Rescue Remedies.myfastforum.org

reclaimingrebus · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

The trouble with forums is that you don't know all the facts, so if this doesn't apply, my apologies in advance.

My dally, Morse, used to shake so badly that he lost control of his legs.

What helped was clearing out under the stairs and leaving beds and bedding in there and having the door just open, so they could retreat.

The other thing that helped was to make sure that we all ignored the panic as much as possible, only rewarding signs of calm and control. It takes time but they do learn to be calmer if you just ignore it. But I know how hard it is, and my kids found it really difficult because they were so distressed by the dogs distress.
I found the desensitization CD totally useless. Mine can tell the difference, and they find rockets (not on there) more distressing than the bangers (which are)

xristine · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject:

I was going to say in theory 'flooding' ought to work and I assume the desensitising CD aims to do just that. I haven't lived with a dog that has been particularly bothered by fireworks - as I say the JR ignored them and the JRTX found them exciting. I don't remember our dogs when I was a kid being scared either so I'm not sure what I'd do. I think something along the lines of reclaimingrebus - ie attempting to ignore the panic, put on some distracting sounds and trying to distract them with something else. I imagine the problem is that if one dog starts panicking there's a tendency to pass the panic on to the others...

It isn't much help but my sympathetic thoughts are with you all.
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Madame Roland

Olivia · User Joined: 05 May 2009 Posts: 113

Rhianna seems to be slowly getting over the need to protect the house from them - she has responded to being told no. However, she is sitting very close and has such a bad case of anxiety wind that I am considering moving out. sad3

Tina D · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

Thank goodness Lucie is not bothered in the slightest by fireworks but my last dog, Dee was petrified by them. I really didn't know better so i used to try and reassure/cuddle her (which obviously made her worse!!) We FINALLY realised that if we ignored her and pretended like nothing was happening, she was much better. She was still scared, but less so and got over it much quicker. It is the hardest thing in the world to do though when all of your instincts are to comfort them

Sharonr - Admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 2609

Still have the telly volume up high until the WHSmith advert comes on, then we quickly drop the volume ... it's got whizzy fireworks in it and Tex wants to eat the screen! Rolling Eyes

When will the nightmare end! Evil or Very Mad

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"My sunshine doesn't come from the skies,
It comes from the love in my dog's eyes".

Spellbound · User Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 59 Location: Hounslow

I don't think Summer has decided if she's scared or not. I'm surrounded by temples and lunatics so there's fireworks all the time for about 2 weeks, I dunno.
First day of them she kept barking, all her fur up and growling but wouldn't go outside while they were going off. She then has days, like today, where she's not bothered, curled up on the sofa asleep right now.
Last night the people over the back seemed to be aiming them at my house and she had a good bark when we stood in the kitchen and watched them, then decided that was too much effort and went back to sleep.
No matter where she is on the nervous scale, she refuses to go outside if they big ones are going off, she's ok with the crackly ones though but would prefer to not be outside with them if she can help it.

I have to time the pee times now or she wont go at all until about 1am. It does worry me that she'll get a problem with her bladder if she holds it so long... part of me would prefer her to pee on the floor.