New Year’s Eve is a thrilling time for people. It is filled with parties, fireworks, and celebrations to welcome the new year. However, it can unfortunately be a very stressful night for our four-legged friends. Dogs, with their very sensitive ears, feel scared and confused by the loud noises and bright flashes of fireworks. Wondering how to keep dogs safe on NYE? Here are some useful tips and advice.
Help your dog deal with fireworks
A few hints and tips to help your dog with fireworks.
There are many things we can do Help your dog deal with fireworks but you need time to prepare. If you’ve missed this opportunity follow these simple rules to try and keep them calm.
Feed and get toilet breaks done early
Give your dog enough time to finish their dinner, digest and toilet before the noise begins so that they’re not forced to hold it during an already stressful period.
Provide fun distractions to help your dog deal with fireworks
Entice them to focus on a toy, play, food, mental simulation toys during firework to keep their mind off the noise outside
Close the curtains or blinds
The noise for them is bad enough, try to minimise the stressful situation by closing out the bright explosive lights
Muffle the Noise
Unpredictable booming sounds can be perceived as an impending threat and make a dog feel vulnerable, plug in a white noise machine or turn on some calming music loud enough so that the fireworks are camouflaged
Safe Zone
If your dog’s “safe zone” is their crate, you can also cover the top, sides, and back with a thick blanket and play music or sounds. Ensure your dog can leave the crate if they wants to. If you don’t use a crate you should allow them to find a safe place in the house (they’ll choose where this is).
Comfort Your Dog
Comforting your dog in times of stress can reinforce his fears. However, your dog’s reactions to fireworks are based on a legitimate fear. Providing comfort during this time is appropriate and often very helpful. Doing this will help your dog understand that you’re his partner and that he can always turn to you when feeling scared.
There are others ways to prepare for these events which we’ll cover in a later blog.
How to help your dog handle Fireworks and Thunderstorms
It’s that time of year again when to most of us fireworks represent a celebration.
Many dogs however do not feel the same and can be sent into a blind panic when fireworks explode. Remember their hearing is many times more acute than ours so fireworks and rumbles of thunder can be very frightening for dogs with less confident temperaments.
A few tips to help your dog handle fireworks and thunderstorms:
- If your dog shows fear or anxiety make sure you have a small dark area where they can go to feel safe. A covered crate is ideal or make a dark den between two chairs with a blanket.
- Some dogs feel safe under the bed.
- Turn up the radio or TV to help drown out the noise.
- Close the curtains to help reduce the bright flares.
- Some herbal remedies can help in severe cases but these should be started early. Speak to a good homeopathic vet for advice.
- Try to stay calm and relaxed and do not comfort your dog. Your soft voice tone only reinforces their anxious state.
- Dogs can very easily pick up on our fear or anxieties so be calm and ignore any whining or panting he may do. It is difficult because all you want to do is comfort him but by acting as if nothing is wrong will send out calming signals to your dog.
- In extreme cases your dog may toilet in the house through his fear. Simply clear it up and do not make it an issue.
Try your best to reassure your dog during such events. Simple reassurance can set the tone for the rest of your relationship with your dog.
If your dog is still having issues with fireworks and/or thunderstorms, you can contact us – Enquiries