New Year eve in a quite (non-firework) area

Dear EF'ers,

Our dog got more and more anxious with fireworks in the last New Year eves / 1st Augusts. Thus, we decided not to be in the Zurich area this 31st Dec.

With COVID restrictions likely to happen in a way or another (or raising cases anyway) moving too far away is also ruled out.

So, my question to you are two:

(a) Can you recommend some good places (calm, but reasonably reachable) in Switzerland where this is not a concern?

(b) Can someone comment on how the situation is in neighbouring countries in close-by areas.

In any case, we have a strong preference for (a)

Thanks in advance people

A deserted camp site maybe

Unfortunately you will find fireworks pretty much everywhere. It's a tradition in most of Europe on NYE.

Some of my worst fireworks experiences happened in isolated spots 'auf dem Land' where we went away hoping to find someplace less than a war zone. Problem is, there are very few truly isolated spots in Switzerland.

In less crowded places you will still find people setting off private fireworks, but often with less consideration. People will travel to these places specifically to set of larger fireworks that they are not supposed to use in crowded neighborhoods. And in isolated areas, the time restrictions are less likey to be adhered to.

I have learned to stay away from any hotel, Gasthaus, or tourist area, as people are there to party and enjoy the holiday.

Not to mention, if you opt for a hotel, guests will complain if your dog barks in fear. Also, be aware that some may charge an extra fees for pets on that night.

Added to that, should an emergency occur, in isolated areas you might be far away from veterinary help. If you are somewhere where you don't know the local vets chances of finding emergency help can be limited.

I spent many years with an epileptic dog, which meant many years at the Tierspital on NYE and 1 Aug. Then there was the year a neighbor deliberately shot fireworks directly at the dogs taking a much needed piddle break, injuring one..

Another reason why we don't go away is the small but still non-zero chance of a dog bolting in fright and getting lost. In its own neighborhood a dog at least has a chance of staying safe because he knows the area. In a place he does not know a runaway dog is even more vulnerable.

In all my years here, I have learned that the safest place is actually my own home. It's the place where my dogs feel most comfortable, so we are starting out from a better frame of mind.

I close all windows, pull down shutters, close off rooms on the exterior of the house, and keep to either the cellar or an interior room. I keep music or a film playing.

Most important is how I react. I keep calm, but I don't ignore the dogs. I calmly, quietly acknowledge that they are upset and give them low level comfort. TTouch, massage, etc. In recent years the old idea of 'ignore your dog's fear so that you don't reinforce it' has been debunked by most respected behaviorists.

Here is a good thread, running over many years, where EF dog owners discuss how we cope. You can see over time how our strategies, and advice, have evolved. Hopefully you will find ideas that might help:

https://www.englishforum.ch/pet-corn...all-noise.html

Good luck!

Oh, and if you do decide to get away, book early.

ETA:

There is still time to do effective desensitization work ahead of NYE. Do you have a trainer here? If so, ask for help with that. If you don't have someone to work with here and are interested in more on the subject, let us know and I'll post some links.

There're a few caves in the Alps

Dear all

Thanks for the replies.

@meloncollie I am sad to hear the experience that resulted in your dog being hurt by such a person . All your insights made us think over the weekend, as some things (such as what would happen if our dog gets frightened in an unknown place) are things that escaped in our analysis.

All was brought by the news that Netherlands is phasing out (and some cities banning) consumer fireworks or all fireworks in certain places.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/1...-amsterdam-do/

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/1...n-spectacular/

and thought of a solace of calm, somewhere. But I see all benefits of remaining in a well-known, tranquil place.

What about the ZRH Airport? Is it a good idea?

For the moment we do not have someone who we can support us with our dog's behaviour. (by the way, he got just operated because of a couple of melanomas in the eyes, so we were focused on something else)

Leus, I hope your pup is doing well after the op. What a worry that must have been for you!

Here are some basics on the use of desensitization and counter conditioning to frightening noises like fireworks, as well as management during fireworks.

You will see that a common theme is doing the work well in advance of an anticipated fear event, going as slowly as the dog needs to go. It’s all about building on your relationship with your dog

A good short video from Battersea Dogs Home (UK),

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2oYXs47a0s

Battersea’s advice sheet to go along with the video can be found here, scroll down:

https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-adv...og-loud-noises

DogsTrust offers some free down-loadable sound-based treatment programs:

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-ad...erapy-for-pets

And from Grischa Stewart (The behaviorist who developed BAT, a program I used effectively as part of one of my dog's rehab )

https://grishastewart.com/sound-dese...works-thunder/

Ms Stewart linked a comprehensive article on dogs and fireworks by Carolina Westlund:

https://illis.se/en/eliminating-fire...hobia-in-dogs/

I’ve not read Ms Westlund's work before, but this article has piqued my interest. I have a small quibble with the section on OTC remedies as I would suggest first speaking to your vet before considering things mentioned in this section. I’m OTT like that. Other than that, though, I really like what I have read so far throughout her blog, her advice is solid, well presented - and thought provoking. ( OT, but her article on Using Antecedent Strategies is very interesting.)

---

This is just the tip of the iceberg - there is a ton of info out there on t’interwebs to help us help our dogs. In the other thread I linked in my previous post there are also references to well known behaviorists that are worth reading. I chose the above videos and articles because they were not linked (IIRC) in that thread.

As you browse for info on this, and all aspects of dog training, I would caution you to stay away from the ‘entertainers masquerading as dog trainers’, especially those who use outdated, debunked ideas such as dominance, alpha-ism, use of adversives, etc. These folks espouse methods that can exacerbate the distress an already fearful dog is in, potentially causing harm. Please stick with positive, humane training only - especially when desensitizing to fear. And above all, go slow.

Good luck - hope you and your pooch can ring the new year in with a little less stress.

Cannot thank you enough, @melloncollie. The "forum legend" cannot be more deserved.

Will read and drop by in case some other question arises. But I really appreciate your exhaustive help

Just to support what Meloncollie said, there will be fireworks everywhere and escaping to the hills or whatever will likely be worse. Every citizen, farmer, etc. will be setting them off, and I've found more uncontrolled and individual and unpredictable fireworks in the rural areas. Might be better to be totally urban. Only thing I can think of is rent a bomb shelter, bring fondue and lots of wine and make an evening out of it.

We are currently in Geneva. The weekend of Halloween there were quite a bit of fireworks in our neighborhood (don’t know if it’s a tradition or if it was just our neighborhood for some reason).

Anyway, in our master bedroom, I have an adaptive white noise machine. It works quite well, including for those fireworks that weekend - perhaps a solution. Sounds like a chirping meadow in here.

Our Gemeinde have already stopped using fireworks for Yorkshire Day (1st August) instituting a laser show instead. (It's really not quite the same, but that's was what was decided).

Maybe the same will apply to New Year's Eve.

I used one of these on Swiss National Day - my four-legged pal gets incredibly anxious about fireworks, thunder, etc. But the little sound machine (mine is a Relaxopet) was incredible - it made such a huge difference. At one point she was even asleep, despite the fact that fireworks were being set off just across the road from our house. It might be worth investing in one of these.

In the Netherlands Centerparcs has sites where no fireworks are allowed and pet owners can safely stay at NY eve. Maybe they have something like that as well in France or Germany?

What's the name of this machine?

Y'all probably know this already, but just in case:

A word on calming aids, devices, or techniques, such as a Relaxopet, white noise machine, DAP diffuser, Thundershirt, calming bands, TTouch, etc.

Always introduce these well in advance of Fright Night (or any fear event). Introduce the aid at a time when your pup is happy and relaxed, let them get acclimated to the aid in a no stress situation.

If a dog's very first experience of a calming aid were to occur during the fear event, there is a possibility that a dog may then associate that new thing with the fear, possibly negating some of what you hope the calming aid might do. Association - for good or bad - tends to play a part even if the aid focuses on something else.

So just as with DS/CC, if you want to use a calming aid then start playing your noise machine or calming music, plug in the DAP diffuser, put on the Thundershirt or calming bands, do a bit of TTouch now, when Good Things Are Happening, and keep using these periodically well in advance of the fireworks.

Here's hoping all our critters have a safe and low-stress NYE.

Excellent advice as always - thanks meloncollie!

Just look for an adaptive white noise machine. The one I have is a decade old and purchased on line in the US. Not available here, but similar items are.

Jess I have not been on New Year and I don't have a dog but maybe check the Berghotel Mettmen. It's close to Glarus but above in the "mountains".

Dogs are allowed in the hotel.

Maybe you can try calling them and ask if they do fireworks.

The hotel is closed until after Christmas but open for new year.

It could be a good place and the hotel is lovely.

https://berghotel-mettmen.ch/