Any tips on keeping my dogs calm and relaxed during all the fireworks?

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cheers for all the good answers but some of them were a little weird! like "don't expose them to fireworks", i cant just stop the fireworks going off dumba55!!
and of course there is fireworks in oct, its nearly hallowe'en!! dont you have them near hallowe'en?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

If possible take the dogs away from them, kennel them at the vet or a doggie boarding place, leave them at a friends who lives where they are not setting them off close etc.

If they must remain
Bring them in the house
Put them in a room with the radio or tv on fairly loud
If the room has a place they want to hide like a closet or behind a couch let them
Some put rescue remedy (bach flower remedy) in their water or drops on tounge
Spearmint oil on paw pads is also said to calm a dog naturally
Last resort is to get a rx from the vet but still keep them inside and with background noise
do not coddle or tell them its ok, ignore anxious behavior, play if they will play, give a stuffed kong or work on sits, downs etc with treats if the dog will. Some get so wound up they refuse even their favorite food like chicken or beef cubes.

Some dogs can be desinsitized slowly over time but a large % of sound phobia is GENETIC and the dog simply can not help it nor can you train them totally past it. It can also be neurological. Sound sensitive dogs create sound sensitive pups and should never be bred.

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Asker's Comment:

i heard opf that rescue remedy, i have some upstairs actually!! i never thought of using it on my dogs!!

cheers!

Answer 2

what fire works do you have in OCT? And why dont you ask your vet that?
umm no we send our kids door to door begging for candy here haha.. Never saw any fire works in oct =-(

Answer 3

I've read stuff which says that you shouldn't pet your dog when it acts anxious, because in the doggy mind you are rewarding the anxious behaviour.
Our dog quivers and acts really pathetic if it hears a distant rumble of any sort during these dark evenings. If he gets too wound up I suppose I'd better get a sedative from the vet.

Answer 4

Distract them with a kong toy (one of the ones you put treats in and they have to work to get it out) or talk to them in a soothing tone of voice.
Or you could just not expose them to fireworks, if they really don't like them.

Answer 5

If you're keeping them inside, and the fireworks aren't close, they should be fine. But, if they are outside and freaking out, then try massaging the backs of their necks (it relaxes them) and talk to them with a calm voice. That should help them relax.

Answer 6

well, my friend used to have a dog that hated fireworks (he was called guy because he was born on guy fawkes night...weird)
she usedto keep him inside in the utility room- as it was warm and in the middle of the house and quite big - and give him lots of blankets and tops smelling of the family. This was when she went out.
There isn't much you can do but just make sure thgey cannot hear the fireworks...play some music or something and stay in if you can or make sure one person does. Try to keep things as normal as possible...
have fun (c:

Source(s):

my friend and meeeeee

Answer 7

Put him on some headphones or ear muffs.

Answer 8

when we have fireworks going off in my neighborhood i always keep my dogs in and with me when i do go out on bonfire night i make sure that i leave a radio on in the room they are all kept in so they feel alot calmer and don't tend to take much notice because they have loud music playing over them

Answer 9

put on the radio and they won't hear it or put the tv on they will fell comfortable

Source(s):

I have a dog

Answer 10

You can go to your vet and ask for a prescription that helps to calm them down. I keep them on hand because my big old dog who looks so scary is afraid of fireworks and thunderstorms! Good Luck to you. They really do help. Keep a good eye on your dog you would be surprised at how many dogs get lost or killed during both of the above mentioned events.

Answer 11

i also have a dog that is terrified off loud noises, i have tried medications , hypnosis, and nothing has worked, my vet suggested just leaving her in a room with the TV/ radio as loud as you can take it, last year it did seem to work, it was the first year she never wet herself, good luck

Answer 12

I turn on my radio for the dogs. Nothing heavy metal of course!

Answer 13

If this is something that has made them seriously distressed in the past, you might contact your vet and discuss whether a mild sedative would be appropriate for them.

Answer 14

Sedate them.

Answer 15

Only one that I know of. I keep the dog inside with me!!! Ha, ha, ha!!! I am petrified of fireworks even though I don't mind looking at them through the window.
When I was little my Uncle told me that the fireworks would come out of the sky and burn us as a joke. Apparently I didn't take it as a joke as today I still won't be outsides during fireworks.
My dog hides under the bed and I hide under the protective cover of the roof.
Quite a couple heh?

Answer 16

Sedatives. The only thing that helps my dogs on bonfire night. You have to go to the vet for them, but they do work if your dog gets really upset.

Answer 17

KEEP YOUR DOG IN A ROOM WITH CURTAINS CLOSED,LIGHTS OFF WITH SOME BACKGROUND MUSIC IF POSSIBLE .IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE GO TO THE VETS AND YOU CAN BUY HERBAL DROPS TO PUT ON THE DOGS TONGUE THAT CALMS THEM DOWN IMMEDIATELY. I KNOW AS I HAD TO USE THEM ON MY LAST DOG AND THEY DO REALLY WORK.

Answer 18

There's a pheromone you can buy that mimics it's mother's smell and is supposed to comfort it at times of stress. Vets will provide sedatives but usually they have to be taken for a few weeks prior to the event. Not much good nowadays unless you want a permantly doped up dog. Or there is the radio plus a nice secure place to hide. My favourite though is to ban the public sale of fireworks which would radically reduce the impact of stress on pets and wildlife.

Answer 19

My dog hated fireworks. It's called Gunshy.
Same as gunshot noise.
We live almost 5 miles from town and he would be scared when the fireworks would go off in town and hide in the bathroom.
I think you have to get them used to loud noises when they are very young.
Though there are some dogs that are just born that way.
Can you imagine a hunting dog like that?
What good would that be to a hunter?
Maybe you could just sit and hold them.

Answer 20

Keep your dog in the house.Close all windows, and doors, put dog in room with t.v. turn the television up (not full blast) just so it drowns the noise , but some D.A.P from the vets .Use d.a.p . Feed your dog pasta and whole foods 20 Min's before it gets dark , this can help your dog feel full and satisfied. Keep your dog in one room , if your dog starts panicking ,Ignore her , she/he will be watching you to lead by example.Just try a keep a relaxed calm posture

Answer 21

You can but firework sound cd's which would get your dog used to the sound.

Another one is to have something lavender sented. We burn a lavender sented incense or candle. this seemes to have a mellowing effect.
my tutor recomends letting your dog sniff lavender aswell.
Give your dogs a nice massage behind the ears and all over this may help to.
good luck

Source(s):

my spelling is bad sorry -x-

got qualifications in animal care

Answer 22

ignore the dog and dont react to her fear,if she sees that you are calm and not affected she will learn that its ok she wont be hurt. maybe a sedative on halloween night so you wont have to sit in too:)

Answer 23

sit with him stroke him and try make him relax try put loud music on if hes really bad see your vet they can give you a mild sedative to calm in down ...and make sure hes kept indoors ...i had this problem with my dog when i had him ... :)

Answer 24

You could try putting a tight fitting babbies t-shirt on him, this gives them a reassuring "hug" the dog ones are really expensive but I find a cheep babbies shirt work the same way. If really bad you could ask your vet about sedation?