Handling Fireworks Night With Dogs
Recent research shows that over 60% of dogs are fearful or reactive to the noise of fireworks. This shocking number is only comforting in the aspect that many others experience the same head-in-hand ‘how do I help you?’ moment. Applied to the UK dog population, this shocking statistic means that a whopping 5.5million dogs become extremely fearful on the same night! So whilst we can only applaud the small European towns that have banned loud fireworks to protect the elderly, youngsters, people with disabilities and pets, we encourage you to do your best to help your furry friends throughout the festivities.
We know it may seem a little early to be preparing for Fireworks Night, Diwali and New Year, but we can promise you, the more time that you put into helping your dog settle and relax on these special occasions, (and surrounding days) the better!
Setting up for Success:
We know you have heard it before and we will keep shouting it from the rooftops until we are hoarse! Setting your dog up for success is the no.1 key piece of advice we can give you. Instead of whacking the TV at full volume and hoping that Fido doesn’t hear a peep, trying to teach your dogs that the muffled pops and bangs are nothing to fear will give you a much greater chance at predicting their behaviour.
Our first piece of advice is therefore, to START NOW! Think of it a little bit like the dog version of Systematic Desensitisation. If you, as a human, had an intense fear of spiders, popping a huge tarantula on your hand and asking you to be relaxed would be a bit of a nightmare all around. You would (understandably) panic, the spider would freak out and be more likely to run, and you certainly wouldn’t be inviting us round for a cup of tea any time soon! Instead, if we gave you a month to slowly desensitise yourself to the idea of a spider, the feel of it in your hand and even how it looks, you would be more likely to understand that it’s not as much of a threat as you originally thought, and, though you still really don’t like it, we have removed much of the risk of panic!
It works in a similar way with dogs. If you gently (and we mean gently) expose your dogs to the necessary processes below that you will take during fireworks night, you have a greater chance of them understanding what is going on and that it’s not all new, scary and confusing. Even the cleverest of dogs get their tails in a knot with sudden changes in their routine, so try to introduce these slowly and positively with lots of nice and calm ‘good dog’s’ and food enrichment!
Our second top tip is the Adaptil plug in. This nifty piece of kit mimics the pleasing hormones that our dogs thrive off, and it’s a great way to encourage a calm and positive atmosphere in the home. This way, you can begin to interrupt the anxious pacing and cortisol production happening behind your dog’s eyes and give them more of a chance to make rational decisions.
Avoid the Festivities Yourself:
We do all love a chance to get together and celebrate. However, having a dog is a huge responsibility, and when you take on the cute button noses, the cuddles, companionship, laughs and adventure, you must also take on the duty of care when it comes to fears, training and lifestyle – at some points, this does mean sacrificing the odd event. Fireworks can be terrifying to your dog, so we strongly advise that you rain-check any plans to attend displays, parties or bonfires, and stay home to help your pups cope this year. Even dogs who seem confident and chilled out can get frightened of loud noises when left alone.
Build a Den:
Crate training your dog is a common controversial topic in the animal industry. We can be clear here, that whether you decide to crate train or not is entirely up to you, though positively introducing a den-like area can be made much easier if your dog already loves his crate. If you are averse to using an enclosed crate, having one with the door removed can offer that safe space within your boundaries.
Whether you have a crate or not, filling this area with familiar cushions, blankets, bedding, toys and treats is the next step for teaching your dog that this is a safe and happy place. It is important to leave your dog to settle in here alone, especially if you have young children or a busy household. This is now your dog’s safe space, where no one, or thing can get to them.
Walk your dog in the day - Even in the Week’s Surroundings:
Most of us can resign ourselves to one or two difficult firework evenings here and there, but managing a fearful or anxious dog can become a much bigger task when the festivities begin to seep into new weeks. At this point, it is best to throw in the towel and manage your routine as best you can. Keeping your dog away from night time walks will prevent the risk of a firework causing them to bolt. If you find yourself with no option than to travel with them at night (on your way back from a dog-friendly office perhaps?) then keep them on a lead just to be sure!
Pee and Poo Breaks:
When you gotta go, you gotta go, right? One of the most challenging parts of this season is trying to find a break to take your dog out for a loo break in between explosions! It’s a challenge we have all faced and not one to be taken lightly. There is one sure fire way to beat the guess work here… puppy pads!
It might not be to everyone’s taste, but forcing your dog into the garden, only for them to be confronted with their biggest fear, can lead to adverse associations with said garden in future.
Food Enrichment:
Find out what works best for your dog’s brain, be it Kongs, Licki Mats, scatter feeding or hiding treats, engaging and distracting your dog’s brain works wonders at getting them off the panic wagon. Food enrichment is also a great way to plan. Introducing your dog to a high value food toy only when it is filled with the good stuff can help keep them focused for hours when needed!
Hidden Hazards:
We would love to say that we live in a world of upstanding members of society who clean up after themselves, though we all know that this is often not the case. Be aware of broken, used or discarded fireworks or lighters on your walks out, and be sure to have full control of both the ‘come’ and ‘leave it’ commands before letting your dog explore!
Building a trustworthy support process ahead of fireworks is the best way to keep your dog cool as a cucumber, whilst also keeping your blood pressure down. Remember to hold your nerve when you hear a firework, and don’t draw any attention to it – even if your dog still shows signs of expected anxiety or fear, they will thank you for doing your best to help them cope.
