Remember remember your mutt hates the 5th November

Are you are planning to go out and enjoy some fireworks on 5 November? Here are some top tips to keep your pets safe from fireworks night.

Are you are planning to go out and enjoy some fireworks on 5 November?

Remember, there is nothing worse for a dog than the symphony of fires, banging, bright lights and the general commotion of Guy Fawkes Night. Some dogs can be more sensitive to noise than others but most will get upset by fireworks.
In fact according to Dogs Trust 80% of dogs are frightened by fireworks and 45% of owners say their dogs need sedation to calm their nerves. So it抯 important to remember that all that excitement can really stress your dog out and even have longer traumatic affects on him/her.
To make sure that you take all the right measures to help you and your dog enjoy a safe evening we have put together some sound advice which should turn out any worries during Bonfire Night.

Do

1) Walk your dog before it gets dark ?make sure your dog is well exercised and has relieved himself before the fireworks begin.
2) Distract - try distracting your dog from the loud noises and bright flashes by playing with a favourite toy or doing some reward based activity. Interacting with your dog during this stressful time will help keep his/her mind off what's going on outside. Turn up the TV or play some music to drown out the loud noises outside.

3) Treat - Try to give your dog a long-lasting treat so that they will spend a good part of the evening chewing and won抰 have time to think about the commotion outside.

4) Dog Supplements - If your dog suffers from diarrhea when scared you should try Pooch & Mutt抯 Bionic Biotic. There are also specific supplements to help your dog with firework fear, such as skullcap & valerian available from Dorwest or you can try a DAP pheromone diffuser.

5) Sanctuary - Provide a sanctuary for your dog - your dog will naturally seek a hiding place so make sure you provide him with a warm blanket in his favourite spot to hide under or a doggy sleeping bag to borrow and snuggle into.

Don抰

1) Try and reassure your dog for being scared ?giving your dog any sort of verbal or tactile attention will only encourage fearful behaviour at the wrong time. It is much better to ignore fireworks as they happen.

2) Let your dog outside alone or off the lead ?even if your dog doesn抰 mind fireworks it抯 very dangerous to allow him to roam freely in your garden or in the park.

3) Leave your dog in the house unsupervised or in a strange place. The best place for your dog is in a cosy and familiar environment - home!
If you have a horse you should try Blue Chip Karma to keep them calm during the fireworks season.

Try our prize draw this month to win a bag of Pooch & Mutt抯 Bionic Biotic!