05/11/2018
Dogs are extremely sensitive and because they have a stronger hearing power, they are easily susceptible to high decibel sounds during such festivals. Sudden changes in the surroundings with such loud noise and fireworks push them to a stressed and confused state. The possible signs of stress include whining, fear, loss of appetite, salivation and defecation inside the house. Many dogs even try to escape and that is the reason you will notice most number of dogs go missing during this festival season.
Always keep him indoors. Never force your dog to be outdoors, chain him or walk him while crackers are being burst. It will cause more damage and can even make him convulse.
Place cushions and blankets on the floor to quieten the vibrations caused by loud noise.
If your dog decides to hide under a sofa, bed or behind a cupboard, let him be. Don’t try to physically force him to come out by dragging him in an attempt to comfort. Just draw the curtains, play their favorite or some form of soothing music or turn the TV on to drown the loud noises.
When in doubt, a dog will look to its pack leader for a reaction. It picks up the parent’s signals and will perceive a situation as threatening or normal. The first thing we want to do when we see our pet frightened is to comfort it. Experts say this can worsen the problem. Your dog may misconstrue your behavior as praise, encouraging it to be frightened at loud noise. Instead, distract your dog from noise by playing games and praising any happy and relaxed behavior.
Consider anti-anxiety tools. Talk to your veterinarian or trainer about different ways to manage your dog’s anxiety during fireworks. There are many different options such as Thundershirts, calming pheromones, supplements, and medication that could help reduce your pup’s stress.
It is possible to train a dog not to mind fireworks, the same way a hunting dog doesn’t mind a gunshot. However, desensitizing your dog to noises does not happen overnight. The idea is to play your dog a quiet recording of fireworks paired with a tasty treat. Then slowly increasing the volume over months. Going too loud too fast can backfire making your dog more nervous of the sound. We highly recommend consulting a trainer to help with the process.