Hi, I'm Lily one of the canine behaviourist and training advisors here at Battersea.
Today we're going to be talking about how to make your dog feel safe during firework season. There are lots of times throughout the year where people like to celebrate with fireworks but many dogs can find them scary and stressful. We're going to show you how to gradually desensitise your dog to the sound of fireworks and then teach them to associate them with something positive not something scary.
You'll need to start this training weeks or even months in advance of the fireworks. However, if it's too late to do this we'll also show you how to manage your dog stress at the time. If your dog is still extremely stressed after following our advice we recommend consulting your vet.
You will need access to some fireworks sound effects and a way of playing them out loud as well as some of your dog's favourite treats or a toy. It's best to start this training indoors away from distractions making sure your dog can leave if they want to. Play the fireworks sounds on a low volume for five to ten minutes three to four times a day and increase this very very slowly until you see the first sign that your dog is reacting to the noise, such as stretching their ears. Once your dog has stopped responding to the noise you can increase the volume slightly. Keep doing this every day over a period of weeks until your dog does not respond to the sounds even at a high volume. If at any point during these steps your dog is scared remain calm and stop the session immediately. You may have progressed too quickly so start from a lower volume next time.
Once your dog has been desensitized to the sounds you're going to start building a positive association to them. Get out your dog's food treats or a favourite toy. When they get excited don't give it to them straight away instead sit down calmly for a few minutes. Once your dog has calmed down play the fireworks sounds at a low volume again. If possible use a remote control so they don't see you do it. As soon as your dog hears the sound give them their food or start to play with them. Once they have finished eating or playing turn off the sounds immediately. Keep repeating this process until your dog begins to get excited when they hear the sounds. Then you can increase the volume a little each time. Eventually your dog will begin to associate the sounds with something enjoyable like eating or playing.
Next we're going to look at ways you can manage your dog stress during fireworks even if you've desensitized your dog to the sounds we'd still recommend taking these steps to manage their stress. No matter how much your dog may appear to not mind fireworks we don't recommend taking them to a display. Before the fireworks start make sure your house and garden are secure. Also ensure that their microchip and tag are up to date in case they get out. Create some safe comfy hiding places your dog can retreat to. You can cover a crate or a table in blankets and put their bedding inside. Don't lock them in the crate or confine them to just one room as this may stress them out even more. Drawing the curtains can also help as the sudden flashes can be distressing too. If your dog has never used a crate before check out our crate training video.
You should stick to your dog's normal routine as much as possible but you may want to make a few minor changes. Take your dog for a walk and a toilet break before it gets dark. If your dog is particularly scared of fireworks you may want to feed them early too. If you have time introduce these routine changes gradually over the course of a few days. Remember not to act differently around your dog if you follow them around or are overly affectionate they may sense that something's up. If you remain calm this will help your dog to remain calm. However you can still reassure your dog by doing something that they enjoy. By playing a favourite game masks some of the noise and help your dog stay calm by putting on the TV the radio or playing some music finally try to settle your dog. Before the fireworks start give them something enjoyable to do which will keep them occupied such as a toy stuffed with food or a long-lasting chew.
Those are our tips on preparing your dog for fireworks season. If you'd like to learn more about how to teach your dog the Battersea way visit our website or follow our channels.
