Comments on: Fireworks & Pets: Tips for a Low-Stress Holiday http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/ The Dogster Community Dog Blog Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:35:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Peanut;s fave mommy http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-739321 Peanut;s fave mommy Sun, 05 Jul 2009 05:17:25 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/?p=17998#comment-739321 Peanut is deathly terrified of fireworks, but he is comfortable with thunderstorms..Maybe it's because I love thunderstorms and I consider them comforting. I am very calm during fireworks and I pretend to ignore them so he doesn't freak out. Tonight he followed me through the house and pitched a fit when I closed the bathroom door with him on the other side. There were several moments that I wanted to go outside and shake the heck out of my neighbors for setting off the firecrackers and scaring my poor baby. I will not ignore him when he is upset, I pat him and give him tummy rubs. It is too painful for me to see him upset and I can not touch him. Peanut is deathly terrified of fireworks, but he is comfortable with thunderstorms..Maybe it’s because I love thunderstorms and I consider them comforting. I am very calm during fireworks and I pretend to ignore them so he doesn’t freak out. Tonight he followed me through the house and pitched a fit when I closed the bathroom door with him on the other side. There were several moments that I wanted to go outside and shake the heck out of my neighbors for setting off the firecrackers and scaring my poor baby. I will not ignore him when he is upset, I pat him and give him tummy rubs. It is too painful for me to see him upset and I can not touch him.

]]> By: Lori and Adam Chewbacca http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-739242 Lori and Adam Chewbacca Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:33:01 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/?p=17998#comment-739242 It helps that there are videos of firework displays not only for the dog but the owner as well. With all my dogs in the past I always played movies of fireworks before the 4th and on the 4th. If you do not make a big deal of the noise they get used to it and ignore it. Adam Chewbacca is not afraid of fireworks or thunder but he knows it bothers me cause of my migraines. When there is thunder close by he growls at it like go away till it stops. To him the 4th and New Years are just a normal day except that places are closed so mommy spends more time with him. My other dogs got used to it after a few years and did not get upset either but I had to work with them. Lori and Adam Chewbacca It helps that there are videos of firework displays not only for the dog but the owner as well. With all my dogs in the past I always played movies of fireworks before the 4th and on the 4th. If you do not make a big deal of the noise they get used to it and ignore it. Adam Chewbacca is not afraid of fireworks or thunder but he knows it bothers me cause of my migraines. When there is thunder close by he growls at it like go away till it stops. To him the 4th and New Years are just a normal day except that places are closed so mommy spends more time with him. My other dogs got used to it after a few years and did not get upset either but I had to work with them.
Lori and Adam Chewbacca

]]> By: Miley's Mommy http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-739192 Miley's Mommy Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:48:04 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/?p=17998#comment-739192 Miley does not like firecrackers. She's terrified of loud sounds. I have decided to stay home this 4th of July in order to make sure that she's comfortable. I plan on turning on the AC early and watching movies so that she knows it will be ok. Miley does not like firecrackers. She’s terrified of loud sounds. I have decided to stay home this 4th of July in order to make sure that she’s comfortable. I plan on turning on the AC early and watching movies so that she knows it will be ok.

]]> By: Lil Miss Mya http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-739179 Lil Miss Mya Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:09:15 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/?p=17998#comment-739179 Last night we had our town firework show, for the first year since we have gotten Mya we but our lawn chairs on the front lawn positioned to watch the fireworks, Mya laid at my feet once the show started and she watched with us, it was great. I think she would have been more affraid had we locked her in the house. She didnt bark once get nervous or anxious I think she is truly confortable in any situation. I think you have to know your dog and be able to read their body language. There are a lot of great tips here for dogs who are affraid. Last night we had our town firework show, for the first year since we have gotten Mya we but our lawn chairs on the front lawn positioned to watch the fireworks, Mya laid at my feet once the show started and she watched with us, it was great. I think she would have been more affraid had we locked her in the house. She didnt bark once get nervous or anxious I think she is truly confortable in any situation. I think you have to know your dog and be able to read their body language. There are a lot of great tips here for dogs who are affraid.

]]> By: Misha-Sage http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-738848 Misha-Sage Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:14:59 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/?p=17998#comment-738848 It makes me sad that we are still being told we cannot comfort a frightened dog. There are some very very good behaviorists that disagree. You can reinforce behaviors but you cannot reinforce fear. Where humans go wrong is that they do things THEY would find comforting instead of what their dog finds comforting. I can't fuss, coddle and "oh you poor baby" Misha, that stresses her out more. But I CAN sit with her and offering gentle neck scritches and ear rubs visibly relaxes her. This year I also added some massage I learned during our Control Unleashed class. Unfortunately we have tons of opportunity for desensitization here as there is lots of thunder this year and the stupid fireworks go off for weeks in our neighborhood. For her the best way to do that is offer tasty treats if she is relaxed enough to take them - Extra good stuff that takes time to work on like watered down liverwurst or peanut butter spread thin all over a plate. Homemade Frosty Paws are a great distraction too. This is our third thunderstorm/firework season together and of course there's still room for more improvement but I'm really pleased with the progress we've made by comforting her and working on desensitization. It makes me sad that we are still being told we cannot comfort a frightened dog. There are some very very good behaviorists that disagree. You can reinforce behaviors but you cannot reinforce fear.

Where humans go wrong is that they do things THEY would find comforting instead of what their dog finds comforting. I can’t fuss, coddle and “oh you poor baby” Misha, that stresses her out more. But I CAN sit with her and offering gentle neck scritches and ear rubs visibly relaxes her. This year I also added some massage I learned during our Control Unleashed class.

Unfortunately we have tons of opportunity for desensitization here as there is lots of thunder this year and the stupid fireworks go off for weeks in our neighborhood. For her the best way to do that is offer tasty treats if she is relaxed enough to take them – Extra good stuff that takes time to work on like watered down liverwurst or peanut butter spread thin all over a plate. Homemade Frosty Paws are a great distraction too.

This is our third thunderstorm/firework season together and of course there’s still room for more improvement but I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made by comforting her and working on desensitization.

]]> By: Anthony Albert http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-738585 Anthony Albert Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:37:56 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/?p=17998#comment-738585 Very good article, bringing your dog to a place filled with bright sky and loud sounds is a bad idea from the start. Dogs are very sensitive to sounds, and are unpredictable when they feel uncomfortable. Very good article, bringing your dog to a place filled with bright sky and loud sounds is a bad idea from the start. Dogs are very sensitive to sounds, and are unpredictable when they feel uncomfortable.

]]> By: Candy-O Cootinka http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-738094 Candy-O Cootinka Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:13:58 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/?p=17998#comment-738094 I agree with Sadie Boo...little petsters get confused and may run off when the firecrackers go off. We lost our catmate Gypsy on the 4th so Mimi keeps us inside during this time. Also, dogs can smell fear and anxiety... hoomans need to stay calm and not get upset with the noise. This is a great article. I hope everone with fearful pets will read it. We used to dread New Years and July 4th, but not anymore. I agree with Sadie Boo…little petsters get confused and may run off when the firecrackers go off. We lost our catmate Gypsy on the 4th so Mimi keeps us inside during this time. Also, dogs can smell fear and anxiety… hoomans need to stay calm and not get upset with the noise. This is a great article. I hope everone with fearful pets will read it. We used to dread New Years and July 4th, but not anymore.

]]> By: Anna http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-738049 Anna Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:36:30 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/?p=17998#comment-738049 This is a great article since my dogs are inside dogs and the puppy is afriad of fireworks! I'll try to do all the suggestions! Fantastic! This is a great article since my dogs are inside dogs and the puppy is afriad of fireworks! I’ll try to do all the suggestions! Fantastic!

]]> By: Sadie Boo http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-737950 Sadie Boo Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:58:26 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/?p=17998#comment-737950 For those of you that use invisible fencing and have a dog fearful of fireworks, please realize that fireworks do go off during the daytime as well as night during this holiday. Some children & young adults think it is “Fun” to see how a dog will reacted to having a firework thrown at them. Sad, I know, but it happens all the time. One loud boom and your dog will be long gone. Even the best behaved dog will get spooked, my friend learned this the hard way when the neighbor’s children lite some firecrackers, scared her dog as they walked to her mailbox, her dog ran for her life, right down the street into traffic. The best policy during this time of year, keep your dogs inside unless you can be outside with them. Why take a chance??? For those of you that use invisible fencing and have a dog fearful of fireworks, please realize that fireworks do go off during the daytime as well as night during this holiday. Some children & young adults think it is “Fun” to see how a dog will reacted to having a firework thrown at them. Sad, I know, but it happens all the time. One loud boom and your dog will be long gone. Even the best behaved dog will get spooked, my friend learned this the hard way when the neighbor’s children lite some firecrackers, scared her dog as they walked to her mailbox, her dog ran for her life, right down the street into traffic. The best policy during this time of year, keep your dogs inside unless you can be outside with them. Why take a chance???

]]> By: Stormy B. Loved http://dogblog.dogster.com/2009/06/30/fireworks-pets-tips-for-a-low-stress-holiday/comment-page-1/#comment-737942 Stormy B. Loved Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:41:01 +0000 http://dogblog.dogster.com/?p=17998#comment-737942 Stormy was terrified of fireworks and thunderstorms from an early age and every year it got worse & worse for her. As with most neighborhoods the fireworks seem to go on and on for weeks. Stormy was beyond scared, it was pure panic. She would pace, drool, whine, try to rip the flesh from my arms & legs by clawing at me to help her, it was so awful for her and not easy on me either. We tried every drug, prescription & all natural. (I hated the prescription drugs, made Stormy into a drooling comatose noodle) We tried crating her, which we learned quickly made it so much worse, even when we covered the crate. Nothing worked. Stormy would get so panicked we had to fear for her safety. One year she got stuck behind the hot water heater with her tail just an inch from the flame, the next year wedged under the back board of the waterbed. Our solution, we took Stormy downstairs in my Husband’s office, where there were no windows, turned on every light, turned up the TV and just let her be. That is what it took to make Stormy feel safe & sound. As the years went on, when the fireworks or thunderstorms started, Stormy would get panicked and I would just say, “Go Downstairs”. As long as I turned on the lights and TV she would settle right down into her bed and all was good in Stormy’s world. Stormy was terrified of fireworks and thunderstorms from an early age and every year it got worse & worse for her. As with most neighborhoods the fireworks seem to go on and on for weeks. Stormy was beyond scared, it was pure panic. She would pace, drool, whine, try to rip the flesh from my arms & legs by clawing at me to help her, it was so awful for her and not easy on me either. We tried every drug, prescription & all natural. (I hated the prescription drugs, made Stormy into a drooling comatose noodle) We tried crating her, which we learned quickly made it so much worse, even when we covered the crate. Nothing worked. Stormy would get so panicked we had to fear for her safety. One year she got stuck behind the hot water heater with her tail just an inch from the flame, the next year wedged under the back board of the waterbed. Our solution, we took Stormy downstairs in my Husband’s office, where there were no windows, turned on every light, turned up the TV and just let her be. That is what it took to make Stormy feel safe & sound. As the years went on, when the fireworks or thunderstorms started, Stormy would get panicked and I would just say, “Go Downstairs”. As long as I turned on the lights and TV she would settle right down into her bed and all was good in Stormy’s world.

]]>