During the Spring Festival, many people may set off fireworks or firecrackers to celebrate the New Year.

Although fireworks have good intentions of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, in fact, the loud noise and brilliant light are a nightmare for dogs. Dogs will have a huge fear of sudden bright lights and sounds. If fireworks frighten your dog, a series of complications may occur. So as a poop scooper, how should we help dogs overcome their fear of fireworks?

If dogs are frightened by the sudden sound of fireworks and firecrackers, they will instinctively run away from the sound. If they are outdoors, they can easily get lost. In addition, some dogs may refuse to eat due to fright. Some dogs may even experience abnormal mood swings. They may run around the house, bark loudly, and appear extremely excited even when the sound of firecrackers stops.

If they find that their dog is afraid of fireworks, the first reaction of many owners is to hug them tightly to comfort them. But some animal behavior therapists point out that this behavior is actually wrong. Because a large part of a pet's reaction to things comes from the owner's attitude. If the owner immediately comforts the dog when the sound of firecrackers and fireworks is made, it is equivalent to telling the dog that this is really scary, and will instead deepen the dog's fear of fireworks.

How to help dogs overcome their fear of fireworks?

Previously, there was even a case in the UK where a puppy was frightened by the sudden sound of firecrackers and suffered a heart attack and died. So what can we do to reduce the impact of fireworks on dogs?

1. Let the dog adapt to the sound of fireworks

Owners can look for some videos of fireworks and firecrackers before the Chinese New Year to let their dogs get used to these sounds in advance. When you first start playing these videos, be careful not to turn the volume up too high. When playing the video, the owner can play with the dog more, reward the dog with snacks, or feed the dog to eat, so that the dog can associate the sound of fireworks with the things it likes and maintain a positive atmosphere.

After the dog gets used to the sound of low-volume fireworks, the owner can gradually increase the volume of the video and continue to use active training methods to get the dog used to the sound of fireworks. If the dog shows fear during this period, the owner needs to lower the volume of the video to a level that is comfortable for the dog. Repeat this for a few days until the dog can remain calm even when the video is loud enough. Although the sound of real fireworks will be different from those in the video, this can at least help dogs get used to the noise to a certain extent.

　2. How to soothe a dog who is slightly afraid of fireworks

If your dog’s fear of fireworks is not that serious, when setting off firecrackers and fireworks, the poop scraper can act very happy and joyful in front of the dog, which is alsoYou can give it its favorite food to let it know that fireworks will bring joy to its owner, and gradually overcome its fear of fireworks, and even become fond of them.

3. How to soothe dogs who are severely afraid of fireworks

The owner can turn on the TV, or play some light music, and close the doors and windows to cover up the sound of fireworks outside the window.

But it should be noted that owners should never hug their dog when it is scared, because this will make the dog think that you also think fireworks are scary. Not only do these methods fail to stabilize them, they actually intensify their fear.

If your dog's fear of fireworks is serious, the owner can discuss with the pet doctor for medical treatment. If your dog even behaves aggressively, your pet may need to prescribe anti-anxiety medications or sedatives. Dogs' hearing is much more sensitive than humans, and they can hear clearly even subtle sounds that we can't hear. What's more, what about the deafening sound of firecrackers and fireworks that we also find deafening? Therefore, when fireworks are set off, it is best to keep dogs indoors and do our best to help dogs reduce the impact of fireworks on them~