well
I realize we all have a schedule and I also realize that many of us (including your's truly) simply don't take the time to interact to all those that answer our questions or otherwise provide information, But... it is deffinitely impressive that rsvp takes the time and effort to respond to each and every response... just barely short of amazing! Thanks, rsvp!
For a more natural approach there is an organic plant extract for dogs with anxiety here: https:/
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