I've got 3 dogs going mad due to the fireworks. Angel is shaking uncontrollably and panting, Diva is barking at every noise and Tiggs is like a statue he won't move. He is shaking also and panting. None of them have been out to go toilet for hours and no one has eaten. How are your dogs coping and do you give them anything to calm them?
My boy stands at the back door wanting to go and stand outside. He loves them. I think a lot of people forget to do noise training and desensitisation with their dogs or puppies. Such a shame to hear about all the nervous doggies and all the dogs that have to be drugged up
My 6 were not to bad as they were wearing their thundershirts & I have Daps plug-ins all over the house. @KitKat K9 has been noise trained (being my system alert dog) but 2 years ago a idiot let a depth charger off in the street outside my neighbours house & it made all the windows vibrate/rattle & K9 & the rest of my dogs went crazy non stop shaking, pacing & panting heavily, since then they have all hated fireworks.
This will be Chico's first Firework night - I am not expecting any problems, as he hasn't reacted to the odd one that's gone off and he isn't bothered by thunder or bird scarers. Bogie and Pepe aren't bothered either. Gertie the lurcher used to completely go to pieces during thunderstorms, but wasn't bothered by fireworks. However, one of my old border collies, Bill, was terrified of both fireworks and thunderstorms - it was pitiful to watch.
Little One was terrified of all loud noises as she got older and used to get behind the paperback books on the bottom shelf of the bookcase nearest my feet. She used to be fine with all noises but I think that the sirens and boom booms during Operation Cast Lead [December 2008 - January 2009] sort of tipped her over the edge, and until I lost her on 21 January 2010 she was just terrified of any and all sudden loud noises. Pereg has been OK so far B"H but she has started being a bit antsy when there is thunder, although I think that has more to do with the change in atmospheric pressure which seems to affect some seizure dogs. Luckily we do not get fireworks here except at weddings, when a short burst is let off once the happy couple are hitched - and as there is a Wedding Hall sort of connected to this Moshav, we obviously hear them, but Pereg does not seem to bother. She has also never bothered with the sirens and boom booms, although she does get a bit startled. Not distressed though.
Ive always been lucky that none of my dogs have been bothered with fireworks, when we first got Heiko he went crazy barking and running round like a lunatic at them, I used to start playing with him to divert his attention if he barked I just said Shhh! and carried on playing took a bit of time but now when he barks I just say shhh and he’s fine and goes for his ball. I don’t think there is a quick fix, most tablets need to be given few days/week beforehand to get into the system, trouble with that is you don’t always know when they are going to go off and I don’t think they really cure the problem just suppress it ,the youngster has probably picked it up from the other two. If possible id try to divert there attention somehow.
The only time fireworks go off here is to welcome in the New Year and they only last for 20 minutes or so and both the dogs would rush around the house barking but soon settled down once the fireworks has finished. Strangely enough neither Georgina nor Gwylim are worried by thunder nor the gun shots of the hunters which goes on from dusk to dawn most nights.
I give my two a Magicalm (5HTP & herbal) and they are OK, unless it's a very loud bang, and very close to - in which case they shout back! They did have to learn to be steady to a gun in Working Trials, so I think all that practice with cap pistols has probably helped. I have had some very nervous dogs in the past though, and it is upsetting not being able to help them. It looks as if the bangs are going to be well spread out this year - the two weekends and the night itself in between.
i think Phoeba has addopted a "dont give a poop" attitude this year. I have the hiding place ready but she hasnt been in it yet. She has had a good bark and the really loud ones but thats it. for once she is fine. im also not sure if she is ignoring them or cant hear the quieter ones (her age and years of ear infections ild expect her to be quite deaf) We normally have days of crying barking pacing slobbering panting following me around weeing in the house. But looking good this year. I have booked in her kennels over night for wednesday as i want to go the bonfire and the kennels is out in the middle of nowhere so they dont hear them there.
