| Reply to Thread New Thread |
10-06-2010, 07:24 AM
|
#1 |
|
|
 Suggestions on how to deal with fireworks
The Hawks just won the stanley cup Yay!
Unfortunately some people are blowing off fireworks that sound as loud as a tornado knocking a house down. My last dog was a boxer and was terrified of fireworks. We use to have to drug her and crate her. I was afraid she would have a heart attack when it went on for hours. Now Piper my brave girl is barking at the fireworks probably trying to scare them off. I'm not sure how to handle this. I've been telling her it's ok and trying to calm her. Should I be taking a different approach. Fireworks are not legal in my state but that doesn't stop people from blowing them off. Come the fourth of July it's going to sound like a warzone here with super loud explosions and I can't have her barking all day. |
|
|
10-06-2010, 07:28 AM
|
#2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 07:29 AM
|
#3 |
|
|
I think Piper is just saying that it should have been the Flyers...
|
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 10:35 AM
|
#4 |
|
|
Last year was Ike's first 4th of July. Most fireworks are illegal here, but we tend to let it go since the people around here gather up kids to see the pretty and are very careful where they light them and clean up after themselves.
Ike was scared and chose to hide under the legs of a friend. I told her not to pet him or in any way give him attention during the time he was fearful and upset because I don't want him learning that behaving in a fearful and upset manner will get him attention. About half an hour after the last firework went off he came out from under her legs and was fine. This year I am going to watch and see how the dogs react. If they are calm I will let them be. If they get upset I think I will try crating them in the basement family room while we watch the fireworks. Oh, and to make it even better.. We live about a mile away from our city fireworks big show and about 5 blocks from where the neighboring city does theirs. This means we have 3 different nights of big booms! |
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 11:29 AM
|
#5 |
|
|
So do you think by me giving her attention when barking and telling her it's ok I'm actually reinforcing the bad barking behavior?
|
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 11:30 AM
|
#6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 11:45 AM
|
#7 |
|
|
So do you think by me giving her attention when barking and telling her it's ok I'm actually reinforcing the bad barking behavior? |
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 12:24 PM
|
#8 |
|
|
When this happend with my previous dogs, my vet told me to place them in a safe room/crate, darken the windows and put a radio or tv on to drown out the booms. This worked for one but the other it didn't so the vet told me to give him benadryl a couple hours prior to and if that didn't work he would prescribe something stronger.
|
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 01:57 PM
|
#9 |
|
|
Out here there are only 2 options. Get used to them or bark at them. There are fireworks a couple of times a week. There were last night and already this afternoon. Most dogs pay no attention as it is normal.
|
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 03:49 PM
|
#10 |
|
|
For severe sound sensitivity, they make CDs of most problematic sounds. J and J Dog Supply sells some of them I think.
The way they work is you put them in and play them on low. Real low. Then gradually increase the volume. Then when the real thing happens, the sound is familiar. This isn't going to work for all dogs, but it will for some. I know they make the tapes of things like children, thunderstorms, and dog show sounds and barking dogs... Not sure on fireworks, but worth a peek. |
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 03:52 PM
|
#11 |
|
|
I agree with desensitizing them. I started with mine by having them around little fireworks (ones that weren't that loud) and working our way up. Since they are illegal in your states I would suggestion something like the CDs 2mnydogs suggested.
|
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 04:23 PM
|
#12 |
|
|
So do you think by me giving her attention when barking and telling her it's ok I'm actually reinforcing the bad barking behavior? Also just like kids, dogs take cues from us and our behavior. If you act calm and like nothing is amiss your dog is likely to follow that lead. If your dog doesn't get it right away, she eventually will. I also like the idea of desensitizing, if you feel it necessary. I'd buy the CD or even play fireworks loudly on the computer and go about your normal day and see if that helps her realize that nothing bad is happening even with the loud noises and that she is safe. |
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 04:28 PM
|
#13 |
|
|
I think Piper is just saying that it should have been the Flyers... 
|
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 04:33 PM
|
#14 |
|
|
omG are you from chicago too?????
i was hearing fireworks last night sorry i am no help to your situation though but this thread is helpful |
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 04:40 PM
|
#15 |
|
|
2010 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS!!!!!
                             as for the fireworks, i agree that your gonna have to desensitize the lil guy. maybe we should both go over the boarder to indiana and buy a bunch and make a day of it, celebrate the hawks and train our dogs sounds like a nice day to me haha perhaps try shooting guns to simulate the fireworks, start with .22 then work your way up |
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 04:51 PM
|
#16 |
|
|
omG are you from chicago too????? ---------- Post added at 09:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:50 AM ---------- 2010 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS!!!!! 
|
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 06:20 PM
|
#17 |
|
|
Ya Chicago Ridge actually lol... Hey Im down for a day of celebrating & training them to not be afraid lol |
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 06:45 PM
|
#18 |
|
|
according to mapquest, naperville is about 35 minutes out so not too bad at all, I am thinking about going to the parade tomorrow so I prob wont be that far away |
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 06:55 PM
|
#19 |
|
|
This has been a big conundrum for me lately...
I'm getting my puppy on July 2nd. My boyfriend LOVES 4th of July and wants to go out and hang w/ family or w/e. He thinks I should leave puppy in a crate in the recording studio downstairs and it'll be okay for me to go out and party. I think he's NUTS! Could you imagine: you get torn from your mommah, thrown in a box on a big whirring thing in the sky, only to be picked up by someone insanely happy but totally unfamiliar, taken to a new home that does not smell like your mommy or friends, meet a new giant hairy dog and a rabbit and two snakes, and then get stuffed back in your box and left alone in the f'ing basement as the world explodes?!?!?! I mean, maybe I'm taking it a little overboard here, but geez I could see it going really wrong. |
|
|
|
10-06-2010, 06:58 PM
|
#20 |
|
|
I crate during fireworks. It just makes the dog feel better to be in their safe place. And my dogs have always seen their crates or their room as a safe place. Sasha isnt crated often but she has a room that is her safe place. Don't let the dog outside for any reason without a leash. Dog may run off. Sasha gets extremely nervous when she hears/sees fireworks but when she goes to her safe place she curl up in a ball and goes to sleep.
I used to have one that wasn't crate trained and didn't handle a crate well that we had to sedate when there was fireworks. |
|
|
| Reply to Thread New Thread |
«
Previous Thread
|
Next Thread
»
Linear Mode
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|
