Therapy to get your dog used to firework noise
WE all know the saying, remember, remember the 5th of November. But for dog owners the key time to train their pet is right now. Fireworks can be incredibly distressing for dogs, with bright lights and loud bangs causing negative and often lasting effects on our four-legged friends. Dogs have around four times more sensitive hearing than humans and hear much higher frequencies. So a firework bang can sound terrifyingly loud. Dogs don’t understand that the whizz, pop and bang of fireworks is temporary, so a display can feel like endless torture for a frightened pooch, and this can be incredibly worrying for owners, too. To avoid the unspeakable anguish and distress that many dogs go through during firework displays, it is important to plan ahead. Start teaching your dog or puppy that fireworks are nothing to be scared of, by gradually associating the noise with something nice. Introduce them to the Sounds Scary programme available to download for free at dogstrust.org.uk/fireworks or find your nearest Dog School Firework Fear class, run by Dogs Trust this month and next. The Sounds Scary recordings of firework sounds are designed to be played very quietly at first, while you play together or offer treats. The volume can be increased gradually over subsequent sessions. Research shows that 49 per cent of dogs show signs of fear when hearing loud noises. And 89 per cent of people believe domestic pets can be negatively affected by fireworks. Behaviour can include, hiding, shaking, trembling or cowering, refusing to go outside and becoming agitated. Almost 80 per cent of owners keep their dog or cat inside during fireworks night, closing the curtains or turning up the TV to drown out the noise in a bid to help their four-legged friend feel calmer. However, using some simple training techniques ahead of time can help their dog overcome its firework fear.