There’s a belief out there that dogs are ideal, perfect beings. Along with that comes the guilt trip that any behavioral glitch, big or small, is the fault of the owner.
It’s not true. There are some things no one can train away. In the last couple of weeks we’ve encountered several stories that break our hearts. And there was nothing these owners could do to spare their dogs.
Constant “bombs bursting in air”
This year, perhaps because all “official” fireworks shows have been cancelled, there has been an astonishing racket of illegal fireworks going off, at all hours, all days. If your dog is sensitive to fireworks, I don’t need to tell you that – your life has been miserable.
Some of us are lucky – our dogs hear the explosions, but aren’t bothered and don’t even pay much attention.
Others have dogs that notice, are bothered, but can be distracted. These dogs can be trained to focus on other “stuff” – something like a “snuffle mat” will keep them occupied. Playing the television at volume, in a room with no windows, will help as well.
And then there are the dogs who panic. No cranked-up volume, no distraction, no training will help.
Pair of tragedies
We heard two particularly sad stories in the last week. A friend of ours witnessed a woman walking down her street, sobbing, carrying her dead dog in her arms as she, screaming, begged people to stop the fireworks. Her dog was so panicked it had a heart attack and died.
A friend of ours, who is a dog trainer, also has a dog that panics. Her dog didn’t die, but instead suffered a stroke from the panic. We’re hoping Nova recovers. When we heard from her last, her girl was back home and wobbling around, so it’s possible.
What you can do
We wish that silent fireworks and light shows could be mandated and become the norm. Technology makes impressive displays possible without gunpowder. But we all know that’s not going to happen.
If you have a dog panicked by fireworks, thunderstorms, or some other cause, it’s not a training puzzle. Panic isn’t rational. People are able to rationalize and use coping mechanisms to deal with the things that terrify them.
But you can’t appeal to a dog’s logic. They’re terrified and there’s no way to explain to them that their fears are irrational.
Instead, you can have an action plan to help your dog as much as possible. Our friend hadn’t had Nova long enough to know how she would react.
Be prepared
Enlist your veterinarian’s help. There is a range of pharmaceutical and nutriceutical products available, from essential oils, to supplements, to CBD, to tranquilizers, to sedation.
Not every product works for every dog, and dosage and frequency for effectiveness can vary. You need to know what works for your dog before the next panic-causing event happens.
There are also calming wraps and mats that may help. One friend uses noise-cancelling headphones for her dog. That IS something you can train, if you start well ahead of the time when it will be needed.
You can also try getting your dog more accustomed to the noise by using a fireworks recording as background noise. Start at very low volume and gradually increase the level as your dog becomes comfortable.
