We may not celebrate Christmas again for another year, but the holidays haven’t been done yet. We still have to welcome 2025 through a New Year’s celebration. But while we enjoy the festivities by lighting up those fireworks, let’s not forget our furry members of the family. It is well-known that loud noises, such as loud fireworks and bustling environments, cause anxiety and stress for dogs. With this, dog trainer Joe Griffith shows us ways to protect our dogs this New Year.
But wait, before heading out for the tips, we fur parents should first understand what our dogs are experiencing when they are subjected to noisy environments. Since they have much more sensitive hearing than humans, loud bangs and fireworks easily scare them, triggering fear or anxiety among them. Because of this, dogs may appear startled or panicked, and they may manifest it through behaviors like:
- Pacing around and looking restless
- Excessively whining or barking
- Shakes off, yawning, and the lip-smacking
- Trying to hide in the corners of furniture
- Dogs attempting to escape or flee the area
As dog owners, you should know that these behaviors are a dog’s natural response to fear and anxiety, which is why it’s important to respond with strategies to calm your dog. These are the tools and strategies you should have at least known before the New Year celebration.
Create a Safe Space
First up, you must create a space at your house that will be the designated quiet room so you can just drop your dogs in there. Make sure to make the space as comforting as possible. You can surround it with the dog’s security blanket and favorite toys for an added sense of comfort. To continue to block out the noise, you may play calming dog music.
Soundproof the Environment
While you can’t completely remove the noise, since it’s uncontrollable, you can help lessen it inside. Close the curtains to help block the sound and visual stimulation. This is also where the calming music comes in, or even a fan to cover out the extra noise. Some dogs do respond well to music and might easily fall asleep.
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Use a Thunder Jacket or Thunder Cup
A Thunder Jacket or Thunder Cup is a proven tool used to manage a dog’s anxiety. The fabric from this clothing provides constant pressure on your dog’s body, which has a calming effect. This pressure soothes the nerves of dogs and whispers relaxation in times when a dog needs it the most especially in stressful events for them like fireworks.
Avoid Punishing Anxiety-related Behavior
We’re only humans, so our dog’s endless bickering may drive us insane, but we need to keep our cool and be patient with them. Let’s not scold them or punish them for what they’re doing. The behaviors that they show are fear, and punishing them will only add to their stress. Instead, you can use positive reinforcement like rewarding calm behavior with biscuits or praise. This helps them associate the moments of loudness with something more positive.
Stay Calm and Present
Dogs can easily pick up their owner’s emotions, so it is important to stay calm and compost even when things don’t go our way. If you are anxious or stressed over your dog’s reaction, then it might even stress him more knowing that the person whom they count on is also scared like them.
Consider Desensitization
If you know that your dog’s greatest fear is fireworks, then you might want to try out desensitization, where you play fireworks at low volumes at first until it gradually increases. Also, positive reinforcements like treats should be applied to help dogs associate them with something more positive.
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From The Club
New Year may be the best time for me, but it’s definitely not for my furry members of the family. Growing up with dogs, my family used to put them in the farthest bedroom from the front door. Inside the room, we will play soothing and relaxing tunes for dogs via YouTube and check on them from time to time. This has proven effective, so we stick to this practice every New Year.