Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays.
I love the meaning of the holiday, the social gatherings, and the fireworks.
Usually we celebrate the fourth with a party, because well, that’s what we do.
We usually cook out and have a pretty nice display of our own fireworks.
Yes, we are those people that a lot of you can’t stand, blowing off fireworks illegally in your neighborhood.
These are just smoke bombs. They do NOT explode.
We always take special precautions and of course no one is ever put in harm’s way.
This year things are going to be different.
While we fully intend on having a party this Saturday, there will be no fireworks.
There are 2 reasons for this:
1. Due to the drought, it just isn’t a safe or smart to blow off fireworks when we have a lot of brittle brush in front and behind our house.
2. Sherman has suddenly become very uncomfortable with fireworks. For 5 years he has been fine with fireworks. Now, not so much.
I use to always feel sorry for people who had to worry about their dogs around this time of the year, but I was glad that I wasn’t one of them.
Now I join the ranks of millions who have a pet that fears fireworks.
I noticed it this weekend when a surrounding city was shooting off their fireworks and we were sitting out on the back patio. Sherman was out there with us and then the next thing I knew he wasn’t.
Which is very odd because Sherman is always where we are.
I called him and nothin.
I went and searched the house only to find him in the bathroom panting and drooling heavily. I immediately could tell that he was stressed.
I sat down next to him and we had a talk………….and a belly rub.
We went back outside.
Sherman went back to the bathroom.
I went back in for a talk and some more belly rubbing, then I remembered that I had some Rescue Remedy.
I gave him a few drops on his tongue and we talked some more.
He seemed to calm down a bit.
I think.
I’m not sure if it was the Rescue Remedy or the belly rubs, or a combination of both.
Seeing Sherman all upset made me all upset.
I don’t like to see my dogs get stressed.
Which makes me a little nervous for the fireworks tonight.
The city where I live blows off there fireworks basically in our backyard. (less than a mile from us)
If it wasn’t for the trees we would have the best spot in the city.
I don’t know what I am going to do with Sherman.
We are going to see the fireworks.
Sherman will be home by himself.
I have read some great articles on how to deal with a pet that is nervous with the sounds of fireworks this week.
My husband is either going to stay home with Sherman and skip going to the fireworks or I am going to leave him in the basement, where I usually leave him when we go out, and turn on the T.V. in hopes that this might drowned out some of the noise.
I might give him some Benadryl, but this will be a last minute decision.
So tell me, what do you do with your dog if they fear fireworks?
Happy 4th of July to everyone! We hope you have a safe and fun holiday!
Melfr
Monday 9th of July 2012
BTW- the whole "you shouldn't comfort your dog when they are scared" things an old wives tale. Most animal behaviorist a and experts in working with fearful dogs no longer adhere to that belief.
Melfr
Monday 9th of July 2012
I am so sorry your are joining the ranks. It's heartbreaking to watch isn't it? They say some dogs seem to develop a sensitivity as they get older. Maybe that explains Sherman's unusual reaction this time around. Personally, I don't hate people who want to enjoy fireworks unless they are doing them for weeks or days on end. Yes. My neighbors seem to fit into this group. For me, it's the fact that my dog doesn't get a break for them. She refuses to go out after 6 or 7 pm because she is so terrified. I hate thinking she is so afraid she won't even go out for one last bathroom break. I do two things for Daisy - Thundershirt and play Thrpugh A Fog's Ear cd. I used to be able to just use the Thundershirt, but this year It's not as effective as it used to be. The music really seems to be helping though.
I hope Sherman had a better time on the 4th. Poor boy.
2 brown dawgs
Sunday 8th of July 2012
We go to our cabin. It is in the middle of nowhere. No fireworks there. Except this year. Even though it is dry as dust, yep, some fools still had to shoot them off. Forget the dogs, this year it is just not a good idea to light anything in the forest.
As Thunder gets older, he is less tolerant of fireworks. This is a dog that will gladly sit and have a gun shot over his head. My hubby always reminds me that fireworks sound different than a duck hunting gun. Plus there is no payoff (duck) for the dog...lol.
Hope you had a nice 4th.
Jen
Sunday 8th of July 2012
That surprises me with Thunder since he is so use to the sounds of gunfire, but I guess it does sound a lot different and there is no payout for listening to it!
houndstooth
Thursday 5th of July 2012
Our best luck dealing with the fireworks and our dogs that had issues with them was to keep them in the basement, with the other dogs who weren't stressing out, using a Thundershirt and giving them Benedryl or Melatonin. We leave the TV on for them down there, too. Our basement does a pretty good job of muting the sounds, but doesn't do it completely. We put our worst stresser, Lilac, in a crate, too. She felt safer in there and we even covered it partway, which she liked. I've read a lot of places that dogs get worse about fireworks noise and storms as they get older.
Jen
Saturday 7th of July 2012
Our basement does a pretty good job too with the TV on and the air conditioner running. I think, now that I have had time to watch him more with it, it scares him when he is outside and someone shots one off, in the house he seems to be better. Makes sense
snoopy@snoopysdogblog
Thursday 5th of July 2012
Hi Jen,
I hope Sherman was ok last night :)
I never used to be scared off them until last year (well, that was only my second year) and some firecrackers scared me.
This year I stayed inside with Mum and her sister in law and we listened to music and chatted (well, they did!) :) I tried to just sleep but the loud noises kept waking me up, Mum would just pet me and I went back to sleep…..
I stayed with Mum (literally attached to her ankles) all night - I took the fastest potty break in history before bed - and now this morning - Peace!! Yay!! :)
Wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy :)
Jen
Thursday 5th of July 2012
Thanks Snoopy! Glad you did ok through the fireworks last night and Mom was right there by your side!
Sherman seemed to do ok too. He was stressed but not to bad. When I went to let him for his potty break last night, he walked out and came right back in the house because of course someone set off a firework as soon as we stepped outside. We came in and played some catch and he seems to settle down. Glad its over for now!