How did your dogs do around fireworks? - Page 3

For any out there with pups, make sure you keep them away from dogs that are afraid, they will pick it up instantly. Also, do not baby them if they do show fear. Ignore it and distract them with their favorite passtime. I believe a dog can be free of fear, but under the wrong circumstances can pick it up later in life.

olskool,

great advice-you are so right!

Kaiser has NEVER reacted to noises of any kind and my Border Collie has always been very afraid of noises-I noticed Kaiser was watching her today while she was shutting down and trying to hide-I gave her  melatonin and rescue remedy and she went to her "safe place". Then when Kaiser heard a loud crack and appeared it he might stress -I grabbed his favorite soccer ball and acted  like the noise was the BEST thing happeneing woo hoo then threw it-he brought it back and I waited for the NEXT firecracker and threw it again- and repeated this until they stopped- after that he was fine.

Katrina

We don't go to the big crowd displays that are put on all over the city.  We have enough neighbors shooting off the big booming displays, all we need to do is set up lawn chairs on the driveway.  We took Echo out last night during the height of it all and enjoyed the show.  She spent most of the time staring at a rabbit in the neighbors yard, knowing she wasn't going to be allowed to give chase.  Finally she relaxed and watched the show with us.  When we went inside, there were still people shooting off rockets and such.  Funny, when we turn off all the lights and tell her it's "Nite Nite time" she goes into her protective mode.  Not a sound out of her all day or during our driveway spectacle but with the lights off she starts a low growl and soft bark at each bang.  I got up, opened the front door and let her watch for a moment and she was satisfied.  Not another peep out of her all night. 

Does anyone else's dog have an alarm system that automatically switches on when the lights go out at night?  Prior to the 4th of July celebration, Echo has alerted on different neighborhood sounds after dark.  Nothing like being awakened from a deep sleep by a four legged alarm system that just heard something that went bump in the night.

I think you are all so lucky to have your furbabies not care about the fireworks. I have one that I just adopted on June 1st that is not phased at all. The outside environment does not bother her, unless it is people cpming too close to our property. My other, a male from German Showlines, completely freaks out. He follows me like  glue and shakes and trembles, pants so bad that I fear he will have a heart attack. I adopted him Feb '09. He gets Melatonin and gets to sleep with me, because that is the ONLY way I will get any sleep.

Sadly, as I was typing this, at 7:05am, someone nearby lit off a few and my guy went straight to his crate. If anyone has any suggestions on how to get him over this, I would be interested in those comments.

My male is 20 months old and my female is 18 months..

We were all asleep by dark. If any dogs noticed, they kept it too themselves so Mom could get some rest after a long, day working on the not-very-successful yard sale. ;-/

SS

It isn't luck, mamabevi- it's training, exposure, and good old fashioned strong nerves. I recommend to my clients whose dogs are frightened of noises to go find a sound effects CD or dowload them off the interent. (Especially crying babies for expecting couples!) Crank up the speakers and let it rip thorugh the house while you train and play with your dog. Make it a positive. This way you can control the frequency and timing of said noises. You can also start with it turned down very low as you go on about your day, them slowly turn it up over the course of a dozen or so sessions, maybe more.

we walked the pack to the show.

the great dane mix was not interested, aussi mix wanted to go home, Hero want to play, and Sita watch with amazment.

nice display, we all sat on the grass and quietly enjoyed

Dogs weren't allowed at the display we did, so I'll find out tonight for sure how Oakley handlies it.  She was calm and relaxed when i got home last night, with the neighbors doing theirs, so I think she'll be fine.  They fired off all night last night, and neither of the dogs seemed bothered by it...Tonight we'll do a small aerial display here at home, so we'll see how it goes.

Crys

olskoolgsds, I read your statment on how they can be free of fear and pick it up later in life. I have notice with my rottie, he does not like them anymore, does not throw a fit but will not come outside with me and watch them anymore. When he was young, He and I would walk the blocks and watch them, he loved it, not anymore. He would go If I insisted, but with his age and not feeling well, I leave him alone.

just love a great firework display - so beautiful!

My puppy did not like them.   He didn't bark nor whine -- but he clearly wanted to come inside.  So I went outside with him and just acted like nothing was going on.  He came and sat next to me, then he would go to the door -- repeating that.  I had neighbors setting them off behind my house, on one side, and several in front - so it was quite loud.