It's that time of year again with Bonfire night approaching and then New Year 🎆.
However, by planning ahead of these scheduled events, you can minimise unnecessary stress and anxiety for your pets. 🐕
Signs of anxiety to look out for in dogs
• Pacing
• Cowering or hiding
• Trembling
• Abnormal vocalisation (barking or whining)
• Panting
• Pacing or circling the room
• Excessive yawning or lip licking
• Need to stay close to their owner
• Soiling the house
• Refusing to eat
Top tips for dogs
✓ Start to walk your dogs before dusk – ensure they are back indoors before fireworks begin
✓ Ensure all windows and doors are shut
✓ Close curtains and turn on interior lights to reduce the impact of flashes
✓ Make a den/retreat, so your dog has somewhere they feel safe and secure
✓ Turn on the TV or radio to drown out the noise of fireworks
✓ Make tasty treats or toys available as a distraction
✓ Try to ignore any reactions your dog makes to the fireworks – they may see this as a sign that you are worried about the noise yourself.
Why not make a dog den/refuge ?
Make the den a few weeks before the expected fireworks to allow time for familiarisation.
• Choose a room your dog is used to and preferably one you will be in during firework times
• Use bedding they already have, so it has a familiar smell
• A puppy crate is an ideal starting point if you have one
• If you do not have a crate, an enclosed area of the room is helpful, for example, a gap between the sofa and the wall
• Use blankets to cover the den to create an enclosed and darkened area
• Now that you have made a safe place, you could offer food or lay a treat trail so that your dog gets used to their den and associates it with pleasurable things
We stock a range of products which are all available with 10% discount from calming products this month 🎆🎇
BONUS TIP:
For those of you with fancy smart home gadgets like Amazon Alexa, you can set up a routine to trigger when fireworks are heard. This could be turning the lights up slightly, or playing some relaxing background music.
