Nothing worked for us, but we tried:
Desensitizing: We played the sounds on speakers and gave treats to create a positive association. Unfortunately, he could tell the difference, and the noise from the speakers didn’t scare him, so it didn’t help at all.
Thundershirt: This helped, but only reduced his fear by about 10%.
Comforting: We comforted him the whole time. You can’t train a dog to be scared, so there’s no harm in trying to comfort them.
Ignoring: We tried to play it cool so he could see nothing was wrong, but that didn’t work either.
Every year, his fear got worse. I finally asked our vet for some anti-anxiety medication for thunderstorms or fireworks, and it’s honestly been the best thing ever. I felt bad at first, but seeing how calm and relaxed he is during storms made me realize it was more cruel to let him suffer through the anxiety. I recommend trying other techniques first, but if they don’t work, don’t feel bad about asking a vet for help.
We also tried giving him a dark, enclosed, sound-dampened area (like a closet he could go in and out of when we were awake and a completely windowless, soundproof bathroom for when we were sleeping). He was too panicked to stay in one place and wouldn’t stop racing around long enough to realize it was a nice, quiet spot. If I shut the bathroom door, he tried to claw his way out in a panic.
We gave our dog the gel via a tube syringe. It doesn’t drug or sedate them, but it suppresses their adrenaline and keeps them calm all the time.
What’s the name of the gel? I’ve never heard of it before and am wondering whether it’s anything I should discuss with my dog’s veterinarian.
Sileo… If you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, avoid getting it on your skin because it can cause miscarriage.
Our boy has epilepsy and had five seizures on the Fourth of July because of fireworks. We bought him a toddler weighted blanket, and on Memorial Day when the neighbors were setting off fireworks, he had no seizures. He acknowledged the fireworks a few times but mostly slept through them. Getting him a weighted blanket has been one of my best ideas!
We found a similar solution for our dog. Treats or distractions don’t work because he goes into full panic mode and starts shaking at the first sound of fireworks. He climbs onto my lap for protection, but even then, he can’t relax.
Now, when the fireworks start, I get a big blanket, roll him into a dog burrito, and tuck him next to me on the couch. It’s the only thing that makes it bearable for him. A weighted blanket is a great idea to add! Thanks!
I had to give my dog Sileo, a medicine that helps them relax. But if you want to try something fun, build a blanket fort for you and your dog to hang out in and play a 10-hour long “dog relaxation music” video on YouTube.
You could gradually become accustomed to the roar of pyrotechnics. There are numerous tracks on YouTube that can help with this (and other noises as well). Start with a low volume and gradually increase it over time.
I just went through this with my miniature schnauzer. After a loud bang, he runs to a different room, stands there shaking, and won’t eat or follow simple commands.
Here’s my approach: I wait 1-2 minutes, walk past him, and say, “Oh hey buddy!” or call his name. If he makes eye contact, I say “Come” and walk to a different room. He’ll then accept a treat for coming. I start giving treats for easy commands like “sit,” “down,” or “place.” Once he’s eating treats, the shaking stops.
I don’t make him stay in one place, but I put his bed where he initially ran. He’ll usually go there and lay down, hopefully not shaking. I try not to fuss too much, but if he’s still shaking after 5 minutes, I repeat the distraction and reward routine. No coddling.
Play “white noise”. It worked for our terrier mix during fireworks and our puppies on vehicle rides.