Why Now?
I know it only seems like the end of summer, but this really is the time to start preparing your dog for fireworks (if you haven’t already!). Particularly young puppies who may never have experienced fireworks before. If we can prepare them, their first experience won’t be so scary!
Preparation should be a slow, gradual process. It isn’t something you can do over night. The sooner you start, the better prepared your pup will be!
Photo by Jonas Von Werne on Unsplash
Stay Safe
Firstly, as much as I enjoy my pet trailing I would ALWAYS rather be searching for a pretend lost dog (a “runner”) rather than a real missing dog!
The sad thing is that things like fireworks can scare dogs so much they bolt. They escape from gardens or run off on walks. So, the priority should always be that we keep your pets safe. Even if you think they would enjoy coming to a bonfire with you – they would probably rather be safe at home! Walk them earlier while it is light then when it is dark and fireworks are more likely to be going off, keep them safe inside with doors and windows shut.
If you do need to take them out at night for a last wee break, then make sure they are on lead and that your details on their collar tag are up to date in case the worst were to happen.
Dens
A den or safe area (like the one cartoon Maisy is in above!) is an ideal starting place. This should be available ideally at all times so your dog can start to see this as a safe, comfortable place to go to, rather than you bringing it out randomly one night when fireworks start.
A soft pop-up style crate can be ideal as these tend to provide more cover, but a normal metal bar crate can also work, just make sure there is plenty of comfortable bedding and blankets for your dog to dig around in. Some may even bury under the blankets so provide them this opportunity. Even cover the top and sides of the crate with a blanket to help muffle sound and flashes of fireworks (or lightening!) as this can bother dogs just as much as the sound. That’s why it is also worth shutting your curtains and turning the TV on to muffle things further!
Try to position the den in an area away from windows, ideally in a quiet part of the house. If your dog has hidden somewhere before when there has been fireworks, then consider placing the crate there (behind the sofa for example).
Enrichment and Training
Tracey from No Fuss Fill and Rachel from Nose to Trail with Lickimats!
Enrichment items such as Lickimats can be really beneficial when you start introducing the sound of fireworks to your dog. I joined together with the owner of No Fuss Fill to discuss how best to do this in our Facebook Live on Tuesday 13th September 2022.
You can now watch the recording back below. Please note the special offers (e.g., buy 2 LickiMat products and Ready Rak and receive a FREE bandana and Fish4Dogs mousse) are available for a short time only, but you can continue to use code Nosetotrail on www.nofussfill.com for other special discounts.
The Dogs Trust Sounds Scary PDF that we refer to during the video can be downloaded here. Please do take the time to read through this great resource from behaviourists Bowen & Heath before attempting to use the Sound Cloud tracks to prepare your dog for this year’s up and coming fireworks season.
It is so important to go slow and steady when desensitising and counter-conditioning your dog to sounds they are scared of. If you have any questions, then please do get in touch and I can spend some time going through this with you further.
Consider Additional Support
For some dogs, herbal or pheromone-based products can supplement your preparation and support your dog through fireworks season.
Adaptil plugins are a synthetic pheromone which replicates calming messages emitted by a lactating bitch. These should be plugged in and given time to diffuse around the area. Resist the urge to turn it on and off! They are best left turned on so that the product can build up (don’t worry you can’t smell it!).
There are also products like Dorwest’s Scullcap & Valerian tablets which contain ingredients which have naturally occurring anti-anxiety properties, which can be helpful for some dogs. Please note these are different to medicines. Any medicines for anxiety must be prescribed by a vet.
If your dog found last year’s fireworks very challenging (shaking, drooling, pacing and unable to settle) then you should consider speaking to your vet about potential medication and also referral to a Clinical Animal Behaviourist (like myself and fellow APBC members) for further help and support than can be provided in this blog post.
I hope you have found this blog helpful!
If you would like to get more on going support on a range of dog training and behaviour topics, then why not consider joining the NEW Nose to Trail membership which opens in October 2022.