Dogs scared of fireworks can be petted, say experts

YOU should pet your dog if it is scared of New Year fireworks, according to the Dogs Trust, which says previous advice on how to help pets cope is wrong.

For years, owners have been told by vets and animal charities not to “fuss” a worried dog, so that it doesn’t become reliant on their attention.

But experts now believe this advice does not work, and owners should reassure their dog as much as they can to stop it becoming stressed.

The animal welfare charity said: “In the past, advice has sometimes been to ignore dogs and not give them a fuss if they are scared – but if you suddenly withdraw reassurance when they are terrified by noises, it is likely to cause them to be very distressed.

“In the long term, it is better that your dog is not reliant on your attention when he or she is worried – but changing this is a long-term aim, not something to start when he or she is panicking with fireworks going off!”

Dr Rachel Casey, the director of behaviour research at the charity, said

‘Imagine if you went to your family for reassurance about something upsetting and they all ignored you’

dogs should be petted to help them deal with the immediate situation and later taught other coping mechanisms, such as going to a safe place, she said.

“I’ve done research into the prevalence of fireworks, and half of dogs react by showing some signs of fear,” said Dr Casey. “Some people say they used to reassure their dogs and now they don’t but that hasn’t made the problem any better. [The new advice] is based on research, but also we have a greater understanding of dog’s brains.

“[It is] a species that has co-evolved with us and is very dependent on human attention. Imagine if you went to your family for reassurance about something upsetting, and they all completely ignored you.

“That actually makes your stress and your worry worse. You need to learn that self-reliance when you’re away from that stressful situation.”

The charity warned that around four million dogs are expected to experience fear and anxiety because of fireworks this New Year’s Eve. It said owners should walk their dogs before dark, close curtains, play music and keep their pets away from windows to keep them calm while in the house.