Day 24- Fireworks

We are finishing our advent calendar with a bang! We have already been dealing with the fireworks over the last few months but we are not done with them yet!! Between Christmas and new year there may be a lot of them going off and scaring many dogs.

If you know of any planned events, make sure you are not walking your dog at those times, use a doggy zen den to help them cope within the house and just be there for them should they need you.

A lot of radio stations will play calming music, this can be useful if your dog already has an association between the music and a calm event, otherwise the music could become a precursor to the fireworks which limits you should you wish to use musical theory as a way to desensitise them.

Unplanned events are harder to handle. Make sure you walk your dog earlier, in the light if possible, as this is when people are less likely to release fireworks.

Your vet may be able to offer you advise in regards to medication should your dogs really struggle to cope but be aware this is only a mask and does not help with the underlying fear, in order to better support your dog next year, desensitisation should be started in March (after chinese new year).