How to help pets avoid fireworks fears
Many pets get scared of any sudden loud bang or an unusually loud noise. This may result into fully developed phobia. They get scared of crashes and bangs made by fireworks. It can scare them pitifully and they may suffer from severe anxiety and terror. Different breeds of dogs react differently to this situation. Many dogs may run here-n-there restlessly, bark continuously, moan, freeze, puff abnormally, salivate, tremble, start excavating or look for a place to hide. Where as in extreme cases dogs may abscond or vomit.
There are lists of things which can be practiced to help them. Some of them may require some planning and preparations. Below are some of the things to bear in mind:
1. Make sure that you take your dog for a good long walk during the day. Most of the walk should be accompanied with plenty of play and exercise. Before it gets dark outside, leave your dog in the garden or your balcony to spend some time, call him in and then close all the windows and doors to minimize the noise.
2. Feed your dog cooked rice with little boiled chicken. This meal will make the dog sleepy as it is rich in carbohydrates.
3. Offer your dog a safe and cute den in which it can hide or with which it can get busy. It can be a cardboard box, a bed or a blanket.
4. Buy it a big and juicy marrow bone which will make your dog busy and also it can exert any nervous energy. Do not give it a big deal. Behave normally with the pet.
5. Dogs are very sensitive to sounds and so you can influence their mood with music. You can turn on the radio, CD or television.
6. Don’t react to fireworks. If you get tense when you hear a loud firework, you encourage your dog’s fear and make it even worse. Your body language shows your pet that there is a reason to get afraid of.
7. Pheromone products also alleviate fear, panic and anxiety in pets. Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) works for the dogs who are noise-phobic. It is generally produced by mother-dogs when they nurse their puppies and it also helps to soothe dogs of any age. DAP come as sprays or diffusers. You can use the spray in every two hours on the dog’s bed or the cloth it is wearing. This would definitely reduce its anxiety.
Most important thing is that you use all or some of the above steps before the point where dog is showing sighs of suffering. Make sure that you don’t loose your own calmness and tackle the situation tickly and maturely. Behave normally.
In some severe cases when the situation goes out of hand and your dog is continually behaving abnormally, the veterinarian prescribes a mild sedative. But note, don’t jump for this option if it’s not required. It should be your last option, when every other trick fails to execute.
Above all, memorize our ‘Cardinal Rule of Dog Training’- NEVER Reward Unwanted Behavior of your pet.
