Crash, boom, bang!

One of the things that I find hard about having dogs is the fact that there are so many potentially scary or upsetting situations that our dogs can encounter and we have no easy way of explaining to them that they are safe, as we could with another human.

It's that time of year again in the UK. I come from near a town in the south east of England called Lewes, and Bonfire Night is a HUGE deal around here. Bonfire season starts in my local area on the last weekend in September and goes on until the weekend or so after Bonfire Night itself on 5th November. With bonfires come the real potential issue - fireworks.

For the last three weeks and for several weeks more there will be firework displays going on all around us. I am fortunate in that neither of my current dogs (or indeed any I've had in the past) are particularly bothered by fireworks, although Finn is reactive to a number of other noises. On one memorable occasion a few years ago, my older dog demanded to go out and play in the garden when the neighbours on either side were letting off fireworks in theirs! For many that share their homes with dogs, however, fireworks are a major issue.

There are some things that you can attempt to help your dog be less scared of fireworks if you know they are going to be occurring (and they will at some point for nearly all of us, although often there is no advance warning until that first telltale bang).

Desensitisation is a gentle method that gradually increases the exposure of the dog to fireworks. It is accomplished by playing a CD or mp3 of firework noises, initially at a very low volume. It is important that the dog remains relaxed at each stage of the process, so the starting volume may be almost too low to be heard - remember that a dog's hearing is far better than a human's is. As the dog is seen to be comfortable with a volume level, increase it a little. How the dog responds dictates how the progression of the exercise goes, how quickly the noise can be turned up louder. At each stage the dog needs to be relaxed before there is any intensification. Desensitisation is best carried out in very controlled conditions as progress relies on the dog being relaxed and comfortable and sudden interruptions could startle him. This is not a quick process and obviously cannot help with the sudden onslaught of noise that can come from an unexpected display.

How then can we help the scared dog when we have no idea that the fireworks are coming?

The most important thing is to know what to look for to be able to tell when your dog is stressed. There are some superb resources available online with illustrations and descriptions of canine body language that can help. Also, the always fantastic Canine Principles have just released a Canine Communication Diploma which I'm currently enjoying very much.

Provide your dog with a safe space, somewhere they can go and hide themselves away if they want. This can be a good use for a crate if you use one, covering it with blankets to make a nice, cozy and safe feeling den. Alternatively, if you're creative and practical, the same sort of effect can be created by constructing a frame over the dog's bed.

Some dogs are comforted by wearing something along the lines of the Thundershirt or home made anxiety wrap, instructions for which can be found HERE.

If your dog becomes really distressed and at risk of making themselves ill or injuring themselves in their terror, consult your vet as they may be able to provide a gentle sedative to help your dog avoid the worst of the fear.

The main thing to remember is to pay no attention to that old wives' tale of ignoring your dog if they come to you when they are scared. Conventional 'wisdom' states that to make a fuss of your dog when they come to you scared reinforces the fear and strengthens the idea that there is something to be scared of.

To be utterly blunt - bullshit.

Fear is an emotion. Emotions cannot be reinforced. What CAN be reinforced are the behaviours that a dog finds make them fell better and more able to cope with the scary situation. In the case of some dogs, that's coming to find their owners and cuddling in tight. My reactive dog will come and tuck himself behind my feet when he's scared, and I encourage that if it helps him to feel better and better able to deal with life. If my dog's response to something scary is to come and find me because I make him feel safe and he can trust me to protect him from the scary thing, why would I not want to encourage that?

'Hold my paw, Mum!'