By Sarah Groves Dog Training - your puppy training specialist covering Neath, Port Talbot, Swansea and surrounding areas.
Can you believe it's september already?!
The nights are slowly but surely drawing in, and it won't be long before your neighbours
start setting off fireworks!
Fireworks night is one of the most dreaded nights for most dog owners - this night can create extortoinate stress for our pets, causing most dogs to cower, bark, shiver, hide and even try to run away. For some dogs the stress it causes can even be deadly.
Dog owners wil go to all lengths to prevent their dog from experiencing the fallout from fireworks night - some will prepare for this day in advance by finding a dog friendly, firework free night away, and others will even go thr extent of medicating their dog for the night to limit stress.
If this is your puppy's first ever fireworks night, then NOW is a great time to start firework training so you can limit any stress response as much as possible.
Here are some of my top tips for firework training in advance!
This method can be used for young puppies along with dogs of all ages - but please be aware that any dog who currently experiences an extreme fear response to fireworks will need extra care and time when approaching this training.
Start firework training NOW!
For fireworks training to be effective, you will need to train on a daily basis, 2 to 4 times per day for just a few minutes at a time.
Step 1 - go you on youtube and search for firework noises (please make sure the volume on your device is turned right down before you start playing any firework noises)
The Dogs Trust website also contains fireworks and sound therapy tracks for this.
Step 2 - Start playing the firework noises at a very low volume.
The idea is that we do not want to see ANY response from your pup at the volume you are playing. So if you see your dog is paying attention to the noises, it just means you are playing it too loudly and you need to turn it down a notch.
Step 3 - Play these noises through the day at different points.
We want these noises to start becoming 'another background noise', in the same way that your tv, radio or washing machine is another background noise.
Step 4 - Slowly over time increase the volume - but VERY gradually.
Keep an eye on your pup for any signs of response to the noise, even small ear twitches or a head turn - if there's any response then turn the volume down a notch.
Step 5 - Continue daily for the next month.
If you have been working through any 'settle' training with your dog, you could pair the firework noises with this settle training or calming activities so to create a calm emotional response or association to the fireworks.
Do you have any questions about your dog or puppy?
GET IN TOUCH!
Email: Sarahgrovesdogtraining@yahoo.com
Call: 07891222454
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