While you and your family are enjoying a 4th of July barbecue or the Blues Festival on the Waterfront, what’s happening to Fido at home? Some dogs have a fear of fireworks or at least the sounds they make when they go off. Have you noticed your dog startles at the sound of fireworks popping? Does he run to another room or under the bed? Your dog may have had a traumatic incident related to fireworks or similar sounds, or perhaps he wasn’t properly socialized at the appropriate time in his development. Whatever the reason, you are probably well aware if your dog suffers from this particular anxiety and you may even dread this particular holiday. Perhaps I can show you how to desensitize your dog to fireworks sounds so that both of you can enjoy the 4th of July from now on!
Desensitization is a process whereby you introduce your dog to a stimulus, such as the sound of fireworks, and gradually increase the volume, while at the same time you work to change the dog’s reaction from fearful to relaxed, by pairing the sound with something pleasant like food or toys. If you have time, it is most effective to begin the work of desensitization prior to the 4th of July. Thanks to our wonderful technology, there are fireworks sounds you can record or play on your computer or on your smart phone. Go to: http://www.soundsnap.com/tags/explode , or go to your smart phone apps and type in “fireworks sound effects.” Don’t listen to these with your dog around you at first, but be ready to start the process as soon as you get a few of your dog’s favorite things gathered together.
To begin the process of desensitization, think about what your dog loves the most. Does he love fetch or tug of war? Peanut butter or rotisserie chicken? Hey, this might be a great time to try one of those treat-dispensing toys! Whatever it is, get it out and be ready to deliver. You may begin by playing the sound effects on the lowest volume or even in another room. You want Fido to barely be able to hear it for the first session. Please don’t bring your dog to the sound and don’t situate yourself near the sound. We don’t want your dog to associate you with the sound which he fears. When you hear the sounds of fireworks, let the fun begin! Each time you hear the sound, get your dog’s attention and begin to play with him or offer him a treat to completely distract his attention. This will soon become a game that goes something like this: Boom! “Fido?” Deliver the treat or begin to play with him and his favorite toys. Let him chase you, drag a toy by a rope, toss a ball up and down the stairs, go wild! Your dog will love the attention. Just remember, dogs take their cues from us, so don’t look worried or nurture him if he is in an anxious state of mind. Turn it around for him to a fun event and a great time for the two of you! I recommend a short session of only a few minutes at first on the lowest volume. Later in the day you may adjust the volume up one notch and play again for a few minutes, depending on how he is responding. As the volume is increased, you may turn on your TV or radio in the background at just a slightly lower volume than the fireworks. If your dog seems not to be interested in treats or play, you may have pushed it too far too soon. Take a step back and reduce the volume again until he is willing to accept treats and play. Depending on your dog’s level of anxiety, in a few days to a few weeks, in only about 2 five to ten minute sessions per day, your dog will soon be able to tolerate the sounds of fireworks and even look forward to it because it means fun! If you don’t have time to begin the desensitization process prior to the holiday, I recommend you stay home on the 4th of July, close the doors and windows, turn on the TV, and be ready to play every time you hear a noise. A nice brisk walk early on the day of the event is also a great way to help dissipate some of your dog’s excessive energy and anxiety.
Remember that fireworks tend to stay around longer than just the one day. Kids often play with fireworks the whole weekend so be aware that the noise may be around a bit longer than just on the 4th. Dogs who are especially sensitive to this noise may also be prone to running away and hiding. My dog Snuffy went missing on the 4th of July when I was a child and unfortunately was never found again. Please be safe with your dogs and take special care to take them outside on leash if you don’t have a fenced yard. This is not the day or weekend to have your dog off-leash even if he’s totally reliable off-leash on other days. If your dog is sensitive to noises or the sounds of fireworks in particular, be extra careful this time of year.
Thundershirts are also extremely effective to use to combat a fear of fireworks, but typically require a conditioning process of a few days, prior to the actual event. If your dog suffers from severe anxiety as a result of the sounds of fireworks or other loud noises and displays symptoms such as pacing, drooling, foaming, whining, hiding, or trying desperately to get outside, please consult me or another professional dog trainer or canine behaviorist to help with this problem.
Copyright © 2011 Jill Tonkin. All rights reserved.
