NEW YORK — Shawn O’Dierno’s rescued Doberman was a certified therapy dog who could help soothe patients and tolerated the sounds of dropped hospital equipment, loud arguments or crying visitors. But while the dog coped with the stress of a hospital room, he couldn’t handle fireworks.
“We were staying at a place by a beach where the fireworks were going on,” said O’Dierno, of Portland, Ore. “He went nuts and hid behind chairs.”
O’Dierno realized her dog had a fireworks phobia.
Experts haven’t figured out why some pets are extremely sensitive to fireworks, but some believe the smell of gunpowder may add to jitters caused by loud explosions.
At Behave Canine Solutions, a company that offers dog training classes in the Portland area, dogs in the Puppy Preschool program spend a day training for fireworks. The process involves integrating sound, smells and visual displays into activities such as playing or eating.
The class moves puppies to different stations that play sounds of fireworks, expose them to small smoke balls and burning charcoal, and bring them near sparklers and bright flashes.
Owners can also train their dogs at home. Cesar Milan, dog trainer and host of the National Geographic Channel’s “Dog Whisperer” show, plays recordings of fireworks at a low volume during an activity that the dog enjoys. Continue introducing sounds of explosions for several weeks, increasing the volume with time. “Involve the sound into positive activities such as eating, at a low sound, or walking with your dog, so the dog becomes familiar with the sound while doing an activity that he enjoys,” Milan said.
If owners don’t have months for training, veterinarian Dr. Robert Raider says a vet may prescribe sedatives.
Milan says owners should forget the fireworks and concentrate on the dog. If you’re in a park or an open area, keep the dog calm by remaining calm yourself.
If you’re indoors when the dog panics, Pam Reid, who works with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, suggests giving it a hollow chew toy filled with Cheese Whiz or peanut butter. “Some dogs are OK as long as they have something to lick or chew,” she said.
Milan also said scared pets may be calmed with pheromone-mimicking scents. These products release smells similar to the ones naturally produced that signal comfort or relaxation.
“Medicine is great, but if you can do it without it — you can do it with good exercise,” Milan said. “Walk (your dog for) an hour and a half, and you drain the energy. That is just like a sedative. But it is a more natural sedative, no side effects.”
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