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Fireworks……I hate them. They are unsafe and an unnecessary waste of money. I don’t believe that they are regulated enough in the UK and I think that they should only be allowed at big organised events. But the biggest reason why I hate them? They are awful for dogs and also for a lot of wildlife. Dogs and fireworks just don’t mix.
Why are Dogs so Scared of Fireworks?
The loud bangs caused by fireworks are unnatural and unfamiliar noises. They are very loud and often make high sounds within a digs pitch which can stress them out and even hurt their ears. If they are outside during fireworks the loud flashes of light will also be scary for dogs. Some dogs can get so worked up that it puts a strain on their heart or gives them a canine anxiety attack.
The problem is it’s not even just Guy Fawkes night anymore, it’s around 3 weeks surrounding 5th November.
Oh and it’s not just Bonfire night either. Any excuse for fireworks – Eid, Diwali, New Year, weddings. Hell – we even had fireworks going off on a weekly basis that coincided with clapping for the NHS!
Dogs and Fireworks – Tips to Help your Dog feel Calm and Safe
Avoid Leaving your Dog Alone
Make sure that you plan ahead for days and events that will be firework frenzies. Avoid leaving your dog alone at these times such as Bonfire night or New Year. Having you at home will be reassuring for your dog. He may need an extra cuddle and loving words of kindness.
Don’t go for Walkies on Bonfore Night
Avoid walkies on these firework prone dates too. No matter how much you think your dog needs a walk, it will be kinder to keep him inside without walkies than give him a walk but expose him to the stress of the fireworks. You may even need to avoid walkies for a day or two either side of bonfire night and new year, but he will survive without a proper walk for 3 days! You can still walk him in mornings, but in our experience, fireworks can start to go off in broad daylight too, so keep his walkies before noon during these times.
Prepare Distractions
A good tip is to prepare some dog enrichment activities such as licky mats or Kongs. This will give him or her something else to focus on rather than the stress of the fireworks.
- BOREDOM BREAKER, REDUCES ANXIETY AND DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR: LickiMat is the original dog boredom breaker, our slow feeder dog bowl alternative helps calm and soothe your pet by helping release endorphins through the promotion of licking. This dog licking mat is a safe alternative for your dog to lick. Our dog feeding mat is great for stressful times such vet visits, bath time, nail clipping, injury recovery as well as thunderstorms and fireworks
- RECOMMENDED BY VETS AND TRAINERS: Redirect all licking habits and perfect aid to reduce crate training time. Our lick mats for dogs and puppies are a perfect delivery system for supplements, medications and dog treats. Reinforce good behavior and replace anxiety with a long-lasting treat. Perfect for crate training. Slow feeder for dogs
- DENTAL HEALTH: The lickimat's playdate square surfaces promote pleasurable licking action, which generates saliva helping protect your pet’s teeth and gums. Scrapes food particles and odor-causing bacteria off your pet’s tongue, promoting healthier teeth, gums and fresher breath. The original licking mat / feeding mat for dogs
Fill his Kong or licky mat with his favourite wet dog food, or with extra special treats such as cottage cheese, yoghurt or doggy peanut butter.
- Instinctual Needs: The KONG Extreme black rubber toy helps satisfy dogs' instinctual needs and provides mental stimulation. Healthy play is important for dogs' physical and mental development, emotions and behavior. By encouraging healthy play and satisfying instinctual needs, this toy helps solve chewing, separation anxiety, teething, boredom, weight management, crate training, digging, barking and more!
- Fetch Toy: The KONG Extreme's unpredictable bounce makes for exciting games of fetch and other interactive play with your pet.
- Power Chewing Dogs: The KONG Extreme black rubber formula is created for power chewing dogs.
Once Blake starts licking his mat or trying to get his tasty treats out of his Kong he is much less stressed about what’s going on outside. You can also provide natural chews such as pigs ears or hooves, although if your dog gets too stressed, these may not be enough to calm him or her. Wet dog food and unusual special high value treats are more enticing!
Consider Medication or Homeopathic Remedies if Necessary
If your dogs reaction to fireworks is so severe that it is causing mental or physical stress to your dog, definitely consult your vet. Your vet will advice if any remedies would be suitable and check that what you want to give the dog to calm his anxiety won’t interfere with any other medical conditions or medication.
You can buy natural calming remedies online such as My Peaceful Paws which is made up of calming essential oils that may benefit your dog.
There are also remedies that you can buy which mimic natural pheremones such as Adaptil. You plug it in and it releases pheromones which may calm your dog.
If you enjoyed this article you might also like to read about Calming Dog Treats
