As November arrives, fireworks and crackling bangs take over our neighbourhoods. The crisp air displays are an important part of our culture but not every member of our household enjoys the occasion.
It leads to worried and upset canines; no laughing matter for many owners. The stress and anxiety can kill our furry friends and lead to an unhealthy fear of loud sounds in the future. Fireworks and pets are clearly not good bed fellows so how can you keep your dog calm during the autumn and winter season?
Stimulation Training
An excellent way to occupy your dog during firework season is to focus their minds on learning new commands or skills. Training your dog to give a paw, roll over and even play dead with rewards presented on success will work on two unique levels. The first is distracting your dog from what is going on around the neighbourhood; the second is to make them aware via your own ignoring of the noise there is nothing out of the ordinary.
Educating
As with humans, dogs have the capacity to exact behaviours based on fear. In some dogs this manifests itself in a desire to run, bark or simply act in a panic. It can be beneficial to teach your dog via experience that fireworks pose no danger.
This can be done by simulating the noises via the television, or letting them watch from a safe a distance. Either way, it is important to encourage positivity in your K9s behaviour. Dog owners should always be learning about their pets and decoding their fears during the firework season, don’t dismiss the training elements available. If you would like specific training regimes to content your dog please contact us.
Always keep your dog indoors during fireworks, even those use to noise can still be unpredictable. Enjoy the fireworks this November and then again on New Year’s Eve but spare a thought for the canines cowering in their home.
