Dogs and Fireworks?

and actually thunder/lightning

Any ones dog petrified of any of these?

What do you do for them?

Our dog shakes and cries the whole time and for awhile after.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

If it's really bad, you could talk to your vet about a sedative for 4th of July and thunderstorms (although it would be hard to time the thunderstorms).
Luckily, Misty could care less - if something goes off right outside the window or it's a particularly loud crack of thunder she may pick up her head, but she doesn't really react at all...I think that's a bonus to having a hunting dog....

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

My dogs bark at anything that makes noise.. so I am probably going to have to shut the windows and put the fans on so that they don't disturb the neighbors

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Hailey gets a little nervous so I usually shut all the windows and keep the ac on to drown out most of the noise. It's not like a thunderstorm for her. She can feel a thunderstorm if it's within a 10 mile radius. She's not as bad with the fireworks because it's just noise.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

We don't feed any reactions to thunder or fireworks. I've read that if you try to soothe an animal afraid of something, it reinforces the fear.

DH was walking him 2 days ago and some kids set off some firecrackers behind them, he said they were both scared. I don't know how he's going to do on the 4th. I guess we'll find out. He doesn't fit underneath the bed.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

We keep the tv and ac on. We take the dogs out before the fireworks start. My female is so afraid, will run right home fast if we don't. She is even shuddering now a bit, hearing one or two go off in the distance. My boy doesn't care, we used to take him for walks to watch the fireworks.

We used to stay out late on the 4th but not anymore due to my poor girl's fear.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Petunia hates the fireworks. I usually keep all of the windows closed but it doesn't help too much. She plants herself on my lap the entire time.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Zoey has become impossible during fireworks and thunderstorms. She shakes like crazy, cries and hides behind me or under me. Today she was such a wreck during the storm, she actually puked! She was never like this until recently and I plan to speak to the vet about it next week.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Daisy used to be fine with thunder and fireworks. She was 6 weeks old when we got her and her 1st 4th of July in 2007, she was 8 weeks old. It thundered and rained all day/night and the fireworks didn't phase her one bit.

About a week ago, when the storms were loud, she started to quiver and hide between us or stand in btw our legs.

She's curious about fireworks and her ears perk up, but she's more nervous about thunder now than anything.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Since we just got Amber last week, we don't really know what to expect, but there have been some small fireworks and M80s in the neighborhood the last few nights, and she reacts (stands up/ears perk up) but she doesn't really seem to mind.

Same for thunder.

So far at least!! I hope it stays that way.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Bella hates fireworks & thunderstorms. I feel so bad for her, because she runs under the coffee table and doesn't come out all night.

We usually close all the windows and turn on the AC. This year we won't be home for the 4th, so I'm thinking about leaving on the radio for her.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Thank you for all the responses. During thunder storms or fireworks, Milo shakes and cries. He tries to hide behind or under furniture where ever I am standing and if I am walking around the house he is right under me. We try to put him in the bedroom with the tv, radio and ac on but he hates to be alone at the same time. This is our first 4th of July not on vacation (the last two he has spent with my MIL) so I am just stressing about what he is going to be like that night.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Hmm, lets see.
My dog hates thunder, RAIN and I just found out he hates fire works.
He barks, scratches at doors and is running all over the place when this happens. We put him in his crate and he calms down.
But that didn't work for the fireworks today.
This is the 1st 4th of July we've had him.
He wasn't always bothered by the rain, it just started a few months ago. Don't know why.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Zoey hates fireworks and flips out. I have valium left over from her surgery and will give her one later tonight when the idiot down the block from me decides to light up some M80's.

We will see how Logan does with his frist 4th of July.

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Darwin is roughly 14 years old ( we got him "used" from a pound, so we only know how long *we've* had him...).

He is TERRIFIED of any loud noises. Even after all these years, he still thinks that hiding in the bathtub will protect him.... Sedatives only help slightly, but it's not easy to get him to take them.

We think he's starting to go deaf because after 13+ years of being deathly afraid of fireworks and thunder, they don't bother him very much now. I doubt he's gotten used to them....

Re: Dogs and Fireworks?

Capt' Bob doesn't mind them at all. He was outside with us and all the noise did not bother him last night. He just lie next to us.