AIBU to be aghast at this dog walker

[Barnetbelle]

I went to see the fireworks and saw a couple there who had taken their small dog (possibly a puppy) to watch the fireworks. I thought this was something you were absolutely not meant to do but the dog seemed ok so maybe I was wrong to be worried.

[LST]

I took my 17wo puppy out last night for his usual walk last night. It sounded like ww3. He's just not bothered. If he was I wouldn't but I don't want him to think the fireworks are anything to worry about. We made that mistake before.

[RainbowsFriend]

My dog was much better if she could see what was making the noise

[Notalone]

Possibly but possibly the dog would have been more freaked out of they had left it alone at home. Its not ideal but it may have been more reassured being with its owners albeit in a loud atmosphere. Ideally they would not have gone that year but if the dog didn't seem fazed then not the crime of the century imo

[iloveeverton]

My 9 month old puppy just isn't bothered by loud noises. He used to the kids making a racket. I wouldn't take him to a fireworks display though.

[SufferingLampreys]

Great training for so many dogs to get used to loud noises

Wouldn't want an upset guide dog
Or working retriever would you

[GentlemanThief]

Puppies need to be exposed to potentially scary environments when they are small. They have a 'fearless' window until they are about 16 weeks old and if they have controlled exposure during this time, they won;t be afraid when they're older.

Wasn't the right time of year for fireworks for our puppy, but we bought a CD of 'scary' noises (ambulances/fireworks etc). Played it to him at home while giving lots of cuddles and treats and he's a lovely well adjusted dog now.

Goes without saying that dogs should be on leads around fireworks/bonfires though.

[squeakytoy]

My dog loves fireworks. The minute he hears or sees them he is desperate to get out into the garden to watch them. YABU because not all dogs are terrified of them.

[Barnetbelle]

That is interesting to hear. I assumed it was a terrible thing to do because all my life I have heard "you must keep animals indoors on Nov 5th" and people feeling sorry for them. But when I saw the dog seemed unbothered I thought I would see what the opinion was on here.

[LST]

My cat got out last night too

He did come back but he was very traumatised until I opened a pouch of felix

[GentlemanThief]

The importance of socialising dogs in this way is relatively new to the mainstream. My parents' generation (generally speaking) just didn't bother with it, or any form of training for that matter.

As a result, they had unruly, badly behaved dogs who were terrified of fireworks, so the advice to keep them indoors was probably valid in that era.

[GentlemanThief]

NB. by they I mean my parents, I'm sure there were lots of well-behaved dogs belonging to other people

[Bigwheel]

My dog was never bothered about fireworks therefore yabu.

[RuleBritannia]

I was going to mention guide dogs but someone beat me to it.

[exexpat]

Sounds quite sensible to me - they might have been aiming to desensitise the puppy to loud noises. My dog came to us as a puppy in late October several years ago, and I deliberately didn't keep him inside all the time when there were fireworks around - I went out in the back garden with him. He doesn't seem to be at all bothered by fireworks now.

[ChippingInLovesAutumn]

We went to a display last Saturday and there were two dogs there - I was torn whether to be more surprised because they were at a Fireworks Display or because they were at a nature park that doesn't normally allow animals in?!

[moosemama]

My PIL's dog used to be desperate to get out and go and watch the fireworks right from when she was a pup. She'd race up to the end of the garden and sit there watching the display on the school field behind the house with her nose turned skyward and her tail merrily wagging. You could clearly see how much she enjoyed it.

My old girl on the other hand used to be petrified of them, but then she's never coped with any loud noises due to ear problems right from when she was rescued at 4 weeks old. She's 13 now and has gone deaf as a result of said ear problems, so this is the first year she hasn't flinched, even when the big professional display was on at the local secondary school.

None of my other dogs have ever been bothered by fireworks, I assume because they have all been carefully socialised.

I agree with others who've said it is a valuable opportunity for sensible, controlled exposure for socialisation purposes and if handled right, can be a real benefit to the dog.

[freddiefrog]

If the dog is fine with it, then it's not a problem

My springer always used to be fine with fireworks, would love sitting out in the garden watching them. He used to go clay pigeon shooting with DH and a lot of the fields we walk in had those bird scarers that sound like gunshots, and he wouldn't bat an eyelid.

This year however, he's decided he's petrified of them

[GhostShip]

No, some dogs love the fireworks.

My friend takes hers to them, the dog actually loves sitting outside watching them!

[ThatVikRinA22]

i live near to the park where our local display was last night....i watched it through teh window with my dog next to me watching too! fireworks dont bother her at all.

[Ullena]

Our dogs sleep through fireworks. Our cats insist on being allowed out to watch them from the gateposts!

Contrary little beasties

[degutastic]

I'd take my collie to watch them if I were going. He seems to quite enjoy them. but he is a certified fruitcake

[Happylander]

I took my collie to anything that was noisy when he was a puppy to socialise and desensitise him. He doesn't bat an eyelid now however, he does jump out of his fur at my farts!!!! LOL

[GhostShip]

I love the word 'aghast'. Does anyone actually say it out loud?

[AnyoneforTurps]

Things my dog fears: plastic bags, cats, ants, sheep and (worst of all) flies.

Things my dog does not fear: huge Dobermanns and fireworks. She is not bothered by them at all. The only thing that would stop me taking her to a firework display is that she would try to snarf everyone's hot dogs.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Yabu, you'd have been able to tell if the dog was upset and you say it didn't appear to be.

My dog doesn't appear to notice fireworks, I can take her out for a walk while they're on and there's no reaction. She doesn't flinch, look round, appear to hear them.