12/26/2024
This year is coming to an end but we have one more important holiday that's celebrated!
NEW YEARS!!!!
This is one of the two loudest days of the year that can cause problems with dog families!
So with that being said.... do you have a dog that is scared of fireworks?? If so your pup is not alone! While they’re fun for a lot of us humans, the loud, unexpected sounds of fireworks cause anxiety and stress for a lot of dogs. Before New Year's Eve rolls around here are somethings to know about why your dog gets anxious and what you can do to help.
First! Keep in mind that it is normal! While we humans have learned to expect fireworks around the holidays, however the sound of fireworks can be quite startling for dogs.
Your dog has hightened senses that make fireworks a more intense experience than what you and I have. Your dog’s acute hearing makes them more sensitive to the sounds of fireworks than you are. Fireworks also produce an odor that dogs may be sensitive to as well!
While fireworks are exploding, your dog experiences the same kind of startled behaviour you do when you’re surprised by a loud noise. This may mean an increase in heart rate, a rush of adrenaline, and an increase in stress hormones circulating through their body. This causes the blood to pump and when their muscles tighten you may notice your dog trembling.
For your dog Fireworks are not the same experience as a thunderstorm as much as it we as humans want to compare the two. Thunderstorms come with different signs that give warning to them that it's coming. There can be changes in barometric pressure and high winds, because of this dogs can anticipate them. Since fireworks are sudden and occur less frequently than thunderstorms, dogs might be more intimidated by them because they aren't familiar with them or know what they are.
Not all dogs are afraid of fireworks and there are many reasons why they may not be. It could be because they’re naturally easy-going or possibly because they were exposed to enough noises when they were young that they understand that fireworks aren’t a threat.
You can try and help lower your dog’s sensitivity to the sound of fireworks early on by exposing them to fireworks as well as any other loud sounds at a young age (Best age is between 3 weeks to 3 months). You can also get a dog used to firework sounds by exposing them to recorded firework sounds played over a speaker. *Note that this process takes patience and plenty of effort that includes gradually increasing the volume while you reward your dog for keeping calm. It’s not an overnight fix especially for an anxious dog.
No time to work on that desinsitizing? No worries! Create a calm quiet area in your home where your dog can feel safe and secure during the noise. If your dog is crate trained then he may feel most secure in his create with a nice chew or his favorite toy to occupy his time. If your pup is not crate-trained, putting his bed in a calm place during the fireworks might work. Try closing the windows and playing some music to drown out the fireworks.
Calming wraps and thundershirts may help for some dogs, too. These work like swaddling does for infants – they make your dog feel secure during stressful situations. Some dogs may not feel any different using it but it's worth a try!
The most important thing you can do is stay calm, being worried or yelling only reassures him that there is a good reason to panic. Dogs look at us for reassurance so showing them that we are calm and relaxed is likely to help the dog understand that there is no real danger. Also try not to punish your pet for being scared, they are already anxious as it is and punishing them will not help them understand there's nothing to be scared of.
And the last thing I want to stress!!! Make sure your gates are secure and your dog has NO way to get out of the yard if you have to have them outside. So many dogs run off during fireworks because of how scared they are. Best thing to do is go outside with them and bring them back in when they are done. Don't leave them alone if you know they are scared of the noises or if you are unsure how they are with fireworks. Protect your dogs and keep them safe! Also make sure they are microchipped and the information is up to date in the chance they do get out.
I hope everyone has a great holiday with their pups! Thank you for taking the time to read!
Goodbye 2024 and hello 2025!
Another year in the books!
-B
Photo credit goes to Petaluma animal services foundation
Dog training and dog sitting for families
