Travel with Pets - Fireworks and dogs

Hi all,
This is slightly OT but I did want to remind everyone that the same way some dogs are terrified of lightning and thunder, they are also afraid of fireworks. @:-)

I was watching the Macy's fireworks show on the Hudson River last night and when the display first started a dog that was not leashed and was sitting on a blanket on the grass near my party literally took off for the races when the first rocket exploded. The owners of this dog sprinted after him and needless to say with the many thousands of people watching the fireworks show along the river they must have had one hell of a time catching up to him. I didn't see them return to their blanket for the remainder of the show and I hope that they were able to locate him.

Always make sure to have a leash and collar on your dog and properly secure your little (or big) one when going to an event like this! @:-)

Very timely summer reminder -
I saw something similar at a Fireworks competition near Quebec City 2 years ago - the owner must have stepped on tens of people's hands while screaming a blue streak in French at his poor poodle! - I don't think I'm likely to forget that :D

My normally sweet rescue dog, goes ballistic when he hears fireworks (or gunshots). I had to take him out of town over the weekend to get away from them. I thought about it last night when I had the fireworks on the TV and he laid sleeping on the bed near the TV. It must be the vibration as opposed to the actual noise. Sometimes Rescue Remedy will help, but I would never take him anywhere near fireworks. I am not sure any dog really enjoys fireworks.

The owners of this dog...
Always make sure to have a leash and collar on your dog and properly secure your little (or big) one when going to an event like this! @:-)

Suggested correction: The IDIOT owners of this dog :D

Of our three dogs, one is not bothered by fireworks, another is a little edgy, and the third is so anxious she shakes, paces, etc. and cannot be calmed down by her owners. However, a couple of years ago I discovered Quiet Moments by NaturVet, an herbal supplement, and it has worked wonders. I wouldn't now be without it.

Hi all,
This is slightly OT but I did want to remind everyone that the same way some dogs are terrified of lightning and thunder, they are also afraid of fireworks. @:-)

I was watching the Macy's fireworks show on the Hudson River last night and when the display first started a dog that was not leashed and was sitting on a blanket on the grass near my party literally took off for the races when the first rocket exploded. The owners of this dog sprinted after him and needless to say with the many thousands of people watching the fireworks show along the river they must have had one hell of a time catching up to him. I didn't see them return to their blanket for the remainder of the show and I hope that they were able to locate him.

Always make sure to have a leash and collar on your dog and properly secure your little (or big) one when going to an event like this! @:-)

My 10 yr old Schipperke, Liberty, is terrified of both thunder and fireworks. It's been a rough month for her since we have had a lot of thunderstorms here in the NE and then 4th of July. I have tranquilizered her in the past but I really don't like to do that. This year I put her in our bedroom with the air conditioner on and the TV set on loud. I had trouble finding a movie that didn't have tons of explosions in it, I finally settled on Shrek 3, but it really seemed to help her. I made sure to check on her frequently.

The next day she was back to her old self. We went to take her out in the evening and just as we opened the door someone set off a loud firework. She turned immediately around and returned to the house!

I read that it's a good idea to feed and walk your dog before the festivities begin as once they are spooked, they might not eat or want to leave the house.

Of our three dogs, one is not bothered by fireworks, another is a little edgy, and the third is so anxious she shakes, paces, etc. and cannot be calmed down by her owners. However, a couple of years ago I discovered Quiet Moments by NaturVet, an herbal supplement, and it has worked wonders. I wouldn't now be without it.

I'll have to try that, thanks! This year we put our dog in the bedroom with the AC on and the TV on real loud and it helped her a lot.

Obviously, just as different breeds have different physical and emotional characteristics, different dogs react in widely varying fashion when it comes to gunfire, fireworks, thunder and explosions.

Dogs not only hear more "intensely" than do people, a wider range of the sound spectrum, but given observed reactions their acute hearing makes some sounds painful. The crack of the old Navy 5"/38 gun was painful to me. I can imagine that for some dogs, similar sounds cause severe discomfort.

Bird hunters routinely "train" (expose) pups destined for field use to the sound of shotguns. I've had dogs who easily adopted to being "shot over", but terriers in general seem to be bothered by any more than a .22, especially "crack" of high velocity rifle and pistol rounds.

One of out two Jack Russells has developed (at six) bad reactions to thunderstorms, pretty violent in my part of the world, which she did not display asa pup or young dog, and becomes near hysterical (and clings) at the passing of some violent weather fronts. I doubt that herbal supplements will do any more for dogs than they do for people, mostly the placebo effect, but a vet-prescribed tranquilizer may help.

A fireworks show is simply not a good venue for many dogs, more sensitive to sound than we, often subject to obvious pain, and potentially disturbed by noise and its physical effects.