Scared of fireworks
Well now I have a problem and I'm not sure that I am doing the right thing. Now that the clocks have gone back it is dark on an evening when he goes for his walk. So when we get to the field it's dark and occassionally (sometimes often) a firework will go off, which scares him Since Monday night he has been more than nervous about going for his walk and he really doesn't want to go. But I have been making him go for his walk. I walk with a group of other dogs all of who aren't bothered at all about fireworks and I am hoping that this is the right thing to do??? Once he is out with them he is fine although he does jump whenever he hears a bang! I am not making a fuss when he jumps about I just keep him close and talk to him as I would on any other walk. I'm thinking that if I reassure him too much he will think there is something to be scared of?? My question is .... By making him go for a walk when he is frightened am I making him worse or the fact that he is with the dogs that aren't bothered a good thing for him? I don't want to scare him but then he does need his evening walk otherwise he doesn't sleep very well. I have taken next week off work so that I can get him out in the light before all the fireworks start, and he's going to the beach which always makes him sleep as he's tired when he gets back  |
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| I personally think you are doing the right thing including not fussing over him. He is gettting a chance to deal with his fear in the most comfortable situation possible. He may always be skittish when it comes to fireworks but you are making it better for him to deal with.
Harry doesn't like them much either - but I at least he is not frantic since we have worked with him as well. |
| please keep him on a lead a friend of ours great dane got a fright with a firework and made a run for it as a result she was hit by a car and She was on a lead. |
| Yes hes always on a lead! Thats something else he doesn't like but I'm taking no chances! |
Maizie hates them too vicki, she just barks all the time.... Hattie seems ok. So i don't take her out when fireworks are about!!! I really wish they would ban them.. Or just have them at displays... sorry for moaning...  |
| You are doing the right thing, but I'd not talk to him after an incident. Don't stop, keep going......later talk to him while he's being good. Assuring him right after a firework is rewarding the flightly behavior. Reward when he's being perfect for sometime. In his mind:" I gotta keep doing good so Mom will 'bark' in her kind bark.......I gotta keep doing good, I gotta keep doing good"
Then you say "Good boy!" and he goes, "Yeeess!" |
SheepieBoss wrote: You are doing the right thing, but I'd not talk to him after an incident. Don't stop, keep going......later talk to him while he's being good. Assuring him right after a firework is rewarding the flightly behavior. Reward when he's being perfect for sometime. In his mind:" I gotta keep doing good so Mom will 'bark' in her kind bark.......I gotta keep doing good, I gotta keep doing good"
Then you say "Good boy!" and he goes, "Yeeess!" Thank you for your advice it is working, slow progress but yes it's working! Yesterday was the big day and the fireworks started at 4pm and lasted until about midnight! At one point the windows were shaking and the house lighting up with the fireworks! And George was............................... fast asleep through most of it!! 
He had been to the beach in the afternoon for a couple of hours and that always makes him sleep so he came home had his tea and slept! So that was that over (apart from an odd few) until next year!! |
| vicki I am so glad to hear that George was able to sleep through most of the fireworks last night. I was thinking of you. What is wrong with people who throw fireworks at animals...makes me so angry. Give George a big hug and a pat for us!
Aussie/sheepie hugs, |
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