Fireworks-free New Year's Eve

By Anja Papenberg

The time around the turn of the year. A nightmare for many dog owners, although it should actually be a time full of contemplation and peace. The fireworks often start shortly before Christmas, because for many people it can't bang loudly and often enough. However, our dogs, who can hear much better than we can, see things quite differently.

This fear is not equally pronounced in every dog. Even dogs that have been very well prepared for loud noises as puppies can suddenly become frightened and develop such a fear. Sensitivity to noises also increases as the dog gets older. This fear often goes unnoticed by the owner because the dog is supposedly lying quietly in a corner or under the sofa. It is therefore important to be able to read your dog and recognize any stress signals. These include wide-open eyes, dilated pupils, nervous pacing back and forth, licking himself, wanting to hide, looking around wildly, panting, salivating, arched back, curled tail, etc. What's more, the problem with these noises is that they occur suddenly and unexpectedly. And before the dog even has time to recognize the stimulus and deal with it, the next bang follows. Boom. It can then happen that, without the appropriate training, the dog transfers the fear to other noises and no longer only reacts to fireworks but also to slamming doors or a book that you slam a little too hard. It is therefore important to recognize this and to desensitize the sound sensitivity with appropriate training.

Unfortunately, it is already too late for such training this New Year's Eve. Ideally, you should start such training on January 1 for the coming New Year's Eve.

As the banging is unfortunately not limited to midnight on December 31st, but often happens a few days before and even after, here are a few tips on how you can make this time a little more bearable for your dog.

Safety First

Even well-trained dogs and those that have not reacted to bangs in the past should always be secured with a lead at this time of year. It often only takes one bang and the dog runs off in panic. A worst case scenario. If possible, get out of the city very early and go for a walk in the woods or fields. There is less chance of a firecracker going off right next to you. The noises and smells from firecrackers should be much less here.

Exercise

Keep your dog as busy as possible during the day so that he is tired and happy to sleep in the evening. All kinds of food search games, more complex retrieving tasks, food bag searches, tracking training, physical training and so on are suitable for this.

At home

Back at home, you can do the following things:

• Lower the blinds

• Turn on the music (as loud as possible so that it is still pleasant for the dog). Studies have shown that classical music is the most calming.

• Offer a place to retreat to. Even if dogs are not usually allowed in the bedroom, on the couch or in the bathroom, you should lift these rules on New Year's Eve. If your dog wants to retreat under the sofa or feels most comfortable in the shower, let him. Many bathrooms often have no windows, which is why dogs still like to stay in these rooms. Alternatively, you can move the New Year's Eve party to the cellar. It should be fairly quiet there. At least at midnight you should really think about it.

• If your dog wants to be close to you, then allow that too. It is now outdated to say that you should ignore your dog's fear. If my dog wants to sit on my lap at this time, then he can do that too. Your dog needs you now.

• A portable crate can also be used as a retreat. If you line it with egg cartons, you have an almost soundproof room. I've tried this myself and my dog loves going in there.

Human behavior

Be supportive of your dog. If he seeks closeness, allow this. Whether you just hold your dog or stroke him lightly depends on what your dog likes. However, make sure that you don't fall into pity or walk frantically through the apartment yourself. Instead, you should be a safe haven for your dog. The more normal you behave, the more likely you are to signal to your dog that everything is okay. Be a confident and reliable partner for your dog. And not just or only on New Year's Eve, but every day.

Tools and co.

First of all, a warning about medication. These shouldonly be given inconsultation with your vet and only if absolutely necessary. In other words, for dogs that are really panicky and the condition is unreasonable. However, medication with the active ingredient "acepromazine" is not advisable at all, as this only paralyzes the dog physically and it can no longer move. However, the fear is still there, the dog just can't escape.

Otherwise, there are a few aids that are more or less recommendable but do not work or can be used equally well with every dog. As I have not tested most of them myself, I cannot guarantee their effectiveness.

• Thundershirt (https://www.medpets.de/thundershirt-hunde). This is a tight-fitting bodysuit. The gentle and constant pressure on the body is said to have a calming effect.

• Hearing protection for dogs. Can be a solution, but should be well trained beforehand so that the dog does not have additional stress when you put them on for the first time on New Year's Eve.

• Bach flowers, globules, pheromones, food supplements etc.. In general, anything that doesn't harm your dog is worth trying. However, the effect has not been scientifically proven and there are different experience reports. Some dogs respond well to it and others show no change at all.

• Alcohol: Is one of the toxic foods and should not be given. "And what about eggnog?" some of you will be asking yourselves. The vet Ralph Rückert has written a blog post on the subject. You can read it here.

Licking and chewing soothes

Have you ever noticed that your dog's eyes almost close and he gets bedroom eyes the longer he gnaws on a chew bone? You can also take advantage of this and give your dog something to chew on just before midnight to keep them busy for a little longer. Or you can prepare a treat mat or a filled Kong. The contents depend on your dog's preferences. This could be wet food mixed with water, quark with banana and liver sausage or something similar. If you then put the mixture in the freezer for a few minutes, your dog will have something to lick for a long time.

Final tips

If you can't go away, stay at home with your dog. Home is often a safe haven for our dogs and we don't stress them out by dragging them to a party or to a friend's house. Of course, the exception proves the rule, as it helps some dogs when people are in a happy and relaxed mood, as this in turn signals to the dog that everything is okay.

The dog should have the opportunity to clean up later in the evening. Again, it would be an advantage if you could do this outside the city/neighborhood.

Please do not leave the dog alone. In the worst case scenario, the dogs associate the firecrackers with being alone and fall back into this fear as soon as they are home alone.

If the fear is not yet very pronounced and the dog is still responsive, you should make sure that the dogs associate every bang with something positive. However, you have to be ready for this at all times, as you don't know when the next bang will come. This can be a game of fetch with their favorite toy or a search for food. Anything that the dog really enjoys.

And last but not least:

• Please do not punish the dog if it shows fear.

• Some dogs benefit from a massage or a Tellington TTouch treatment.

• If you don't drink alcohol on New Year's Eve, you can also put your dog in the car and drive around for a few hours. That way he won't notice any of the firecrackers.

• Book a room near the airport. There is a strict ban on fireworks at and around most airports.

• Fortunately, there are already some communities/destinations that are free of fireworks. For example Davos in Graubünden - here to the accommodations

The tips are not exhaustive and I cannot guarantee success. But hopefully one or two tips will help you to have a stress-free and relaxing evening.

I wish you a wonderful pre-Christmas period and a peaceful and relaxed start to the New Year.

Warmly
Your Anja & Sammy

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