Fear of Fireworks It is a very common phobia in dogs and it is that festivities such as the festivities of the towns and the New Year is a time feared by owners and dogs.
It is normal for them to be scared with the sudden loud noise and the clarity that forms in the sky, even the most confident and balanced dog can panic and be afraid of sounds that are unfamiliar to him. The good news is that we have some tips you can do to help your dog get through this holiday season more smoothly.
The dog and the fireworks
If you have time before the new year arrives, desensitize your dog, that is, do get used to the sound of fireworksby following these simple steps.
Find a fireworks video
Play this video so your dog can hear it as low as possible a few times a day.
Associate the sound of fires with something your dog likes, for example: favorite food, toy, brushing, etc.
Begin to increase the volume of the video throughout the days and continue to associate the sound of fires with something that your dog likes, so that he associates himself: fire noise = good thing.
If at any time your dog shows any sign of fear, lower the volume to the point where it feels comfortable.
Repeat as necessary every day until your dog can hear the sound of fires very loud without fear.
If you did not have time to prepare your dog for the new year or if the desensitization did not eliminate her fear All in all, there are a few things you can do to lessen your dog's fear of fires. These tips should be helpful for dogs that have a medium level of fear.
Tips to stop your dog from being afraid of fireworks
During the new year or the holidays don't change your behavior and is that most people tend to pamper their dogs when they show that they are afraid of fires.
People give them more affection than normal, they hug, they talk to the dogs with a sweet voice. Instead of helping to end fear, that behavior of the owner reinforces the fear in the dog. He associates: fear = affection.
Try not react to fireworks. If you show readiness just before the fires, due to your dog's fear, this will only make his feelings worse. You will end up leaving him anxious and your body language tells your dog if he needs to be afraid or not.
Do your best to camouflage the sound of fires. Plug in the radio or TV, close the windows, turn on the fan or air conditioning.
Don't force your dog into anything, so if he wants to hide under the bed, let him. Do not force him to do anything he does not want, as this can lead to increased fear and the dog can become an aggressive dog if he leaves his comfort zone.
If your dog is terrified of Fireworks, no advice above may work to ease your fear. If you think that your dog is a case apart, try talk to the vet, as it may be the case of administering an anti-anxiety medication or some sedative that helps your dog to remain calmer during fires.
There is still time to desensitize your dog and get used to the noise of the fires in the best possible way and there is a trick that helps dogs to be calmer at this time, the name of the method is Tellington Touch. It is known that animals that have this type of fear also have great sensitivity in the back areas, in the legs and in the ears.
The method is to tie your dog with a bandage to stimulate blood circulation in extreme regions of the body and thereby reducing their irritability.