Is your dog afraid of fireworks?
| Published: 9th October 2008 09:55 |
I personally wish fireworks were restricted to authorised community events and not available for private purchase. I know I am a killjoy, but fireworks can be truly terrifying for dogs, cats and horses.
How you behave when your dog first encounters fireworks (or thunder, or bird scarers) is crucial. However, it's never too late to improve things. It is important that your dog looks to you for your own reaction, and to the extent that he/she trusts your calm leadership he should follow your example - if you give the correct signals.
Tips:
- Prepare in advance by working on being leader of your pack so that your dog will know YOU are in charge of protection and decision making. You may need help with this.
- Get help with desensitising your dog. This can't be left until the last minute.
- Ask your neighbours to let you know if they are having a firework party - and keep your dogs indoors.
- Don't walk your dog or let your dog out after dark on nights when there are likely to be fireworks. Many dogs first experience fireworks when out alone in the garden. You may even be out. Some dogs are so scared that they don't dare go out again in the dark, start toileting indoors and may even refuse to go for walks.
- Try not to go out and leave your dog alone on these nights. If you must go out, get someone to sit in.
- Most important of all - keep calm and don't comfort your dog! Panic in a dog is pitiful to see, but it's very important that you don't fuel it. Draw the curtains, turn the TV up, and go about your normal activities. Allow your dog to find his or her own bolt-hole, and LEAVE HIM ALONE.
If you reassure your dog it does three things:
- Comfort and fuss passes on your own feelings of concern and worry - this may be concern for your dog rather than the fireworks, but your dog doesn't know that.
- 'Reassurance' does the opposite of reassuring, and merely tells the dog that there is something to be reassured about and makes the threat a reality.
- Fuss and cuddling rewards the dog for his fearful reaction, and tells him it is right to be frightened of fireworks.
© Theo Stewart, ‘THE DOG LADY' Canine Behaviour Advisor
Theo Stewart is a Member of the Association of Intuitive and Natural Training for Owners and Dogs (http://www.intodogs.org/)
For help, please call Theo on 01767 641070 or email: theokm@aol.com
Website: http://www.theodoglady.net/
