Fireworks and low flying jets

[kati]

Hi,
We live in central Edinburgh so are gearing up for a month of fireworks and low flying jets throughout August - it's Dom's first year in our flat so not certain how he's going to react.  Does anyone have tips for keeping him calm? Should I avoid walking him when the fireworks displays are going on? Concerned about the timings as the first one is during his evening walk and the second at the time of his short toilet break before bed, so it could be hard to avoid.  The extended ones usually last quite a while - maybe 30 mins or so, and they are pretty loud where we are.  We've had one big thunder storm since we got him and he didn't seem bothered by that at all, so is that a good indicator the fireworks might not bother him either?
thanks!
Kate

[jodav]

Hi Kate
Fingers crossed for Dom to be tolerant of fireworks, guess you won't be certain until they start. The fact that you can predict the times they will be let off, is a big help. My experience is that random, excessively-loud booms raise anxiety in both of my hounds causing panting, pacing and hiding and they won't go out to toilet.
When there is a planned display, we drive somewhere quiet until it's finished. Other things to do could be to have a longer walk so that the dog is tired when fireworks start. Draw the curtains, turn up the tv and make a comfy space available for the dog to feel secure. One of ours likes going under the stairs, the other on the landing. I tend to leave them alone rather than give attention. Some people use a TTouch Thundershirt to promote calmness or get medicines from the vet. Over time my two have learned to tolerate some firework noise but loud booms do bother them.
Hope some of this helps.
Jo

[kati]

Thanks for the help - he has been fine during the first few nights... Happy in his bed with the radio on. He jumped up and ran to the window when the red arrows went past but didn't seem distressed, just curious as to what had woken him, and wondering if it was something he could chase?! I slept through one of the displays (haven't been well) and he didn't wake me up so I think he must also have slept through it. We played a game of 'find the food under a beaker' during the ones last night to distract him as he was keen to get out his walk (bad weather prevented a long walk before) and I don't think he even noticed the fireworks. The extended shows might be more of a challenge but looks like - fingers crossed - he's not too bothered as long as he's indoors in his comfy bed. I'll look into the thunder shirt as this might be helpful for other times as he's generally a bit anxious in new situations.

[Ted]

We had a low flying noisy RAF jet come over our walking park this afternoon, Merlin was panicking so I had to stop him bolting by placing him on the lead until we got back into the Dog Wagon. Merlin was shaking like anything, the last time I had seen him act that way along with Mickey was when a Large RAF Transport Aircraft carried a low level pass along the Swansea Canal near to the Riverside Park in Pontardawe, it must have looked like a very large bird of some sort to them. Menta and Kelly did not worry about it.