If like me you have a pet who becomes very distressed by the noise created by fireworks then 5 November really is a weekend you can do without.
With bonfire night falling on a weekend it should mean there will be less nights of fireworks to deal with as most people will be able to hold their celebrations over the weekend.
For years this has been a very stressful time of year for my dog as she struggles to come to terms with the bangs that are happening outside.
She will often find herself a quiet corner though has been known to curl up in bath, hide in the shower cubicle and even attempt to get into the washing machine.
There have been a few ways in which we have tried to manage this situation without medication, some proving more successful than others.
Here are some of things that will be happening in our home this weekend as we look to ease the stress caused to our pet this weekend on bonfire night.
1. Rap Music – This was by far one of the most successful methods used. Blasting out Dr Dre for an entire evening she seemed to not even notice the music. (See the above photo, she just relaxed.)
2. Get the hell out of here – A few times we have bundled the pooch into the car and headed off to some quiet locations. The beauty of living in Beverley is we are surrounded by country side making this relatively easy to do.
3. Don’t Over Fuss – this was suggested to us and also helps, while our pooch may be stressed if we leave her to her own devices and carry on as normal she sometimes realises there is not too much to worry about.
4. Sat in the Car – Yes, she wanted to sit in the car on the drive as was quite happy. I could not tell you why but one year this was all that was needed to get through a tough night on bangs, and it worked a treat.
While I am not anti fireworks they do cause us, as dog owners, a lot of issues. A simple bang or the odd rocket let off can spook our dog to the point she will turn and head for home.
With this in mind we tend to keep to her on the lead for the first couple of weeks of November in case she hears a bang and basically runs off.
Of course, she is much older now too, while her fears have not gone away her hearing is going which could certainly work well in her favour this weekend.
Download the RSPCA leaflet ‘Fireworks frighten animals – Help them feel safe’
