Dogs And The Silly Season For Fireworks?

[grandpajoe]

We have a new rescue Jack Russell Terrier about 2 years old and I am wondering what others do to calm their frightened pets as the bangers start to go off. The firework season seems to last about 6 weeks around here and as yet we don't know how he will react. We are praying that he wont be too frightened.

Chris alias GPJ

[woofgang]

pasta what's in it?
paddywak, I don't mean to be rude but with some dogs there is just a noise sensitivity that desensitisation, upbringing, NOTHING will address. If you've never had a dog like it, you go along thinking that all it takes is training, all it takes is the right experiences and so on. These are not my first dogs and all but one of the others has been unworried by fireworks thunder or the end of the world. That other one was fine until he was about 6, when we were out in the garden in the days before the firework noise legislation came in (around 24 years ago) not on firework night, when some fool in an adjoining garden set off one of the super loud "scream and explode" rockets that used to be available. He panicked then and despite our best efforts was fearful of fireworks from that day on.

[paddywak]

I know what you mean wolfgang and I'm not saying that you can train it out of every dog,it's just that all we can go by is our own experiences and in my own case my dogs have always been round gun fire and are quite happy with it.As I said I dont shoot myself now but Ioften pop up to the local clay shoot just to keep in touch and sometimes it's like World War III and loads of people have dogs with them, though I must admit most of breeds recognised as "gun" dogs

[woofgang]

All of mine have been HPR's and all but my current ones from working lines. We have never shot, but did sometimes hear gunfire from estates when we have been walking the dogs in the forest and it never seemed to worry them. Even after my old boy was terrified by the one going off overhead, gunfire still didn't seem to worry him, with my current boy, it seems to be the whistling that worries him more than the bangs. He is also terrified of thunderstorms and seems to be able to predict them before there is anything to hear. he is a better forecaster of storms than the met!

[grandpajoe]

No wonder I couldn't find the thread!!! I thought it was under pets. What a silly Bunt I am! GPJ

[RATTER15]

http://www.ideas-4-pets.co.uk/thundershirt-by-petlife-p-5077.html?gclid=CJz5zP7rqrkCFRMgtAodbUsATw

There you go Woofgang. They really work apparently.

[woofgang]

I have heard both good, bad and indifferent views of these Ratter. Do you know anyone personally who has found that they work? I am currently trying melatonin which is growing in popularity in the US.

[RATTER15]

Yes woof, we have a Wolfie friend that uses one. Funny enough they are now also used on humans with anxiety problems, we used them on some of our residents in the home I worked in but more in the way of weighted blankets, it gives a feeling of security, a bit like being hugged.

[woofgang]

interesting Ratter. Do you know what a sheet pack is? They are considered abuse now.
http://childmyths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/shades-of-snake-pit-wet-pack-is-back.html

[EDDIE51]

woofgang the weighted sheet technique is has nothing to do with wet sheetpacking.

[EDDIE51]

Weighted ' Blanket' I mean.
That and the 'Thundercoat' seem to be the old idea of 'swaddling' revived.

[woofgang]

Well but Eddie, the basis of all of them seems to be that being held tightly can be comforting.

[AB Editor]

We realised our dogs had all gone deaf when they stopped being afraid of fireworks.

They used to require a small place to hide (under a chair, table, desk etc) near you. As long as you're not scared of the noises you should be able to calm them :)

Or there's this:

[EDDIE51]

Yes, just had a Google and it seems swaddling is making a comeback. There are reports that swaddled babies are calmer and sleep better than normally dressed ones. The modern version of swaddling is a lot less restrictive than the traditional one though.

[EDDIE51]

I can't see my big black labrador 'Ozzie' putting up with headphones .
He would get them off and chew them to bits within a few minutes.

[woofgang]

I wish Ed. Mine try to climb on me, not to sit on my lap but to stand on my shoulders. They weigh a total of around 60+ kg so its no joke. Being calm with them just does not work, offering a quiet hidey hole doesn't work. When I stop them climbing on me, they will try to jump on chairs, tables, anything to get high. I spent last bonfire night(and quite a few before and after) with both dogs on leads, stood in a clear space in the middle of the room so that they couldn't hurt themselves. The one who is worst affected gets into such a state that he can't hear or acknowledge me. Zylkene helped a great deal but each dose costs 2 quid. I don't grudge a penny of it but sadly it seems to be becoming less effective with use. Apparently melatonin is very successful for dealing with all kinds of anxiety states in dogs and is growing in popularity in the US, so this year I will be trying that. I have used it already for some small thunderstorms and the effects were good but it is most effective when given before the event which of course you can't do with weather.
You have to be careful with the prescribed meds. With some dogs they don't remove the panic fear, just make the dog unable to express it in effect they still know what is going on and are scared by it but they are so doped up that the normal pacing hiding and so on is impossible.