My dog is afraid of fireworks
While New Year's Eve is often a fun event for us, it is a different story for our loyal four-legged friends; fireworks anxiety is a common problem in dogs. Dogs with fireworks anxiety panic when fireworks are set off; they often try to hide, pace nervously, or tremble in response to the bangs and bright flashes of light.
It is possible to reduce fireworks anxiety in your pet. However, this is a difficult process that requires a lot of time and patience.
Causes of fireworks anxiety
There are several reasons why a dog may be afraid of fireworks. First of all, the sounds of fireworks can cause fireworks anxiety. The loud bangs, whistling, or hissing of fireworks can be very alarming to dogs. Since dogs can hear much better than humans, these sounds are even more intense for them…
Furthermore, dogs may perceive fireworks as a threat. The loud bangs and their unpredictability can cause dogs to see fireworks as a danger. A common reaction to fireworks is to flee (run away or hide) or to go on the attack (barking or growling at the fireworks).
It may also be that your dog was once seriously frightened by fireworks, for example, if someone threw fireworks at the animal. This can cause a dog to develop fireworks anxiety.
It is important to keep a close eye on your dog around New Year's Eve. The animals may start barking or howling because of the fireworks. A dog may also want to hide. When walking your dog, there is a risk that it will be startled by fireworks and run away, so make sure the animal is well leashed and keep a close watch on him or her.
Tip: check if the correct address is linked to your dog's microchip. If your pet unexpectedly runs away, it can quickly be returned to you when the chip is scanned.
Reducing fireworks anxiety
It is possible to reduce fireworks anxiety in dogs. However, this takes time, and it is important to start several weeks to months before New Year's Eve to reduce your dog's fireworks anxiety. You can do this, for example, by repeatedly playing a recording of fireworks sounds. While playing the sounds, you can distract your dog by playing with it or giving it treats. By doing this, your dog can get used to the fireworks sounds and associate them with something positive. With this method of habituation, you first play the fireworks sounds softly; if your dog responds well, you can gradually increase the volume.
Additionally, you can do some small things during New Year's Eve to make it more comfortable for your dog. Keep the curtains closed to block out the flashes of light as much as possible. Turn on the radio to reduce the impact of the fireworks sounds.
It is also important to choose the right times to walk your dog. For example, do this early in the morning and/or just after dinner. This way, the chance that your dog will encounter fireworks during the walk is much smaller.
There are also medications available that help your dog stay calmer during New Year's Eve. It is important to start these medications in time; most do not work immediately and should be given several weeks before New Year's Eve.
Note: There are medications available that claim to help with fireworks anxiety but actually relax the animal physically. This makes the dog more sensitive to the sounds of fireworks. It may seem like your dog is less afraid of the fireworks, but the animal is physically relaxed while mentally more sensitive. The fear of fireworks then only increases, but your pet cannot express this. Look for the right medications that truly calm your pet and do not make them more sensitive to fireworks.
Finally, you can choose to follow a fireworks training course at a dog school (make sure to research well, as not all dog schools offer this) or you can hire a behavior specialist who can help reduce your loyal four-legged friend's fireworks anxiety. Also, make sure to start fireworks training or seek expert help in time.
