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This holiday season make your dog enjoy fireworks

December 2022 | Highpaw stories

What would the holidays be without sparkles, shine, lights, candles, and ultimately fireworks while we say farewell to the old year and welcome the new with joy. Although very few people remain immune to the wonderful different colors and shapes that spill over the entire sky when midnight strikes, some still have to miss out on that experience and calm or animate their dogs, for whom hearing fireworks can be a truly traumatic event.

 

Why are dogs afraid of fireworks?


It's not unusual for dogs to get scared of fireworks and the loud noises they generate. This is a problem dog owners often face, especially during the holiday season. In dogs, fear is a natural response and reaction of the body that prepares them to escape from danger to safety, and to protect themselves. Fear of loud noises is a common problem with dogs. It is a well-known fact that dogs’ hearing is extraordinary, which is why they perceive loud sounds much more intensely than humans do.

Although the moment in which dogs develop the fear of firecrackers, fireworks or even thunder and other loud noises is usually unknown, it is good to work on overcoming this fear while your dog is still a puppy. It may sound strange, but this fear could be prevented or significantly reduced by playing the sound of fireworks and other similar sounds while your pup is still young and by linking positive experiences with these sounds. This type of habituation, that is, getting used to all non-threatening stimuli in our environment, helps dogs learn how to ignore them.

For example, a good way to try this is to play the sound of fireworks in the background, first quietly and then louder, while playing with your dog and engaging in usual activities. The key is, of course, that you are not afraid of those sounds either, because dogs sense fear and adopt the emotion as their own. Show your dog that everything is okay and that these sounds are perfectly normal. If you become nervous, calming your dog down will turn out to be very challenging.

 

How to recognize fear in dogs?


Some animals simply stand back or run away when they feel fear, but dogs are a little different in this regard. They usually cling to their owners or start showing signs of not feeling well. Some of the most common symptoms are loud panting, pricked ears, restless behavior, loss of appetite, trembling of the legs or the whole body, muscle spasms, a folded tail, even vomiting or diarrhea. When some of these symptoms appear, it is a sign that the dog needs our help and support.

 

Adequate dog care


To make this holiday period as peaceful as possible, for owners and dogs alike, it is necessary to prepare your pet well and let it know that you are there, and that it is safe no matter what. If the dog is still afraid, it is best to try to isolate it from the sounds that incite fear and create a safe environment. Close all the windows and doors, go to a room without windows, separated by a door from the other rooms. If this is not possible, play louder music or a film or series on the TV so that the sounds of other people's voices overpower the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers.

Also, try to animate your dog with a game, biscuits, tricks, or think of some other activity that will distract it from the events that trigger fear and stress. High-quality dog ​​beds will surely provide it with the feeling of comfort and a sense of security it needs, which is of the greatest importance during this period. You can search our website to find and choose the ideal bed for your dog. And most importantly, don't leave the dog alone and always be by its side.

As for walking and defecating, it is best to go out as early as possible in the morning and early in the afternoon to avoid the period when firecrackers and fireworks are usually set off. Walks should be shorter in this period: once your dog defecates, you should immediately return home. It is very important to keep your dog on a leash, even if you usually walk it without one, so in case it is overwhelmed with fear suddenly, it does not run away in panic. Your goal is to minimize anxiety and nervousness, not expose the dog to thing you are trying to run away from.

 

What if none of the above works?


Caring for your dog in the days when fireworks and firecrackers are set off frequently is easy if all the aforementioned tips and tricks work. However, sometimes dogs get so afraid of the loud noises and cracking that there is no way for them to overcome it. Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem as well, and it comes in the form of high-quality dog products.

One of these is the LILA LOVES IT pillow spray, which promotes relaxation with its harmonizing scent of lavender essential oil from Provence. The latest research shows that the scent of real lavender oil has an anti-anxiety, anti-depressant and calming effect. This is because the essential oil affects those endogenous substances that have a stress-reducing and calming effect. It is necessary to spray one to two pumps of the spray on the dog's bed or around the dog from a distance of twenty centimeters, avoiding the dog's skin and fur. LILA LOVES IT pillow spray is available on the Highpaw.eu web shop, and can easily be ordered to help every dog ​​ease any stressful period.

One of these is the LILA LOVES IT pillow spray, promoting relaxation with its harmonizing scent of lavender essential oil from Provence. The latest research shows that the scent of real lavender oil has an anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, and calming effect. This is because the essential oil affects those endogenous substances that have a stress-reducing and calming effect. Spray one to two pumps of the spray on the dog's bed or around the dog from a distance of twenty centimeters, avoiding the dog's skin and fur. LILA LOVES IT pillow spray is available in the Highpaw.eu web shop, and can easily be ordered to help every dog alleviate stress.

An alternative to all of the above might be to leave the city for a few days, and go to a place immersed in nature, with few residents, where you will certainly not hear fireworks and firecrackers. A small New Year's Eve trip is not a bad idea at all, especially if it means a good night's sleep for your dog.