Author Topic: bonfire night.  (Read 1885 times)

carlos33

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bonfire night.
« on: October 30, 2009, 09:10:21 AM »
Well bonfire night is coming up so im sure there will be plenty of fireworks.
Willow has never heard fireworks, i dont want her to be afraid, so whats the best way for me to assure her they wont hurt her, should i go stand in the garden with her? 

Gem  :)

melinda

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Re: bonfire night.
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2009, 11:27:58 AM »
I'm not sure what others will advise, but as I haven't had Oscar long, when the fireworks were going off this week and he was pricking his ears up and looking interested I started talking to him in an excited voice 'ooh what's that Oscar, shall we go see?'

We went outside and there were bangs etc and I took out some treats and the clicker, when he was being all calm or just pricking his ears in interest I was rewarding him.  I got him doing his training out on the decking, with the bangs still going off, and he was fine.

His papers from DT said he was phobic of fireworks, have yet to see it though!

Simba, on the other hand, runs away and hides in my bedroom.  She's a lot better than she was last year, I tend to ignore her nervous freak outs and then give her cuddles and treats when she chills a bit.

Turning the tv/radio volume up and acting normally is usually a good idea.

The only puppy I raised, our family cocker spaniel, is bomb proof.  When she was a pup we made a point of exposing her to loud noises and making it fun for her, so she didn't associate loud noises with 'scary'.

I'm sure others who are more experienced and knowledgeable than me will advise, but the above has always worked for us with our dogs as yet.

carlos33

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Re: bonfire night.
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2009, 11:40:47 AM »
Thanks for replying melinda :)
Willow is usually ok with noises but so far has never heard anything like fireworks i dont want it to become a stress for her that she will carry through to adult life. So far no fireworks round here but im sure they will start soon.

Val

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Re: bonfire night.
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2009, 12:36:45 PM »
Look to the breed girls Willow is a gundog so just act as normal she should not be bothered by fireworks.
Val


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melinda

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Re: bonfire night.
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2009, 01:23:32 PM »
That's a good point.

However, my old springer was not fazed by gunfire at all... we even took him to a battle re-enactment where there was live cannon fire and he just lay down and had a nap... but he was extremely fearful of thunder and fireworks.  He was odd, I have no idea why afraid of one and not the other?

Oscar's paperwork says he's thunder and firework phobic, but so far he's not shown any signs of it beyond cocking his head and going to 'investigate' the noise, so i'm really pleased.

I'm sure Willow will be fine if you remain confident and make it 'fun'.

*Nat*

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Re: bonfire night.
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2009, 01:39:14 PM »
Piper gets a bit stressed but I ignore her and just let her settle in her own time - St John's Wort works a treat to help keep her calmer though  :)

carlos33

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Re: bonfire night.
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2009, 06:09:21 PM »
 :D :D i keep forgetting she is a gundog lol... Wondered if i should ignore her if it even bothers her Thanks guys. Its probably me thats worrying over nothing because shes my 'baby' :-*.
I will get some st johns wort in just incase, she will most probably just sleep shes a pretty chilled out puppy who loves a good snuggle on the sofa, so im sure there will be plenty of them  ;)