COLUMN: Fireworks – Why dogs respond fiercely

• Nadine Whittal, dog trainer writes:

The festive season is such an awesome time of year, a time we spend with family and friends, eating as much as we possibly can, and enjoying the parties and celebrations throughout the country.

However, the festive season can be traumatic for our dogs. Why? Fireworks tend to give our dogs a particularly hard time. Finding them cowering in a corner, barking incessantly and panicking is not uncommon. But why do dogs have such a fierce reaction to these things that bring us such joy and wonder?

Firstly, fireworks are very loud. Historically, loud banging has never predicted good or fun outcomes.

Generally loud banging is the harbinger of pain and fear. As such, when our dogs hear this banging, they treat the sound as a threat and their flight-or-fight response takes over.

Secondly, fireworks are unpredictable. Remember, specific days do not carry special significance to animals like they do for people. New Year’s Eve, for example, is really just another day to them, and the fireworks we let loose are completely unexpected. Furthermore, they do not occur at regular intervals or between certain times, only adding to their unpredictability.

Finally, fireworks make dogs feel trapped because there is no way for them to escape the sound and lights that accompany them. Feeling trapped is an uncomfortable feeling for anybody, and especially for an animal that cannot effectively communicate their fear to us.

So how do we help our furry friends? Desensitising dogs to loud sounds from early on in life is a good way to prevent them from treating all loud bangs as a threat. We can do this by dropping things around them and treating them when they don’t react with fear or aggression.

Next time, remember that keeping them inside and in a safe and calming space will be a good idea. The safer and more secure they feel, the less likely they will be to panic. If your dog is crate-trained, keep it in its crate with something nice to chew on. Bring beds and toys inside and close to you so that they can be near you and be surrounded by things that give them a sense of security.

Whatever course of action you decide to follow, remember not to get frustrated with your dogs when fireworks go off around them. They are often overwhelmed and need your patience and understanding.