Dutch Shepherd Forum

The fireworks have started near my house, and Radar likes to give his super loud bark whenever they go off.

Leela is a basket case.

Does anyone else have issues with fireworks and their dogs? How do you handle it?

Yep - I have both sides here. ICE gets all revved up! He loves them. They put him in full protection mode - he is positive there is a decoy out there somewhere. LOL
Mufasa, my GSD is scared to death, poor guy. He needs to stay right by me - and I do mean as close as he can get. I have to be careful walking around - he will twist around my legs. If I am sitting down he will try to find a tiny spot to get into. I adjust furniture so that he can find a comfortable tiny spot.
My other 2 dogs don't care.

Sadie used to but now she is fine. Its thunderstorms that send her through the roof. Sadie will squeeze herself into the corner of the couch, if we are sitting there, she will go on the back of the couch on our shoulders.

I ignore her, I dont talk to her, I dont say its ok or anything.

Depends on which side you have. H used to never care. Then we had the hail and now he's convinced every loud noise is someone to bite. So he gets anxious because he can't find the "bad guy". I play with him. Get him tired. Then tell him quiet when he runs around. The goal for me is to channel his anxiety into something tangible to calm him and tire him out so he can think. I can manage his drive better then. If not he'll just keep peaking.

For the scared/traumatized, depends on why. If it's something I can work through with CDs and desensitization protocols, I would start working on it waaaaaaay before and either treat the fireworks as a chance for desensitization (depending on progress of dog) or protect the dog as to not slide backwards and either distract or protect in a crate or somewhere they feel safe. I would not coddle them - just treat like this is no big deal, put let them do what they need to feel secure.

If they were simply traumatized beyond being able to overcome their fear, then I would give them Valium, put them in a dark crate, blankets over it, put on music to try to drown own the fireworks, and ride it out. Or do whatever makes them feel safe. But again, no coddling.

If it's one of those "oh now you're afraid of that" deal then I would address the problem as it arises to try to make it end on a positive note. If that doesn't work and the dog is at risk to harm themselves, I would sedate if possible or ride it out. Sometimes you have to take the hurdles and fall over them to be able to put yourself in the best position for the next one.

As a note: I don't generally recommend sedation unless it's absolutely necessary to calm the dog. There are plenty of other ways to deal with dog anxiety but for some, sedation is the only path. Consult your vet and do what you can before turning to sedation.

The kids behind my house had some firecrackers and of course all the big shells going off in the neighborhood. Didn't seem to bother any of them at all. I was more afraid they'd throw one over the fence and the dog would try to bite the firecracker and get hurt. So I kept them inside.