Autumn is a gorgeous time of year for dog walking, we humans enjoy the fabulous colours and crunching through fallen leaves and it’s a fabulous time for our dogs to explore scents in the damp. Nothing is perfect, however, and we face probably the most challenging time of year for our dogs.
The nature of my work means that I deal with dogs who are worried by different things, and of course there are loads of dogs who are not at all bothered by fireworks or strangers at the door in peculiar costumes, but we need to think ahead and guard against our dogs becoming frightened in the future. I hear over and over “but he’s never been frightened of fireworks/strangers/other dogs/hot air balloons before” and of course you can insert anything as the fear inducing stimulus, those are just a few common examples. I always wish that I could have educated the care giver of that dog much, much earlier than the current conversation. This is because often, the new fear could have been completely prevented (or at least minimised) with the right preparation.
I would encourage everyone to assume that their dog will at some future point be frightened of fireworks, and to prepare accordingly. That way, it’s much more likely that they won’t be.
So, what can you do? Let’s look at Hallowe’en firstly – is your dog used your children (or you?!) dressing up? A good modern puppy class will have encouraged you to wear clothing out of season – so summer puppies get used to the rustling of waterproofs, umbrellas etc and winter puppies get used to sun hats and sunglasses for example. If you’ve done lots of this, your dog is more likely to cope with you wearing masks and cloaks and pointy hats. If not, then let your dog get used to your costume items by themselves first, pair them with treats and favourite games, then put them on for a split second and give a treat, building up the time you wear them over many repetitions.
If you know your dog is bothered by visitors, then preferably put up a notice asking that no trick or treaters come to your door, perhaps with a basket of treats at the end of the drive so children can help themselves. If you really must have visitors, then find somewhere familiar and quiet for your dog to spend the evening – a friend, a familiar home boarder, your car, as long as it’s parked somewhere private and safe, maybe even a kennel (as long as you’re sure that your dog is happy and relaxed in that environment).
Fireworks are something else entirely, they go on for such a long period of time. The biggest misinformation about dealing with dogs and fireworks is that you shouldn’t comfort your dog if they are frightened. We used to say this many years ago until we learned more about dogs’ emotional systems. And frankly, I wouldn’t mind betting that most people who were told not to comfort their dogs did, and thank goodness for that.Try to make a den, an area as sound proof as possible, that your dog can retreat to if they feel worried. Hide treats there, favourite toys, anything to make it a great place to be. Don’t walk your dog after dark and don’t let them off lead, just in case of a crazy daytime firework, it’s not worth the risk of them bolting and being injured as well as terrified.
If you know that your dog is already frightened of fireworks, please seek professional help. There are really good medications that will get you safely through this season, and then you can start to use reliable scientific methods to prepare for next year.
If your vet offers you ACP tablets (usually small yellow tablets) then please politely decline them. They will make your dog look ok, but actually feel completely terrified as he can still hear the noise and feel the terror, but not be able to move to make you aware of how he’s feeling, imagine how horrible that must be. Most vets do know this, but there are still some prescribing these tablets completely inappropriately.
I hope you all enjoy Hallowe’en and Bonfire night, but please make sure your dog does, too.