Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
Nah, if you pet them and talk sweet to them it reinforces the fear response. The best thing to do is just leave them in their kennel where they're comfortable- maybe with some soothing music playing if you can't be there with them.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
Oddly, when I adopted my dog it was late June, early July and the fireworks didn't phase him. But the next year he started wimpering and shaking when he heard them. I think we re-inforce that they should be afraid. Cuddling and petting them when things go BOOM. Try ignoring your dogs, and act like you don't even notice the fireworks.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
My dogs are freaked out by them too. My dane watches them and barks inbetween waiting for the next one. My wolf/husky hides behind me or runs inside.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
I hate fire works b/c they scare my puppies :( Interesting theory on ignoring them. I will have to give it a go.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
^^^ On the first season of the Dog Whisperer there's an episode about a Great Dane who is afraid of shiny floors. I guess the dog once fell on a slippery floor and the people made a big fuss petting him and telling him it was ok. If he were in a pack of other dogs they would sniff him to make sure he was ok, and then just go on and act normal. Cesar said making a big fuss nurtured his fear.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
^ yeah. basicially when the dog is afraid and you pet him and say aww, it's ok, that is telling him it's ok to be afraid.
But if yuo just ignore him when he's acting afraid and you go along like normal, he will see you are fine and not scared, so he will stop being so scaed too. When my puppy encounters thigns that freak him out, I go next to whatever it is scaring him and stand there. he will eventually walk up to me cause he sees I'm not scared of it, and I let him sniff whatever it is that scared him and he's ok. The fireworks have been scaring him today as well, but I just ignored it and kept doing whatever we were doing. when he stopped being freaked out and was calm again, I gave him a treat.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LuckyOne
Nah, if you pet them and talk sweet to them it reinforces the fear response. The best thing to do is just leave them in their kennel where they're comfortable- maybe with some soothing music playing if you can't be there with them.
What she said ^^
Also try not to respond to the fireworks yourself, dogs look to us on how to react, and if we are acting scared we are telking them there is something to be scared of. So just chill, difficult I know when your babies are shaking, but you have to. If will reassure them.
I usualy have the TV blaring when its fireworks night too, I smile a lot at them and act all casual and jolly.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Peanut_Butter
^ yeah. basicially when the dog is afraid and you pet him and say aww, it's ok, that is telling him it's ok to be afraid.
But if yuo just ignore him when he's acting afraid and you go along like normal, he will see you are fine and not scared, so he will stop being so scaed too. When my puppy encounters thigns that freak him out, I go next to whatever it is scaring him and stand there. he will eventually walk up to me cause he sees I'm not scared of it, and I let him sniff whatever it is that scared him and he's ok. The fireworks have been scaring him today as well, but I just ignored it and kept doing whatever we were doing. when he stopped being freaked out and was calm again, I gave him a treat.
PB you know alot about dogs andI can see that working on a puppy for fireworks,but any idea on this situation?:
My 9 year old worf/husky was in a tornado a few years ago while I was at work. She was in the house for 3 days before we were able to rescue her. During that whole time the house alarms all over the neighborhood were blaring. Now we just moved to a new area that is right by a firestation and everytime she hears those test alarms, she starts vibrating like nothing ive ever seen.
It is so sad b/c she never cries about anything but this. She will hide in a closet and wimper until I come join her. She wont quit shaking until the noise is gone. Oh she also does it when a house alarm nees the battery replaced and is beeping :(.
Is there anything i can do? Because I can't not coddle and love on her when she is going thru this...it looks like a major panic attack. It was an F4 tornado that demolished my whole house and its a wonder she made it.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
When a dog is afraid, the WORST thing you can do is pet it and tell it it's okay. I know it's awfula nd you feel terrible, but it only makes it worse, and prolongs their fear. That's telling it, "Hey! This IS something to freak out about!"
The best thing you can do is to reavert it's attention.
My dog was terrified of sirens and fireworks. So when she would start getting afraid, I would tell her to go get her leash (we go for walks several times a day, she looks forward to it). Normally, she would still shake, but go to her leash, and would wait to have it put on.
On the walk, if she heard sirens, I would reinforce "heel" to focus her attention (she heels very nicely,b ut when she gets nervous, she forgets). If she was getting very nervous, I'd make her do a down-stay, sit-stay, etc. It taught her that the sirens were no big deal, and that she had to do her "work" anyway, so it was no threat to her.
After just a few walks liek this,s he completelyd oesn't care about sirens or fireworks. LAst night, our neighbors were setting off some fireworks, and my dog was sleeping on the front step, and never even opened her eyes lol.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MeanGirl
PB you know alot about dogs andI can see that working on a puppy for fireworks,but any idea on this situation?:
My 9 year old worf/husky was in a tornado a few years ago while I was at work. She was in the house for 3 days before we were able to rescue her. During that whole time the house alarms all over the neighborhood were blaring. Now we just moved to a new area that is right by a firestation and everytime she hears those test alarms, she starts vibrating like nothing ive ever seen.
It is so sad b/c she never cries about anything but this. She will hide in a closet and wimper until I come join her. She wont quit shaking until the noise is gone. Oh she also does it when a house alarm nees the battery replaced and is beeping :(.
Is there anything i can do? Because I can't not coddle and love on her when she is going thru this...it looks like a major panic attack. It was an F4 tornado that demolished my whole house and its a wonder she made it.
Please watch this video.
It deals with a dog that was a bomb sniffing dog in the war. He came home with PTSD, and a paralyzing fear of any loud noises. It took Caesar abotu 2 months to help him, but in the end, the dog was rehabilitated.
The episode was called ATF canine Gavin. So after you watch this video, you can try to google for more information about it, or search Caesar's website for more info abotu it.
Basicially, Caesar used calming techniques along with flooding techniques to help him. Flooding is a questionable method among dog trainers, where you basicialyl put the dog face to face with his fears and allow him to go through his panic, while assuring him that he is safe and in no danger.
Anway..watch that link. I think you will find it helpful.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
Personally I dont agree with Flooding, its cruel and outdated. Trust Ceaser Milan to resort to this.
If anyone does want to try a Flooding tecnique, then PLEASE pay a Behaviourist to help you. They can go so badly wrong.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
Caser ususes a lot of questionable methods. I have read all of his criticism before I decided to use his advice. I wanted to make certain I was doing what i felt was best for my dog. Liek I said, a lot of people do not agree with flooding methods. And I also agree with you that it can go terribly wrong if not done properly and shouldn't be done by the inexperienced.
I have used a lot of Caser's methods on my dog, after reading up on each thign and reading other people's opinions, and just generally searching for all the info before going ahead with things, to make sure I was doing tjhe correct thing for my dog and situation.
A big big mistake a lot of people are making with Casar's methods is they watch his show, and go forth like they are experts and know it alls. Big mistake. a lot of his methods require a lot of experience and knowledge. Obviously, I am a fan of him though, and have seen the changes in my dog, and know he is happy and well adjusted because of it.
Re: My dogs hate fireworks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Peanut_Butter
A big big mistake a lot of people are making with Casar's methods is they watch his show, and go forth like they are experts and know it alls.
Tell me about it! That makes me wonder though if his methods should be put out in a TV show at all....
Also, `Alpha` ways of approaching canine behaviour is now outdated, as its been proved that pack order is constantly fluid. So the old rank reduction methods and `show the dog who is boss` is worthless. We are now unerstanding that even tho dog still do what works for them and not what doesnt (simple and black and white) they reasonings and instincts can be as complex as ours (but not as fucked up-dogs arnt cursed with egos).
Thats the main reason I dislike Ceasers methods, and prefer those of Gwen Bailey or James O Heare. Also Bridge and Target ways of using Clickers, rather than alpha rolling, yanking leads, kicking your feet out at dogs, or any other methods which really, if ya think about it, satifies a males ego `to tame the wild beast` ::)