I have talked before about our dogs. We have two Portuguese Podengos, one was a rescue and then we also have her daughter. Due to Lou Lou’s difficult start in life, she’s extremely anxious, 6 years have passed since we gave her a fresh start, but the damage had already been done. As a result of this everything scares her. It really doesn’t take much and so you how imagine how she dislikes Bonfire night and the fireworks which seem to go off for weeks either side of the night itself.
Dogs appear to be simple creatures, who are blessed with a happy outlook on life. However, The National Dog Happiness Survey carried out by natural supplement company Lintbells questioned almost 2000 dog owners about their dog’s happiness. They found that 9% rated their dog’s happiness at 6/10 or less. They also found that after moving house and the arrival of a new household member, firework noise was the main trigger of stress and unhappiness.
Lintbells vet James Howie says there are ways to reduce the stress of fireworks season and other fearful events,
“The first thing to understand is that noise phobias don’t get better with time – in fact in most cases the fearful reaction will become worse year on year.”
Consequently James advises pet owners to seek help from accredited pet behaviourists or vets;
“There are techniques that can be used to help support your dog through fireworks season Using supplements and other aids can keep dogs relaxed enough to accept these techniques without feeling too anxious. It’s vital to involve the experts, though ,to make sure you help your dog learn new habits that will stick and that you lower anxiety effectively.”
5 elements that are vital for dog happiness:
- Food
- Exercise
- Play
- Comfort
- Free from stress
YuCalm sent Lily and Lou Lou a happiness pack, which covered all of the 5 key happiness elements, including their supplement which helps to calm dogs.
Lintbells Top 10 dos and don’ts for pet owners this firework season
Therefore, if you want to give your dog a stress free fireworks night, then check out these tips.
- Do – keep your dog safe indoors. So ensure they have identification, such as a registered microchip and a collar with a disc including your contact details.
- Do – provide a safe hiding place indoors.
- Do – act calmly and normally. So providing too much fuss can reinforce the idea that there is something to be afraid of.
- Do – make sure the environment is safe if your dog starts to react in an uncharacteristic way.
- Don’t – keep the house in silence, a radio or TV can help mask the noise of fireworks.
- Don’t – leave your dog alone at night if at all possible.
- Do – draw the curtains or blinds and if necessary drape over additional fabric to muffle noise and flashes of light.
- Do – take your dog for a long walk during the day so they are more likely to rest or sleep in the evening.
- Do – think about using a supplement or other aid to help your dog feel calm and relaxed.
- Do – ask your vet or certified animal behaviourist for advice about longer term training. This can include desensitisation and counter conditioning.
Do you have animals? How do they cope with fireworks?
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.