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Comment by Diane on July 7, 2014 at 12:02am

Still going on where we live :-(. At unbelievably random times too... Which makes it hard to "prep" for. A loud one just went off & Chewey just widdled in the kitchen (which he definitely does not typically do), now he's huddled under the bed :-(

Comment by Beverly Butler Redford & Tucker on July 5, 2014 at 1:42pm

It was a difficult night.  Fireworks started around 6pm and didn't stop until after midnight.  Tucker wouldn't go out.  He started crying after I put the boys to bed.  It was before midnight, so he still wouldn't go out.  I put him and Redford out after midnight but they wouldn't leave the porch because of the rain and the thunder.  I put them back to bed again with the t shirt I wore to the gym (very stinky) and a night light.  He cried for a while, but eventually figured out he should just go to sleep. 

The kong wasn't very helpful.  It is just a food delivery system and there was almost a big fight between Tucker and Redford because Redford finished his kong and wanted Tucker's.  Next year I will see what I can find that Tucker will actually chew.

Toys don't work-Redford does not allow anyone else to play with toys in his presence.  Tucker won't leave Redford, so we don't have a lot of toys for them.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Comment by Chris Payerl on July 4, 2014 at 9:35am

Does Tucker like toys? Maybe a couple of new toys might distract him, esp. if they are the kind you can stuff treats into. Our first dog, Asta, was terrified of thunder and fireworks. She'd put herself into her crate which I'd drape a folded blanket over to make it darker (just the bottom half of the door uncovered for ventilation) or she'd hide under our bed and run sorties to try to get us to hide under there with her. I made sure there were no electrical cords or anything under the bed that she could get hurt on. If it was a daytime or early evening storm, sometimes we'd go in the basement where she usually didn't go; the sound was dampened and she had an unfamiliar area to explore, which took her attention off the noise. Luckily for us, Sophie doesn't blink an eye at all the noise. We live in a community where the city (and many citizens - even though it's illegal) set off fireworks to celebrate just about anything. Nearly every week there is some sort of display and we live close enough to the lake where they do the big shows that we can hear it all. They're not special anymore -- used to be just for July 4th but now it's for everything. Good luck!

Comment by Beverly Butler Redford & Tucker on July 3, 2014 at 11:33am

It is worth a try.  I anticipate everything will be kind of nuts tonight as well as tomorrow.  Unfortunately, I have to go to a meeting tonight, so I may leave him in the garage with Redford and the swamp cooler instead of outside.  

Comment by Vicky Hay on July 3, 2014 at 10:59am

Oh, that IS annoying!

Can you spend the evening at a friend or relative's house that might be a little further away from the celebrations?

In our parts, the idiot state legislators took all the former fireworks laws off they books -- they used to be quite restrictive, for good reason -- and now it's open season. Unfortunately I'll be at a party on the Fourth -- got the tickets long before Ruby the Corgi Pup came on the scene -- and so I won't be here to try to calm her nerves. Think I'll put her in her crate before I leave, which may make her feel protected anyway. And Cassie by nature will go into her self-appointed den in the back bathroom.

Possibly crating Tucker would help?

Comment by Beverly Butler Redford & Tucker on July 3, 2014 at 12:07am

Thanks-unfortunately, I live next to a large park and a large detention basin where people feel is a good spot to light off fireworks (legal and illegal).  We'll stay inside and just pretend nothing is happening and stick to our usual routine, but I'll fill some kongs and put them in the freezer.

Comment by Vicky Hay on July 2, 2014 at 8:23pm

Ohhh poor little dawg!

Cassie doesn't like fireworks, either, but she's gotten much better over time. When I first adopted her, the noise really frightened her. After a year or two, though, she seemed to decide they weren't going to hurt her or me.

Just be sure Pooch can't get out of the yard (I don't leave my dogs out in the yard unobserved during the rowdy holidays: July 4, Halloween, New Years), and act completely calm, as though of course loud bizarre noises and flashing lights were the normal order of events.

Comment by Katy on July 2, 2014 at 12:49pm

Perhaps try some cotton balls in the ear to help dampen the sound. I would try to turn his attention to something positive like playing or learning a new command. It's hard to not coo at them like a kid but I've found that not coddling has gotten me a more confident dog. Let us know what works, interested in the comments.

Comment by Natalie, Lance &Tucker on July 2, 2014 at 2:06am

try not and make a big deal about the fireworks, just be a matter of fact about it. They feed off of our emotions.  I hate this time of year.  Can you turn up the tv/radio louder to drown out the noises?  No fun seeing them scared.  :(