Fireworks

Fireworks and dogs just don't mix.

Don’t get me wrong. I love to see people having fun and I’m really not a kill-joy (I'm NOT!), but I do wish you couldn’t buy fireworks in the High Street. They are dangerous, frightening and they scare the living daylights out of animals. Not only dogs and cats but, round where we live, the poor seagulls are terrified too (well, they sound terrified).

Tips if you have a dog frightened of fireworks:

1. Make sure the curtains/blinds/doors are all closed and perhaps leave the television or radio on to mask the noise. Closing the curtains will also help with the flashing lights in the neighbourhood.

2. Try to ignore what’s going on outside. If I see something that I think my dogs could be scared by, I usually start singing gently or telling them a story. This is not because they’ll understand ‘The Three Bears’ or like the song, but it simply ensures that I don’t start my, ‘It’s okay, there, there,’ routine. This can alarm them to something unusual going on. If I’m singing/reciting something, I’m keeping calm and unaffected by events.

3. There are appliances that you can plug in - pheromone diffusers - which disperse calming chemicals into the room.

They can be purchased in the form of a plug-in, spray or collar device.

Find out more about the Pheromone Diffuser at Pet Supermarket

4. As a longer term solution, you may want to think about a Dog Therapy CD that has recordings of scary sounds such as fireworks, thunder, fireshots etc. There is a booklet to accompany the CD which shows you how to build up your pet's tolerance of scary sounds.
The idea is to start off with it playing quietly in the background and to build up slowly. If you follow the instructions your pet will come to associate these sounds with positive things and next year's Bonfire Night may not be such a traumatic time.

To find out more and purchase the Noises and Sounds CD go to Pet Supermarket

5. Alternatively you could use the alcohol free version of Bach Flower Remedies' Rescue Remedy. This contains Rock Rose for terror and panic, Impatiens for irritation and impatience, Clematis for dreaminess, inattentiveness and to counteract faintness, Star of Bethlehem for shock and trauma and Cherry Plum for irrational behaviour and fear of losing self control.

Most of these negative emotions are what a dog will feel whilst fireworks are banging and clattering outside. 4 drops of Rescue Remedy 4 times a day in the dog's water, on his food or even on his paws, on the day of the fireworks should assist the dog to remain calm and balanced during the fireworks display.

For more information on using Bach Flower Remedies for your pets please visit www.saritasung.com.

For some great training products including those for dogs scared of fireworks,
visit Pet Supermarket.

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