Fear of Fireworks

[Jespah]

This is the Victoria Day long weekend in Canada - we all get together and remember and celebrate Queen Victoria! NOT - we mostly go to cottages, drink too much beer, and soak up any sun that we may be gifted with. Then all the slightly drunken people shoot off fireworks on Sunday and Monday night - right now as a matter of fact. Up the street at the school yard and on different streets around me the firecrackers and fireworks make it sound like a war zone. Unfortunately, my two dogs are absolutely terrified of them - no matter what I try and do to appear that nothing is wrong.

Rupert just climbed up on the sofa with me, then after a particularly loud blast, climbed up and got around my neck, where he promptly rolled off, wiped out a table and smashed a lovely pottery urn I had to pieces. Jemma, is just plain hiding. They are both panting and fretting - jumpy and looking all around. The best part is they will take weeks to settle down when we go out for evening tinkle, but then it will be July 1st, Canada Day - more fireworks, then Labour Day in September. I have tried with Rupert for years to get him to be fine with fireworks and I think while Jemma is uncertain about the sound, she is feeding off of his fear.

I take them out to tinkle and don't react to the noise or praise them - I tell them no, in a deep voice and make them stay out until they have done their business - which is becoming some kind of world speed record on Rupe's part.

Has anyone else had their dogs this afraid of fireworks or thunder?

[corgimom]

Cody is afraid of fireworks. Last July we were on a walk when this
"person" in his driveway with friends decided to shoot some off just as we walked by his house. Cody was terrified and had me running with him the rest of the way home. The people were laughing that they somehow scared him which I did not find funny. I will be interested to see what he does during this 4th of July.

He is not crazy about thunder either and usually goes to sit in the first floor bathroom until it is over. He doesn't pant or whine, he just lays down in there. The last time we had a storm, I played ball in the family room with him and he didn't seem to mind the storm.

[Denaluvscorgis]

Oh...my two don't like fireworks at all!!!!:SHOCKED:

[CorgiMum]

Poor Rupert & Jemma.+SAD+ And yes, dogs certainly do feed off of each other.

Montrose was terrified of thunder as a pup. I decensitized her over a period of many months. I made a recording of the thunder during one storm. I know that you can buy such CDs but had read that the actual sounds in their home area can work the best.

I played the CD everyday. At first just for 30 seconds or so, gradually buildiing up to a couple of minutes. I did it at our usuall playtimes, with lots of treats. Showing her that yes, there is that big bad noise, but it won't stop our fun! It worked. When we have thunder now, she has no reaction. Dylan will look at her and I guess think, well if it's ok with her, then it's ok with me.

It can be a long slow process, but of course well worth it to make our dogs feel safe and secure.

Fireworks are very controlled out here, rarely heard anywhere except in the big parks etc that put on the light shows.

[Cheetah]

Shippo doesn't seem phased by fireworks, but my other dog, Eevee, is terrified of them. During holidays where there are normally fireworks, I give Eevee a calmative tablet and set up her crate like a cave, with the blanket draped over, and a cushy bed inside etc. I diffuse lavender oil, and I turn on the TV to help drown it out. After a few years of doing this, she feels very safe during fireworks... although I'd never take her out to a display or anything. If we are out walking and there's a random pop in the distance and she shows signs of stress, I just start doing simple training with her until she calms down. Then we usually leave.

Eevee can tell the difference between recorded sounds and live sounds, unfortunately lol...

[MissGambler's+Mojo'sMommy]

Miss Gambler has a number of issues that we privately discuss behind her back, but she can handle fireworks, yet will run for cover at the smallest of Earthquakes! (I don't think that she misses CA all that much for that very reason.)

[dcole]

Poor Rupe & Jemma. Interestingly, last years 4th of July fireworks didn't seem to phase Trevor all that much. Interesting because he is usually so skittish around sudden, loud noises. Hopefully, he'll be OK this year, too.

As for being afraid of thunder, who can tell? It's not like we get much (needed) RAIN around here... :NAH:

[mtoy]

Millie is terrified of fireworks, and has a more regular fear of thunder. Years ago she slipped out of the house into the backyard when my son was lighting a smoke bomb. She attacked it and burned her mouth. So she's also afraid of fire and matches. I'm thinking about asking the vet for some tranquilizers for the 4th of July and other times there are so many fireworks going off. They are everywhere and it's mpossible to get away from them. She is just miserable and nothing has worked. Maybe I'll try the recording method Corgimum mentioned first? I have some time before July is here. It doesn't help that every single d@#n time we go to visit my inlaws we have to sit through an (illegal and totally unsafe) fireowrks show on their beach. Last year one shot the wrong way and nearly blew me to bits. Never again will I sit through one of those "shows". Idiots.+SAD+

[Dillydoodle]

poor rupert and jemma... Dillon is also very upset by fireworks... my husband lit some off last year for the fourth of july but not huge ones, only the roman candle ones but they all have a boom to them, and Dillon was panting and running around somewhere between confrontational and fear... he was acting like he wanted to protect me, but his inner child was scared to pieces... I have never seen Gus around fireworks yet so i dont know. Neither one are scared of thunder, but a big crack and they both will bark a bit...
Emilie

[Fluffypants]

Poor Rupe & Jem. +SAD+ I'm sure that knocking over the urn did nothing to help assuage his fears.

Jackie is afraid of thunder and fireworks, but has the same coping mechanism as Cody - go lie down in the bottom floor bathroom. It's the only room in the house without a window, and is very isolated / quiet. So she just goes down there until it's over, then comes back up a-ok. If we are outside and get frightened by one of those things, she pulls like crazy to get home (and is not at all pleased with me that I won't submit to being pulled!). But no panting or other signs of stress - she just wants to get to her bathroom! (incidentally - this is also where she hides from those scary bubbles)

I hope that one of the above suggestions will help ease their discomfort. I did once give Jackie a massage while some fireworks were going off near our house, and it did help her relax. Have you ever tried that? It's something that we are working on to help withour therapy work - in case she gets stressed during a visit.

[Marshy]

Recently, Dexter showed signs that he fears lightning & thunder.
He used to sleep through the worst pour & therefore I couldn't understand why the sudden change of behaviour.
Few weeks ago, we had bad weather for almost 1 week continueously.
Dexter whines so much & wanted to be comforted.
He poo a lot too - That is not his normal toilet hours.

I shared my observation with Artos & she also commented that Barnabas is behaving the same that week.
He became afraid of the thunder, curled himself on her head & sleep there. She had to physically disloged him, wrapped him in the blanket & hugged him to sleep.
He felt secure after that.

Artos humourously commented that we both have thunderstorm chickens :LAUGH:

[Fluffypants]

Recently, Dexter showed signs that he fears lightning & thunder.
He used to sleep through the worst pour & therefore I couldn't understand why the sudden change of behaviour.


Maybe he just feels more vulnerable after having his surgery and not being able to move around as well as he used to?

[Marshy]

Maybe he just feels more vulnerable after having his surgery and not being able to move around as well as he used to?

You may be right... he may feel more vulnerable after the surgery.
Just have to keep assuring him during thunderstorms that we will be there to hug him and calm him.

[Jespah]

I hope that one of the above suggestions will help ease their discomfort. I did once give Jackie a massage while some fireworks were going off near our house, and it did help her relax. Have you ever tried that? It's something that we are working on to help withour therapy work - in case she gets stressed during a visit.

I think my best bet may be getting a cd with the sound on it and disassociating them from the fear. Even when Rupe hears the sound on tv shows or commercials he gets panicked - so it may be a little rough going with the cd at first. I'd give the massage thing a try - but Rupe isn't the best with massage when he's in a good mood! And yes, falling and breaking the urn did not help him - it made him worse. Susan thinks Tucker is a velcro dog - but you ain't seen nothing like Rupert in a thunderstorm!

[Fluffypants]

I think my best bet may be getting a cd with the sound on it and disassociating them from the fear. Even when Rupe hears the sound on tv shows or commercials he gets panicked - so it may be a little rough going with the cd at first.

Just keep it on super low (super super low) at the beginning, and gradually turn it up a tiny bit as he gets used to each level. Good luck!+WUBCLUB+

[Marshy]

I think my best bet may be getting a cd with the sound on it and disassociating them from the fear

I will source for one and work on Dexter too.

[MVons]

Memories: In our first home, the fireworks were set off behind our house in the park. I had my fearful toddler on one side and my fearful dog on the other. My son had his ears covered and Pepper would hide her face when the sky lit up.

I was in practice from our doxie growing up. We would zip her in our jacket and every time the sky lit up she would tuck her head down my arm hole. I was little thing and had the most room in my jacket so we were buddies during the fireworks.

When Pepper got so old, she would barely raise her head when someone would ignite an illegal firework here in the mountains. Yes, Pepper preferred mountain life - no fireworks.

Merrie