BANG! CRACK! WHOOSH! FIREWORKS SEASON IS APPROACHING

Have you ever wondered how your dog knows that someone is coming to the front door, moments before you do?

Dogs have an acute sense of hearing. They are far more sensitive to sound than humans. So when a noise is particularly loud and unexpected, as in the case of fireworks and thunder, it is little wonder that some dogs find it frightening.

A survey found that just under half of the dogs in the study were frightened of fireworks. And that the fear increased the older the dog became (until perhaps the dog’s hearing declined with old age). What can begin as fear, can become a phobia.

Dogs can become fearful of other unexpected bangs, such as thunder, gun fire and engines backfiring. And the associations to those sounds could become a predictor to also be fearful of. These could be the dimming of the sky before a storm, the change in atmospheric pressure, the rumble vibrations of a storm, the sound of rainfall, flashes of light, the gunpowder smell of fireworks, and the places where these frightening events took place.

Another study found that dogs in the UK born in the autumn and winter months, were less likely to react fearfully to loud noises, than those born in the spring and summer. This could be because the autumn/winter puppies may already have been exposed to the sound of fireworks before they became fearfully aware. That’s not to say that all dogs born in the autumn and winter in UK, are going to be bomb proof.

Dogs with a good grounding in training are less prone to being fearful, as are dogs who have been socialised and learnt to adjust well to a variety of situations.

But still, some dogs are more prone to being fearful than others. So,

What could you do to help prevent your dog from being frightened of fireworks?

It’s the unexpected that can be frightening. So, if you know when fireworks or storms are likely to occur, prepare your home to blank out the noise and flashes of light as best you can. Close the curtains and put on the TV or radio, especially if the dog is going to be home alone.

Prepare your dog, in advance by training him to get used to loud noises. You can find recordings on the internet of fireworks and other sounds that dogs may find frightening. Play these recordings in your home, at a low volume, when your dog is distracted and doing things he likes eg. eating; playing with you; practicing positive training exercises; and being rewarded for good behaviour with tasty treats, so that he learns to ignore the sounds outside. The volume should start at a level that he can hear the noise but is not troubled by it. As he gets used to the noises, gradually increase the volume, bit by bit, and over a period of time. So that he can learn not to be afraid of these loud noises.

Training a dog to regard his bed or crate as a safe place to go to will give him somewhere he can feel at ease. Place his bed or crate away from doors and windows, where the outside sounds are less loud. Put a cover over the crate to muffle the outside sounds more and make his bed den-like. If you are moving his bed location, get him used to changes before fireworks nights. If he prefers lying under the bed or behind the sofa and is safe there, don’t try to force him out.

There are scented calming products that can be bought at pet shops and online. These are scented collars, sprays and diffusers. Some give off a comforting smell that the dog may associate with feeding from his mother (Adaptil DAP). Another scented product contains the calming essential oil, valerian. There are also chewable tablets containing calming botanical extracts.

Be safe, not sorry

It is not wise to take your dog to a firework display. And avoid taking him out for walks after dusk, when fireworks are more likely to occur. If it is necessary to take him out to toilet, keep him on the lead, so he can’t bolt if he suddenly gets scared.

Close exit routes i.e. dog and cat flaps. If you need to open the front door during fireworks, make sure your dog cannot escape. Even though he may not usually be inclined to try to escape, he may be panicked into thinking the noise is inside, so he desperately tries to escape by running outside. It’s a good idea to have your dog wearing his collar and tag while indoors, so that should he escape, he has easily readable identification. (By law, he must wear a collar and ID tag in public, and also be micro-chipped.)

Keep the water bowl full. This might sound silly if you are trying to avoid taking him outside to toilet, but if he is stressed and panting, he could get thirsty.

Exercising your dog and feeding before dusk, can make him more relaxed.

Prevention rather than cure is best, because the fear can get worse.

What can you do if your dog shows fear of fireworks, thunder and other noises?

A dog’s fear of sounds can make him tremble, bark, feel the need to be close to you, or it could cause vomiting, toileting indoors, trying to hide or escape, scratching at doors and destroying furniture and walls.

Fussing your dog can make him feel more frightened. Instead, behave normally, as if you haven’t noticed the noise.

Here are some other products that may help your fearful dog:

• A storm defender cape which is anti-static to protect from the discomfort associated with static electricity in storms.

• An anxiety wrap that is elasticised and ‘hugs’ the dog at acupressure points to alleviate stress.

• Zylkene, a natural complementary food containing casein which is a protein in the milk, known to promote relaxation in newborns while breastfeeding.

Finding the right solution can depend on the extent of a dog’s fear, and may require professional help from a vet and behaviourist.