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I personally wish that fireworks were restricted to well publicised communal events with fireworks not available for the general public to
purchase, with private fireworks made illegal. I know I am a killjoy, but it can be truly terrible for animals.
How you behave when your dog first encounters fireworks, or thunder, or bird-scarers is crucial.
However, if it's too late all is not lost. It is important that your dogs look to you for your own reaction, and to the extent that they trust
you to look after them (and having a trusting relationship with your dog is necessary where you are seen to be strong and brave, not
weak and nervous) they will follow your example.
You may need to get help from a professional to improve the balance of your relationship with your dog. For instance, if he/she is too
pampered he may be needy and insecure. She may need to learn some independence for her own sake. Some dogs, by their very
nature or breed, will be a lot more sensitive to noise and sudden happenings. Just like people. Some are more jumpy than others.
Jumpy is one thing. What happens next is down to you.
Tips:
Prepare in advance by working on a trusting relationship where the dog learns respect, so that he/she will know YOU are the
Protector and Decision-Maker. Too many people give their dogs this role. They obey their dogs' every whim. They allow their dog to
be on guard duty. This is where I can help you.
- Ask your neighbours to let you know if they are going to have fireworks - AND KEEP YOUR DOGS INDOORS.
- On days where there may be fireworks - around New Year and November 5th - and also late on Saturday evenings in the open-
air concert season - KEEP YOUR DOG INDOORS. Walks just are not that important. If the dog needs to toilet in the garden,
leave the door open so she can run in should she want to.
- Many dogs first experience of fireworks is when they are out alone in the garden and suddenly there is a very loud bang
overhead. The dog panics and may no be able to get back in. You may even be out. Some dogs are so scared that they
refuse to go out again, start toileting indoors and may even refuse to go for walks. Don't leave your dog out in the garden, or
even with access to the garden, when you are out.
- Keep calm and don't comfort your dog! You are compounding his fear.
- Allow the dog to find his/her own bolt hole and leave him to it.
- Try not to go out and leave your dog alone on nights where there may be fireworks. If you must go out, get someone to sit in
(and it's important they ignore the dog if there are bangs about).
People who are afraid of thunder and sudden loud noises invariably pass this on to their dogs, and in particular by comforting,
cuddling and 'reassuring' their dog. They anticipate their dog may be scared and react accordingly - actually causing fear.
If your dog is already scared of fireworks or storms, it is important that you act matter of fact, as though it is no big deal. Panic in the
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 daily
activities. Allow your dog to find his or her own bolt-hole, even if it means going under the bed in the bedroom where he's not
normally allowed, 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 correct to be frightened of fireworks.
When my dogs first encountered fireworks a few years ago I had three young dogs. All of a sudden the sky came alive with noise and
light. It took me by surprise! My neighbours were having a big firework party but had not warned us. The dogs were in their sleeping
place under my desk, but as their world exploded they were instantly up and at the door. I reacted exactly as I would if it had been
nothing special. I opened the door. Two of them ran out and came back in very quickly!! I said nothing and shut the door, pulled the
blinds down and went back to my desk.
I am not exaggerating when I say that they looked at me, saw I was chilled, and then went back to their spot under my desk. They
trust me to make the decisions because of the way I always behave with them, and this is what I can teach you. The earlier you start
before November 5th, the better.
The following weekend there were more fireworks the other side of my garden, and we all sat out under our covered veranda and
watched, just as we may do during a storm.
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