Stupid Fireworks (long)

[Brandie&Maggie]

So we had a minor incident with the neighbors and some fireworks on the 4th and now I need some advice....

We waited to take her out on Wednesday night until all the big fireworks were over and our close neighbors were finished with theirs.

We leashed her to go out just in case, and its a good thing we did! Someone on the next street over had some very big & loud fireworks that they set off just as we were going outside. Poor Maggie flipped out!

She went right back inside without doing her business. She seemed fine once back in the house. Everything was normal all day yesterday until last night. She asked to go out sometime after dark and when i opened the door she refused to go out! The only way I could get her out was to have Rob help and entice her with hot dogs - it took 30 minutes just to get her to pee. She's fine in daylight but now refuses to go out after dark....

Any advice on how to help her overcome this new fear would be appreciated../.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

I'm sure others will chime in with some helpful ideas, but in the interim, you have my sympathies. My Mila is TERRIFIED of fireworks. So much so that she has to be sedated (with Benadryl), and put in her crate with a blanket over the top and white noise in the background pretty much all of the evening/night on the 4th. There was no let up during the night and I had to take her out to potty (as she hadn't in almost 15 hours) regardless. It was a nightmare and traumatized her further. I seriously do not like this holiday at all anymore!

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Kristen - I feel your pain! Maggie has not really had issues if she's inside. She barks, but doesn't seem to be scared....I'm not so sure what she'll do now!

 

[new_2_newf]

just keep at it...keep bringing her out when it's 'safe' so to speak, and keep making it a positive experience for her with things like hot dogs or her favorite toy or something like that. Hopefully the more she goes out without anything bad happening and a lot of good happening, the easier it will get.

 

[charlieinnj]

just keep at it...keep bringing her out when it's 'safe' so to speak, and keep making it a positive experience for her with things like hot dogs or her favorite toy or something like that. Hopefully the more she goes out without anything bad happening and a lot of good happening, the easier it will get.

I agree. You just have to keep at it and make it an absolute "non-event". Going forward, she'll be in tune with your 'energy' so you have to be matter-of-fact that c'mon....we're going....this it what we do. Your confidence will build her confidence.

And, it's probably a good idea to keep a handful of treats with you to reward her not-reacting to even the slightest noise.

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

Once again, Maggie and Elvis were spun from the same thread. If Elvis is inside the entire time, he's absolutely fine. Try to take him outside and the world ends. Luckily after 4 years we've got a good system and try to do everything possible to tire him out so he sleeps right through it. We did wake him up at 1am that night to go pee since we could still here random fireworks at midnight. Everytime we thought it was over, we'd go outside for a minute and hear some more.

During the day we took Elvis to Petsmart, gave him frozen watermelon (about 30 minutes of entertainment), let him play in his pool, and gave him a bath. We took him for a walk around 6pm, gave him 2 benadryl, and tucked him in.

If he is outside and one goes off, we try really hard not to overreact and let him spazz. We turn into drill sergeants and make him sit and then go down about 6-7 times to get him to focus back on us. It's hard to do, and our trainer spent a lot if time working with us on this, but it does seem to help. Once we get him focused on us you can almost see him relax - although it's a tiny bit. We get him to pee - even if it takes him 20 minutes - and then let him inside where he heads right for his cage.

Also, like you, we keep him on his leash during all this. If he wasn't, he'd go right for the back door and we'd never get his focus back.

Keep making going outside a fun thing. Eventually she'll realize she has nothing to be afraid of.....or she'll have to pee so badly she won't care!

 

[Jeepin' Rob]

Unfortunately she will have to relearn that night time and dark is safe especially on your property. It may take some time with the 'treat' enticement and playtime. Curious as to how long your twilight lasts? The further north you are located the longer the transition from light to day. May help if she starts experiencing the transition.

We dreaded Halloween fireworks with our Chocolate lab who would try to get under the carpet but our 1st Newf was oblivious to fireworks and would go out trick or treating with our kids.

Has anyone tried the 'Thundershirts' for fireworks?

Good luck, Rob & Moby

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

I have no advice, since Snuffles seems ok with fireworks in general, but freaks when close and the air is heavy with sulfur smoke.

Last night taking Snuffles out front for a quick pee, I saw a fellow we run into on our before bed walks sometimes that was out walking BJ about 7:00 PM. It was still quite HOT, and I was surprised to see the 2 since he lives several blocks away and BJ has a pretty heavy coat. Turns out BJ is deathly afraid of fireworks. The fellow though if he could get BJ out way before dark, he could get his walk in. Anyway we crossed the street to say hi, as we parted ways, there was some fire crackers going off at the corner a half block away. BJ just stopped and sat, and would not go any further. I told the fellow I would take them home in the car, but he did not take me up on it. I said see if BJ will go back the other way, and he did. So I guess he made it home OK, but it was a longer walk in this heat. I did jump in the car and shawdowed them just in case, but turned toward home when they were about a half block from home.

 

[CMDRTED]

Quote:
Originally Posted by new_2_newf
just keep at it...keep bringing her out when it's 'safe' so to speak, and keep making it a positive experience for her with things like hot dogs or her favorite toy or something like that. Hopefully the more she goes out without anything bad happening and a lot of good happening, the easier it will get.

I agree. You just have to keep at it and make it an absolute "non-event". Going forward, she'll be in tune with your 'energy' so you have to be matter-of-fact that c'mon....we're going....this it what we do. Your confidence will build her confidence.

And, it's probably a good idea to keep a handful of treats with you to reward her not-reacting to even the slightest noise.

YUP, YUP, good advice here. Lots of positive praise, and reinforcing good behavior.

Couple of questions:

1. Are fireworks illegal in you town/area. If they are, I would try to have a positive conversation with the neighbors. Try to in a polite and respectful manner, explain how injurious to dogs, and in your case, creating an unacceptable physicological reaction. If they are good neighbors, that should be enough. If they are not, and act like asses, then do did your part as a "Good Neighbor, and all bets are off. Explain you would like to have a positive neighbor experience, but illegal is illegal, and in order to protect your family and decrease the possibility of a fire, or other accidental injury, to members of your family, you will have to contact the authorities and press a complaint. Emphasise that you are not trying to be mean, but trying to protect your family, and both properties from accidental firework damage. If that doesn't work, and you neighbors are asses, call the police. (If their illegally shooting fireworks).

2. If not still try to work it out with the neighbors. sometimes they may not understand the problem.

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Ted - Fireworks are completely legal here in NH. It's never been a big issue as most people near us don't bother. Our neighbors across the street get them for 4th of July and sometimes New Years, but that's it. They are polite about it and don't do it late at night.

The house that set off the bigs ones on Wednesday just sold - I'm not sure if it was the old owners or the new that did it...we don't know them at all. Hopefully its the old owners and they'll be gone soon!!

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

How's she doing Brandie? We had a similar thing happen to us on Thursday (some hillbilly somewhere blew off a slew of M-80's in the middle of the afternoon when I had Mila out in the front yard) and now Mila is petrified of the front yard. Like eyes bulging out of her head, bucking like a stallion to get out of her collar and run to the door terrified. Ugh.

 

[wrknnwf]

Quote:
Originally Posted by new_2_newf
just keep at it...keep bringing her out when it's 'safe' so to speak, and keep making it a positive experience for her with things like hot dogs or her favorite toy or something like that. Hopefully the more she goes out without anything bad happening and a lot of good happening, the easier it will get.


1. Are fireworks illegal in you town/area. If they are, I would try to have a positive conversation with the neighbors. Try to in a polite and respectful manner, explain how injurious to dogs, and in your case, creating an unacceptable physicological reaction. If they are good neighbors, that should be enough. If they are not, and act like asses, then do did your part as a "Good Neighbor, and all bets are off. Explain you would like to have a positive neighbor experience, but illegal is illegal, and in order to protect your family and decrease the possibility of a fire, or other accidental injury, to members of your family, you will have to contact the authorities and press a complaint. Emphasise that you are not trying to be mean, but trying to protect your family, and both properties from accidental firework damage. If that doesn't work, and you neighbors are asses, call the police. (If their illegally shooting fireworks).

2. If not still try to work it out with the neighbors. sometimes they may not understand the problem.

Fireworks are illegal here and honestly, the police just laugh if you call to complain. We have bozos all around us shooting them off. I'm surprised we haven't had any nearby fires in this drought. The grass is like tender.

Still, the police do nothing. Guess it will take a tragedy to get some action.

 

[Anthony99]

Avlon is also terrified and like everyone else has said just keep at it. July 4th we always take her out before dark about 8ish and she is finished for the night. Unfournately July 5th some yahoo must of had left overs and blasted them off on our walk about 9. She puts her leash in her mouth and starts heading home with me in tow. The next night she is a little sheepish to go out from the prior night but she gets over it rather quickly.
July 4th was my favorite holiday til I got a Newf who is scared to death of fireworks.

 

[R Taft]

When one of our dogs has any form of anxiety due to noise or whatever i go into silly training..We do hugh reward training during it and we sing (Thank you Jane) and play the fool...the dogs get so involved with this silliness they forget what the problem was.

Both Lukey and Annabelle were thunder worry dog, now they are stupid idiot thunder dogs. Annabelle brings out her toy and Katy (who never worried) the tugs. Because they know the silly owner will play the fool with them.

It is how we have got them over all of their anxiety bits...Singing and foolishness has been a great part of it. Also I did initially use rescue remedy and I also did some Tellinton Jones pressure bandaging. But only for a very short time (like thunder shirts), but cheaper and for the interim. I used them only twice on each dog.
Good luck

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

How's she doing Brandie? We had a similar thing happen to us on Thursday (some hillbilly somewhere blew off a slew of M-80's in the middle of the afternoon when I had Mila out in the front yard) and now Mila is petrified of the front yard. Like eyes bulging out of her head, bucking like a stallion to get out of her collar and run to the door terrified. Ugh.

She's gotten gradually better over the course of the week...I still have to put her leash on her to get her out the door after dark, but once out, as of last night she does what she needs to do. She still won't walk around the yard at night, but at least she's going potty!

Using hot dogs combined with using my "you don't have a choice you are going to do this now" voice seems to be doing the trick.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

Good to hear! I've taken to feeding Mila her brekkies out in the front yard and throwing her salmon treats all over the yard in a game of "seek and ye shall find". It's helping, but it'll certainly take some time

 

[Ksullivan]

I feel your anger. WE live across from Indiana Beach Resort, and EVERY weekend they let off fireworks (New owners the last only did it on 4th and Labor day). Sully is terrified, so we take him out before darkness, and if we leave we leave the lights, and television turned up to try to muffle it some. It only makes my ShihTzu angry, and she barks at it.
The new owners are having a hard time making it, so I do not understand why they have to waste their money every weekend on fireworks. Non of the people living here like it a bit!!

 

[new_2_newf]

sounds like you guys are doing exactly the right things with her, keep at it!