It's that time of year again.....

[SisterMoonbeam]

.... Fireworks!!

To all dog owners: What do you do for your dogs? Our youngest, Cassie (2) isn't so much scared of them but she gets very agitated at them and tenses up and barks at them all night. We used DAP last year but it made our eldest, max (9) very aggressive towards Cass. We really don't want to have her sedated.

Anyone have any ideas?

[Marinam2]

I don't do anything with my dogs they have both been accustomed to them over the years and introduced to fireworks as puppies and life here is normal.

Marina

[luke123]

as above, mine arent bothered.

[amandy]

We have a border collie she hates them, shes 13 weve tried everything, the best thing is to put her in a room close all curtains and turn the telly up quite loud. this helps but you can feel some of the bangs these days. think its in the collie nature though.

[zoe6660]

i got 2 spaniels and they dont notice it really.

[animal addict]

new chew/toy or something? plus if you can take them for an extra long work in the day beforehand to tire them out more - may sleep a bit better through them? Chloe isnt too bad now - just lies and growls to herself every so often at the extra loud ones

[denny2]

My Lurcher Robbie is a massive hairy scaredicat and used to be terrifeid of the fireworks , but last year i stopped petting him up when he was scared and all of a sudden he decided he wasnt that bothered, lay down and went back to sleep and since then isnt scared of them anymore. he stays in the house on firework night till its over then goes out to pee ,but he dosnt sit quaking anymore.i,m sure that by making a big fuss of him i was feeding his fear and encouraging him to act scared....He slept right through the new year fireworks our neighbours had so i,m hoping he,ll do the same this bonfire night, i wish England would do what Australia does and only allow proper organised displays instead of allowing them to be sold to any idiot that wants them.......

[daisyleo]

Right basically yes fussing over them makes them worse as they feel they "need" to fear the bangs so leave them alone as much as you can unless you can get them to play ball or with a favourite toy to take their mind off it.

We use a DAP diffuser we have it on from mid october until the end of november when they all die down, we also use a "calmer" not a sedative as I have heard and read that sedatives only leave the dog unable to move they can still hear what is going on so I don't fancy chancing that myself!!
We get our calmer from a horse food supplier, it says it's for horses cattle and working dogs on the label but can't see it harming any breed if you use the correct dose for the size of the animal.
Our staffy is a quivering panting maniac when he hears the bangs going off and the calmer is all herbal remedy so no chemicals etc. and within half an hour of him taking it he calms down and has a nap on the sofa in my arms or with my hubby.

Also closing curtains, putting tv or radio louder than usual etc etc is a great idea.
I have also been told to get some of that Kong filling from Pets@home and freeze it inside the kong, then the dogs can concentrate on getting the filling out as it defrosts rather than sitting worrying about the fireworks.

[Emmaj]

my huskies are wallies and if they are in the yard when some going off they try to chase them

the others have seemed fine so far with them not bothered at all

[fenwoman]

Originally Posted by SisterMoonbeam

.... Fireworks!!

To all dog owners: What do you do for your dogs? Our youngest, Cassie (2) isn't so much scared of them but she gets very agitated at them and tenses up and barks at them all night. We used DAP last year but it made our eldest, max (9) very aggressive towards Cass. We really don't want to have her sedated.

Anyone have any ideas?

Turn the radio up loud, have a party and ignore any signs of distress from the dogs. Keep them occupied with games which involve treats. Fireworks? What fireworks?