Post-fireworks behaviour: I’m at my wit’s end

[ppeony]

Like a lot of dogs, my dog is terrified of fireworks and basically goes into panic attack - pants, hides, shakes and barks. It’s horrible for her and it’s something we have to grin and bear every year. But every year I swear it goes on for longer and she’s a wreck even when it’s over. It’s been well over a week now and every evening when it gets dark it’s like she’s anticipating fireworks. She won’t let me walk her properly, is scared of being in the garden even, and she sporadically barks.

The whole thing is giving me palpitations as I feel like I’m constantly wired up and waiting her her to bark. We’ve also just moved house and I’m so stressed about pissing off the neighbours. I know it’s sad for my dog but I’m truly at my wit’s end and have tried a thundershirt, valerian, making a den, really tiring her out on walks in the daytimw. Nothing seems to help. And soon it’ll be new year’s eve…

Any tips? Is there anything I can do?

Have you spoken to the vet for some proper medication for her?

Do you play with your dog?eg.tugging on rope,finding ball etc.Behave with your dog normal,play with him/her,distract with things your dog likes.your dog is now picking up your anxieties and it is not the fireworks anymore.Fireworks are a pain in the arse,my dogs dont like it and are frightened,but I try to behave normal,as if there is nothing,and play their favorite game(tugging).I hope,yu find a way to make it easier for your dog and you

Speak to your vet.

I’m so sorry, my dog hates them too and this year has been bad despite all the mitigation’s we’ve tried to put in place. I can’t account for the fucking idiots who were letting them off at midday this Saturday - daylight! Midday! - and my DH had to come and pick us up as she wouldn’t move. Similarly our countryside walk on Sunday morning was curtailed by a pheasant shoot nearby…

My vet says it’s a fear that gets progressively worse and medication is a rightful step once you’ve got to the stage they’re not coping at all.

I'm going through the same thing so I know every bit of what you're going through.
Soon as it starts to get dark my old boy is panting, running from room to room, shaking This behaviour starts from about 4pm & will carry on until 10.30 until he completely exhausts himself! I'll have this for another few weeks at least..

I've tried every trick in the book too. It's extremely stressful. Any type of distracting him makes him worse sometimes I find. So I try to keep calm & just carrying on being busy around the house.

Sorry I can't offer more advice only sympathy x

Yes to this we are really struggling with after effects as well

Not helped aa we have a club near by that involved repetitive bang like a ball hitting hard board ( we dis think clay pigeon shooting but is not )

But bird scarers any loud banging etc and he shakes

Yes we had the idiots letting of mid day or 1am job as well 4pm so day light fireworks someone's front garden that went sidewards exploding not far from us when was younger is cause of his

Next year going to ask vet for meds as desensitisation not work

With the best will in the world, you need to relax now. You're unintentionally winding up your dog and upsetting her further. Easy for me to sit here and say, but she'll follow your behaviour.

A woman I follow on Instagram had an upset dog because of fireworks and someone recommended playing Firework sounds on her Alexa. It sounds counter-intuitive, but she filmed the result - the dog calmed down and went to sleep! There are firework playlists on Spotify - the first one I found was called "Dog training fireworks".

Definitely worth a try.

Thanks for all the replies, really helpful and sorry to hear (as expected) that others are in the same boat.

@VeganVampire

With the best will in the world, you need to relax now. You're unintentionally winding up your dog and upsetting her further. Easy for me to sit here and say, but she'll follow your behaviour.

Probably true but it feels impossible to ignore it, especially as we have neighbours either side. I get so stressed out. I will try to not feed into the idea that there’s something to worry about.

She’s a border collie so especially astute

@Prattypitel

Do you play with your dog?eg.tugging on rope,finding ball etc.Behave with your dog normal,play with him/her,distract with things your dog likes.your dog is now picking up your anxieties and it is not the fireworks anymore.Fireworks are a pain in the arse,my dogs dont like it and are frightened,but I try to behave normal,as if there is nothing,and play their favorite game(tugging).I hope,yu find a way to make it easier for your dog and you

This is a great tip. Thank you.

When there’s real fireworks it’s like she can’t see me, she’s so panicked, but at the moment because she’s just anticipating, I am able to get her to engage

In terms of vets/medication, I cannot afford a behaviourist and in terms of meds I didn’t want to be fobbed off with something I could buy online. But I’ve read dogs can have diazepam for noise phobia so a possibility? Obviously would only work for the worst nights, not for the days on end that follow :(

I think the point of the meds is that you get them and give them in anticipation of the loud firework events - the night if and nearest weekend to the 5th Nov - and that means your dog is relaxed and more able to cope. That in turn lessens the after-effects of them overreacting in subsequent days.

It’s like any dog training - you’re aiming avoid creating a bad association, prevention better than cure etc.

An Adaptil collar was a complete game changer for one of my dogs - he went from hiding under the bed, drooling, and totally unable to be comforted to not being very happy about fireworks but sitting on the sofa next to you and calming very quickly.
On the peak nights we give him skullcap and valerian tablets as well, but the collar lasts a month so also deals with all the extra fireworks and generally makes him less anxious

@ppeony

In terms of vets/medication, I cannot afford a behaviourist and in terms of meds I didn’t want to be fobbed off with something I could buy online. But I’ve read dogs can have diazepam for noise phobia so a possibility? Obviously would only work for the worst nights, not for the days on end that follow :(

You don't need to buy your medication from the vets.

Go, get a prescription and buy online, or just ask for recommendations.

I have 2 Border Collies and I know exactly what you mean.Luckily they are not too bad with fireworks,but a previous one was out of her mind from fireworks.I think,because Collies are so super clever,they are more noise sensitive too.work with a ball should help.Best to start the ball work before the fireworks start,so you and her/him are in "happy,relaxed" state.try to keep calm,it is amazing how dogs pick up on an owners emotion.specially Border Collies