What’s your plan for the fireworks tonight?

[Spotty528]

Pup is 17 weeks old, he was very upset when the town had a Christmas fireworks display (who’s stupid idea was that?!). I consulted our vet (£45 later 😳) he’s advised building a den for him (no shit Sherlock) but not to go to him as this reinforces the behaviour. I don’t think I can leave him afraid and whinging/barking in the dark! We’ve also got the pheromone spray to use.

Any suggestions from more experienced dog owners please?

It was better than November thankfully the privilege of being in bed with mama helped. DCAT utterly confused and cross to be put to bed so late!

Oh we were also caught out about 12.30 neighbour few doors down must have remembered they had some in the shed , Me and dog thought the world was coming to an end they were so loud, We went to bed muttering about how stupid neighbour is!

BiteyDog has been asleep on my lap for most of the morning and doesn't look like he plans on moving anytime soon. I think the lack of sleep last night has taken it out of him.

Jay dog isasleep I think it really takes it out of them he was doing ok till armageddon started 3 doors down our gardens are like postage stamps so god knows what he was thinking

Pleased to hear your dog was fine OP.

I hate fireworks. They seem to get louder every year and go on far too long.

My dog was never bothered by them when she was young but as she's got older they seem to affect her more.

Next year I'm going to be prepare beforehand and take up some of the suggestion on this thread in the hope that they might help to calm her.

woke us up at midnight and carried on for 50 minutes. Little dog was shaking , but this time I held her tightly lying on my side and she was on her front with paws over my left arm in bed and she stopped shaking. I kept stroking her head and she was fine.
Luckily this year there were not many of those canon ball shots and the duration was less than an hour.

The vet we had prescribed Xanex for our dog in the run up to bonfire night a few years ago. This was after several years of him being scared to death. We were told that we needed to start using it in the seven days of the run-up so that by the night itself it would be having the required effect. The vet said that the way it works is to disassociate them from the memories of fear that they had previously. Obviously it's a very short-term fix, but if it helps it helps.

The twerp we've got now (unfortunately lost our little Iggy last January to cancer) doesn't bat an eyelid, but try to get him to walk past people to get to a table in a pub and he thinks you're attempting to murder him .