Dog gone nervous since 5th Nov?

[weegiemum]

Hi there! Promise I'll pay dog tax at the end of this.

I have a very even-tempered 8year old labradoodle. I know lots of people don't like them but he's been a fab family dog and is very healthy and well trained. Quite happy normally to sleep in the lounge and even sleeps till 8-9 am at the weekend! As I said, a chilled dog!

We've never had any issues with him since teenage days when he got through a few slippers but has always been fine. Then Tuesday happened! We've lived in the same street since before he was born and there's never been a lot of noise - you could hear fireworks but not up close.

There are new neighbours 3 doors down and clearly this is a big night for them! We had a huge cracking display about 7pm which had him hiding in my bed. I'm ok with that, and he came out for some treats and cuddles. Thought it was over but the same happened about 9pm and he lost control, barking and running about then losing control of his bladder in the kitchen (which is where I was with radio on, curtains closed as I thought it was over. I quietly cleared up and fed him some more treats.

Went to bed. At 11pm the neighbours let off a third round of huge bangs. Squealing barks got me downstairs but he'd already peed on the lounge floor and was very distressed. Dh was away overnight so I took him up to our room but at least that was the end of the fireworks.

Last 2 days he's not been more than a foot from my side. Following me everywhere and not relaxing at all.

What can I do to get him to chill out, will it just take time? And should I complain to the neighbours? If not I'm thinking of going overnight to my parents next year!

Dog tax!!

Hopefully it will just take time for ddog to trust the environment again

Looks like you might need to work on desensitisation between now and new years

@weegiemum what a beaut!
Same happened to our boy and now won't leave the house further than our drive lots of gentle positive reinforcement
I'm dreading this weekend 😢

One of my dogs hates fireworks, and even though he has an adaptil collar on, since last Friday when the fireworks started he has been attached to me. He even came to the vets with his brother as he wouldn't stay at home or in the car and he hates the vets (unlike ddog1 who sashays in to greet his adoring public and get all the treats).
I know mine will calm down to his normal over a couple of weeks and I just keep it all very boring and normal for him.

So sad hearing about these scared dogs. My not quite 2 year old dog was fine last year but this year was unlucky with some fireworks, got a shock in the garden, then one went off above our head on a daytime walk, so by bonfire night she was already afraid, then loads went off very close to the house, and she hasn't been the same since either. Can barely get her on a walk, today after a few minutes a builder made a bang and she dragged me all the way home. I hope the fear wears off soon :( I knew some dogs were afraid of fireworks but i didn't realise the reaction to it could be so long-lasting.

The reason I found this thread is that my dog is also very afraid of close fireworks.
And a massive display is planned for tonight. {It really sounds like a war zone as our house is a few metres from the field where they are set off}

Our old dogs weren't bothered, so I {smugly} thought it was my being calm around fireworks that made them this way.

{They used to watch the fireworks via an open window!}

NOT SO.

Current dog {same breed type} {Whippet} when the big display was on two years ago was terrified.

Running back and forth, trying to find a ''Quiet'' room.
I think the mistake I made was leaving curtains open so I could watch the display, and the sight of ''the sky being on fire''' made her afraid as well as the explosions.

Last year we stayed at the back of the house, but she was frightened to go into the garden for a wee.

The smell of the fireworks bothered her.

This year, she has shaken and trembled at some local families setting them off.

I HAVE noticed that when I talk in a soothing voice she gets worse!

{It's okaaaaaay}

I think I'll try a licky mat with beef paste on it tonight..but maybe a more upbeat tone might help.

She has been afraid in the past about going out after dark for walks in winter if someone lets fireworks off, and it's taken a few weeks to get over this.

Good luck everyone with frightened pets and not to mention farm animals and horses and wildlife.

It's so strange how some dogs are absolutely fine- and some not.

My Rescued Lurcher years ago was born on a Traveller's site and not afraid of anything- probably as she had been born around the time of firework season on a estate- at a time when fireworks used to go on for weeks at a time as local shops could sell bangers to teenagers.

While we were on a walk, some kids threw a banger at us, and she didn't turn a hair.

second dog followed her lead- he thought ''If Twiggy isn't bothered, why should I be''

But my poor girl this time REALLY hates them.
I have had to carry her before now as she too panicked when one suddenly went off while we were out. {I was worried about her slipping her collar}

The things that can frighten dogs are strange..

Old Whippet was really afraid of a certain building on a specific road. {for over 12 years!}

He slipped his collar walking past it once- I never knew why he was so afraid, of a silent building when a barrage of fireworks didn't bother him..

I googled the address to see if any crime had taken place there, but seemingly it hadn't.

My dogs and cats have always been fine until my last dog started going deaf. We had a few stressy years then she stopped as she couldn’t hear them.

Sorry about your dog OP. Stress hormones in dogs can stay up for days so just give them the reassurance they need and will get better.

Fireworks should be organised and advertised displays only IMO. My gran was bombed out of two houses and lost everything. A formidable woman but she was terrified of them. She took Valium to cope.