So I'm thinking of just closing the blinds on Aug 1, and finding a quiet corner of the house and sitting there with Lily, maybe see if I can get her to play a little bit with her brain train (hide treats and she gets them). I might call the vet tomorrow and see what, if anything he recommends.
Anyone have other suggestions?
Thanks
If its during the day I will sit and put a lead on to control him and wait the storm out. He does bark, and I correct him, which has made him alot better.
I think you can get mild sedatives for pets in the extreme.
It's strange as the younger dog doesn't care about the thunder now.
I don't want to spark a controversy, but I should tell you that I try to use positive reinforcement, especially if she's afraid. For Lily, distracting her to lower her arousal seems to work better than correction. But I am interested in knowing how other people deal with this.
After spending one 1 August in the Tierspital when my extreme noise-phobic dog went into convulsions after each bang, we gave up and the next year spent the day in Germany or France. We continued to do that every year while he was alive - 1 August was simply was too dangerous for him.
If your dogs' fear is not that extreme, in addition to closing the binds or putting on soothing background music, you could also try body wraps or a t-shirt as a calming aid. I've had good results using TTouch to relax the mutts a bit. Some people use DAP dispensers or DAP spray on bandanas - I didn't really see any improvement when I tried it, but some say it makes a difference for their dogs.
Some trainers recommend desensitizing, using a fireworks (or other scarey noise) CD... This approach can be effective when done using positive reinforcement and change-the-association, but usually takes some time to accomplish. (Going too fast can result in flooding.)
We had a breakthrough last year, the first 1 August after my deaf oldie joined the family. He can't hear a thing so he naturally he does not even notice, let alone react, when the neighborhood explodes. My other dogs, who the year before had been terrified, remained calmer - they clearly took their cue from the little guy. (Do you know any non-reactive dogs who might want to come over that night for a play date? )
Ignoring the madness outside seems to be the best way forward; I try to keep calm, we try to have a quiet family evening as if it was any other day. The operative word being 'try'.
It is often best to put a dog on lead if you have to go out in the garden while the rockets are flying. Every year dogs get spooked, jump fences, and end up lost - and a few never make it home.
Other than that, I pray for rain.
FYI, an article from the Tagi, with tips for helping your four footed friends get through the day:
http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/leben/ra...story/10294878
Wishing all the doggies out there a safe and sane 1 August.
it will be our first 1 August here in CH. Our girl has also fear of fireworks. She hides somewhere (usually under the table or bed) and starts to breath rapidly and gets really upset.
I would like to know what time does the fireworks begin on 1 August?
I really don't want to be outside with her at that time, because in such cases she starts to pull on the leash (very strong, uncontrolled, usually in one direction) and she wants to escape.
So I need to know when shall I go for a walk with her? Very early in the morning? I am not sure how will we go to pee in the evening, but I hope that duration of the firework is limited on some hours or so?
Or another plan... Hike outside CH. Do you know any nice places for walk in some other countries within max 3 hours from ZH (so probably in Germany or Austria)? We would go for a hike there instead of siting in our apartment and listening these "boom, booom, boom" noises.
Thank you for answers.
I'll have to play it by ear but the plan is to move him to a quieter room in the house, put him in his crate and turn up the radio.
Fingers crossed.
Usually for thunderstorms, he gets anxious and barks. But I either turn up the telly or play music to try and drown out the sound and distract him with games of fetch, which he likes. For me, the same theory applies with thunderstorms as when they see something unfamiliar on walks - dont feed the dog's anxiety by trying to sooth them. Just act normally and distract them.
Better check your local times (and the places you plan to escape to)!
Hopefully a not too frightening experience for your pets...
Anywho, good luck all of you and I hope your owners don't get too anxious.
I read the article... good advice. I'm trying the wrap method too - it's the same principle as weighted blankets for autistic kids.
Good advice to act normally, or at least quiet and not make a big deal of it - I guess I'm reactive too.
When my dog was a puppet, and a dog barked on TV the first time, she got up and looked for the other dog, that she could hear, but not see. Later on, she never reacted to TV sounds any more.
Would it be an option to use a Youtube Video of fireworks to "train" the dog ? Like playing the same video a few times, and increase the volume a bit every time, so it gets used to the noises.
Doc.
The fireworks near us have already started, and tend to last all day and late into the night.
My dog was terrified of fireworks back in the UK on bonfire night so i would take her into my bedroom and turn the T.V really loud to try and drain the firework noise out seemed to help.
Summerain, how's your pup? Hope the surgery went well.
Hope everyone has a restful day, pups, cats, rabbits and etc. included.
Am I allowed to mow the lawn without causing a friction with my Nachbaren?
This being one of the most sacred days on the Swiss calendar, disturbing the peace is particularly frowned upon. Infractions such as the mowing of lawns can be expected to bring a slew of indignant complaints. Your neighbors likely have their fingers poised on the noise police hotline.
Just make sure that your abject apology to said neighbors is voiced loud enough so that you can be heard over the ear-splitting howitzer-like explosions they are setting off. All. Day. Long.
The real noise starts in the evening, crescendo-ing to a full out 'Apocalypse Now' style war zone from around ca 21:00 or 22:00 to midnight. I believe noise is supposed to stop by 1AM, but there are often random rockets fired off after that.
Oh, and for first-timers - the smell of gunpowder can linger through the morning. Some of my dogs are afraid of the smell as well as the noise... resulting in rather stressed bladders.
YMMV - but best to be prepared.
France is usually good if you are up for a drive - choose any picturesque town about half an hour up the Wine Route in Alsace and you'll likely run into a quite a few Swiss dog owner-escapees.
In Austria, the Montafon area is usually nice - but I think there is a festival going on in St Anton this weekend as well.
Just left him to his own devices and he stopped after a couple of hours. He's still very quiet, confused as to why he's being made to wear the lampshade collar and banging into things but wagged his tail at me this morning..so yay, I think i am forgiven.
Happy Swiss National Day everyone.