Most dog owners know that dogs are scared
of fireworks. Those who have an affected dog may indeed presume that it’s just
a thing - that all dogs are scared. Well, strangely, many dogs don’t bat an
eyelid - only about 40% are affected. So the question really is why are some
dogs scared? Well, we really just don’t know.
Maybe it’s similar to people
being scared of spiders or snakes. Maybe it’s an inherited phobia. Maybe it’s a
result of their first experience. Maybe we cuddled them and coo-cooed and told
them all was ok. So, perhaps it’s about nature and nurture.
The thing is, I’m convinced that for a
large number of dogs, it just never has to be that way. I’d like to start a
campaign to stop it. And hopefully one day in the not too distance future I
shall. If anyone else is interesting in doing so, I’d be only too happy to
help! All puppies and scared dogs can benefit from desensitisation: a program
that carefully exposes them to the noises of fireworks and helps them to learn
that it’s nothing to be bothered about.
But, in the mean time, what can we do?
Well, firstly, I’d request that everyone
who ever breeds puppies gets hold of a fireworks desensitisation program and
works through that, carefully, with their puppies, starting when they are only
4 weeks old. And, I’d like to ask vets
to promote this to all breeders.
For puppy owners to-be, please discuss this
with your breeder and give them a CD or downloadfile / DVD and instructions on what to do to help to reduce the likelihood of
fear.
For dog owners whose dogs are already
scared, October is almost perhaps too late to work on a desensitisation
program. Usually these are best carried out before it’s dark at night – because
many dogs associate dark with the possible risk of fireworks. However, it’s
still worth doing some work over the next few weeks. Ceva, the company that
makes the Adaptil (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) product has done tests that show
that noise desensitisation programs with best when the Adaptil product is used
in conjunction with the noise exposure. The best product appears to be the
Sounds Scary program, which has been recorded with special combinations of
noise. However, the program takes 8 weeks. I'd also add that it always helps to look a that the big picture - does your dog have other behaviour problems? It's quite common for dogs who are scared of fireworks to have other behaviour issues too. So, rather than just working on the fireworks fear cd, it may be worthwhile seeking professional behaviour help to put everything into perspective.
In the mean time then, please look at what
else you can do for your dog. There is a free fireworks fear help guide guide on the PawsAbility.co.uk web site to help you with
setting up the best den area and with ways to keep your dog distracted and to
ensure their safety.
You may also benefit from speaking with
your vet for medication. There are drugs that can be used to limit the fear
affect, but also to ensure that you don’t take backward steps in your
desensitisation program over the actual fireworks period.
Please don’t just live with it. Please
share this information. Wouldn’t it be nice if our children didn’t still have
to face these same problems with their dogs? Together, we can help many many
dogs and puppies to feel ok around fireworks. Let’s do this!
And look here for a dog behaviourist near you to help you - www.capbt.org, who will help you devise a behaviour program to build your dogs confidence in general, and help with their fear.
Author: Anna Patfield, first published in the Northern Times, Oct 2014