What to do with your pooch during the festive period?

Introduction

The festive season is here and it’s only just hit November. With all the Christmas parties going on, firework displays and other events happening around town this month there will be a lot of fireworks going off. Here are some tips and guides on how you should deal with your pooch during the festive period:

Displaying symptoms of anxiety….

You should never take your dog to a firework display even if your dog does not bark or whimper, don’t assume they’re happy. Excessive yawning and panting can indicate that your dog is stressed. Also, never tie your dog up outside while fireworks are being let off. Dogs can be spooked by fireworks so you might see them hiding, trembling, or in some other way expressing their fear or stress. They may also try to run away from other dogs/people etc so make sure they have been microchipped.

As the festive season approaching and it’s just hit the month of November there will be a lot of fireworks going on. Here are some tips and guides on how you should deal with your pooch during the festive period. Make sure there are things for you to do too, so your dog isn’t left alone. shut the windows and curtains to muffle the sound of fireworks. Blackout your doggy safe haven, so they can’t see any flashes outside. Put on some music or TV to mask the firework sounds and the music will relax your pooch down. No you should never take your dog to a firework display, even if your dog does not bark or whimper, don’t assume they’re happy. Excessive yawning and panting can indicate that your dog is stressed. Also, never tie your dog up outside while fireworks are being let off. Dogs can be spooked by fireworks so you might see them hiding, trembling, or in some other way expressing their fear or stress. They may also try to run away, so make sure they have been microchipped.

If your pooch does start showing signs of anxiety try and catch it before they become very upset and distressed by distracting them with toys or their favourite game. Provide a place where your pet can hide. Add a favourite toy or blanket with your scent on to let them know it’s somewhere they can feel safe. Don’t force them into a space they don’t want as they may feel trapped and actually become more stressed. Pheromone plug-ins can help a lot too, if used correctly and are useful for dogs who suffer when left alone for periods of time , not just for the fireworks period . Moreover essential oils can benefit your pooches bergamot can help balance your pooches emotions by soothing panic , depression , frustration irritability and snappiness etcetera.

“You should take your pet on regular walks during the day and right up until fireworks are going off if possible. If a dog has been exercised before the event it’s more likely to want to sleep than wander about. Make sure you fill up your pooches water bowl as anxious dogs pant more and it will make them more thirsty. secondly make sure that your garden is escape proof just in case a firework goes off when you take them to garden to go to the toilet. You should also make a safe den for your dog to retreat to if they feel scared. You could drape a thick duvet over the top of it to make it more sound proof, but make sure that the duvet is secure and can’t fall on to your dog. You need to fill the den with their favourite blankets, toys, or an item of unwashed clothing to help them feel more secure. If your dog has been very scared of fireworks before then talk to your vet about possible medications or products that can help reduce your dog’s anxiety”.

If your pet gets scared during a fireworks display, there are several things you can do to help them feel safe again.
If they are sleeping in the same room as you, wake them up and say “it’s time for bed”. This will give them something positive to focus on while they’re getting ready for bed.
Take your dog out on regular walks during daytime hours so that they can get used to being around lots of people/fireworks at once without feeling overwhelmed by both situations together (e.g., having dinner with friends then going outside after dinner). This way when there is an emergency situation like this one happening later tonight (or tomorrow morning), it won’t seem so scary because now your dog knows what happens when something goes wrong with these kinds of events happening nearby.”

Buying fireworks in the UK / laws of fireworks

In the UK there are three separate periods when you can legally buy fireworks (including sparklers) from registered sellers for private use. Here are the dates

15 October to 10 November (Halloween/Bonfire Night)
26 to 31 December (New Year)
Three days before Diwali (Oct/Nov) and three days before Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb)

At other times you can only buy fireworks from licensed shops.

Lighting Fireworks

By law, fireworks (including sparklers) aren’t allowed to be set-off in the street or other public places.

Fireworks also aren’t allowed to be set off between 11pm and 7am, except for:

Bonfire Night, when the cut off is midnight
New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut off is 1am

To conclude!

We hope these tips will help you keep your pooch safe and comfortable during the festive period. Remember not to take them on walks during this time, because they may be stressed out of their minds due to all the loud noises and flashing lights. Also make sure there is something for them to do so they don’t feel left alone when watching fireworks go off outside their windows.”