Fireworks Night…….(and New Years Eve).
As fireworks season looms many of us are starting to dread the effect it has on so many of our furry companions. Dogs especially can experience severe fear reactions to fireworks, with a recent study by the University of Helsinki finding 72% of dogs exhibit anxiety related behaviours, over 50% of that being loud noise related and 32% being highly fearful of fireworks or thunder.
Whether mild or severe it is good to arm ourselves with the knowledge and equipment ready to minimise anxiety or fear for our dogs …..and so often for ourselves also as not all of us love the loud bangs, bright lights and whooping from large gatherings of people!
At least as humans we have some comprehension of what all the commotion is about but for dogs it can literally be the worst night of their year.
Common behaviours you might see include -
*Barking or whining
*Shaking and trembling
*Escape. Running away to places of safety such as under chairs or beds
*Seeking reassurance from owners such as pawing or staring
*Pacing. Unable to settle
*Panting
*Salivating
*Pulled back ears and/or tucked under tail
*Excessive cleaning
Your reaction is very important-
*Whilst it is natural and instinctive to want to comfort and cuddle your dog throughout the fireworks this will only reinforce the idea to them that there is need to be anxious and increase the likelihood they will display the same fearful reaction next time they encounter fireworks.
*Ignore signs of fear.
*Act as you normally would on any other night of the year. Acting differently will add to your dog’s stress.
Preparation is key-
*Pull the curtains or blinds and put on the television. There is little point putting the television much louder than usual as dogs have excellent hearing and are still aware of the outside noise.
*Distraction is vital. Chews or a Kong style toy filled with something super tasty is a great distraction and has the added bonus of the chewing and licking promoting the release of happy hormones that will relax your dog. Puzzle toys are also a great source of distraction and will tire your dog as they need to use their brains to get to the tasty treats inside.
*A quiet and safe space is always welcomed any time of year. If your dog hasn’t already got a safe quiet space to retreat to, consider creating one. This might be a quiet comfortable corner, a crate with the door open or a den bed.
*Go for a good walk and play some treat finding games well before night draws in to tire your dog out and promote rest.
*Feed early as a full tummy will promote sleep and let your dog out to toilet well before nightfall and the start of fireworks. A carb rich dinner will also promote sleep.
* A recent scientific study by Mills et al (2018) found thyroid problems, cognitive dysfunction of older dogs and pain are linked to noise fear. It is important if the fear has suddenly started in an adult dog or if you suspect your dog is in discomfort or pain you seek advice from your vets.
Prevention is better than cure!
*Whilst some dogs are naturally more prone to anxiety than others it is beneficial to all dogs for owners to get them used to ‘scary sound’s’. Getting young dogs used to all sound early in life will help prevent or minimise sound fears later in life.
*Dogs Trust have a free soundtrack you can download online. https://soundcloud.com/dogstrust/sets/sound-therapy-sounds-scary
Don’t forget slow and steady is key! Introduce the least frightening sounds first and build the sound volume up very slowly and only when your dog is showing no fear to the current volume. Reward calm behaviour and ignore fearful behaviour and stop the soundtrack if it is too overwhelming for your dog.
*Sometimes dogs are too anxious to be in the right state of mind to learn they are safe and the fearful or loud noise is not going to harm them. Consider using one of the many calming supplements available. Your vet will be able to advise on this.
*Look after yourself and your own emotions. As dogs are so in tune with their owner’s emotions and will often mirror them, if you yourself find fireworks night a challenge your dog will likely be anxious too.