Helping Your Pets Cope With Firework Season

As the dark nights draw in the season for fireworks and loud noises is underway. There are a number of ways you can protect your pet and ensure they are at ease throughout the winter months.

Signs That Your Dog is Scared of Fireworks:

• Ears back
• Excessive panting
• Drooling
• Shaking
• Hiding Away
• Barking Excessively
• Messing in the house

When you hear fireworks ensure that all windows and doors are shut. Close all of the curtains and turn on the TV or play music to hide the sounds of loud bangs.  Consider distractions such as chews, tops or playing a game with your dog to occupy them. Ensure on bonfire night/ New Year’s Eve to walk your dog early in the evening when it is still light to avoid walking them when fireworks have begun and don’t leave them on their own in the house when they are going off.

The most important thing to consider is NEVER punishing your dog for displaying unwanted behaviors as a result of fireworks this will cause more distress.

This will help ease your dog and lower the stresses that fireworks cause for your canine friends:

There is a lot of stigma behind putting dogs in crates after attending various seminars and training and owner’s homes I have come to realise there are mixed views on crate training for dogs. Some people are all for crate training and others are very against and feel that it is wrong.

Everyone has a right to an opinion on the subject but there are many positives to crate training dogs and owners shouldn’t feel they are doing wrong or shouldn’t use a crate. It is something that you have to slowly introduce and positively reinforce as a good place for your dog to go! Here are some benefits for you and your dog.

- You

• Can enjoy peace of mind when leaving your dog home alone, knowing that nothing can be soiled or destroyed-and that he/ she is comfortable, protected and not developing any bad habits.
• Can house-train your dog quickly by using the confinement to encourage control, establish a regular routine for outdoor elimination, and prevent accidents at night or when your dog is left alone.
• Can effectively confine your dog at times when she may be under foot (i.e., when you have guests, at mealtimes), over-excited, or bothered by too much confusion or activity (such, as lots of children running around the house).
• Can travel with your dog safely and be assured that she will more easily adapt to strange surroundings as long as she has her familiar "security blanket," her crate.

- Your Dog

• Can enjoy peace of mind when leaving your dog home alone, knowing that nothing can be soiled or destroyed-and that he/ she is comfortable, protected and not developing any bad habits.
• Can housetrain your dog quickly by using the confinement to encourage control, establish a regular routine for outdoor elimination, and prevent accidents at night or when your dog is left alone.
• Can effectively confine your dog at times when she may be under foot (i.e., when you have guests, at mealtimes), over-excited, or bothered by too much confusion or activity (such, as lots of children running around the house).
• Can travel with your dog safely and be assured that she will more easily adapt to strange surroundings as long as she has her familiar "security blanket," her crate.

- Some ideas to make the crate more enjoyable:

• Cover your crate with a thick blanket/ cover
• Use of toys Kong’s/ cuddly toys
• Scatter some treats in the cage before your dog goes in
• Use bedding they have their scent on already to put in the cage so there are familiar smells

When buying a crate, ensure it is appropriate for the size of dog you have and check that they have room to move around comfortably. Below are some links to dog crates for ideas:

Your dog’s nose and brain were made to hunt, track, burrow, sniff, and snort. They were made to WORK! Nose work or snuffling capitalises on this natural desire to sniff. Snuffle Mats are an interactive enrichment puzzle, used to help refine search and find skills along with many positive results including;

• Choking
• Vomiting
• Tummy Discomfort
• Bloating

This can be concerning as an owner and you can feel helpless.Here’s where slow feeding bowls come in they come in different shapes and materials and there is options for tiny and large! Not only does a slow feed dog bowl slow your dog down but it gives them time to actually chew the food before swallowing it. A slow feeder bowl can give you peace of mind if you have choking concerns.

Slow feeding bowls should help to modify eating habits and helps portion control and your less likely to over feed.

Another option would be a puzzle or maze slow feeder bowls slow down your dog’s eating habits, but they also provide mental stimulation. This is a good way to keep your dog’s mind occupied. If you have more than one puzzle bowl this is even better because they get variety and greater mental stimulation.

There are some options of great slow feeding bowls for your dog listed below:

Your dog’s nose and brain were made to hunt, track, burrow, sniff, and snort. They were made to WORK! Nose work or snuffling capitalises on this natural desire to sniff. Snuffle Mats are an interactive enrichment puzzle, used to help refine search and find skills along with many positive results including;

• Encouraging attentive play
• Mentally stimulating and boredom-busting
• Ideal for pets on restricted exercise
• Can be used for behaviour modification training
• May help reduce stress
• Energy zapping!
• Regular practise greatly benefits dogs lacking in confidence
• Great for puppies who are just learning about mental enrichment
• Use with older dogs who can’t physically manage playing with other food dispensing toys.
• When leaving dogs alone, leave them with the treat mat to give them something to focus on in your absence
• Fantastic for dogs on restricted exercise as a result of surgery or recovery from injury.
• In certain situations, e.g. handling or grooming, it can be used to reduce anxiety.

Use your dog’s daily food allowance if fed on a dry diet, or use chopped up carrot or apple if concerned about calorie intake.  This treat mat doesn’t just have to be used with treats!

There are various different types of snuffle mats available on the market from basic to advance. Get them noses working!

Why Mental Enrichment Is Important For Your Dog

Regular walks are important for your dog but what’s usually missed by many owners is the importance to provide mental stimulation and enrichment for your dog.

There are six types of enrichment:

1. Social enrichment
2. Cognitive enrichment
3. Physical enrichment
4. Sensory enrichment
5. Feeding enrichment
6. Toy enrichment

Mental stimulation enriches dogs lives by giving them something meaningful and challenging to do, instead of the usual going out for walks. Because these activities alleviate boredom they decrease the likelihood of our dogs developing behavioural issues such as excessive chewing or barking.

Some of my favourites include:

Snuffle Mats - An interactive enrichment puzzle, used to help refine search and find skills along with many positive results including:

• Encouraging Attentive Play
• Mentally stimulating and boredom-busting
• Ideal for pets on restricted exercise
• Can be used for behaviour modification training
• May help reduce stress

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Snack Balls -  Snack labyrinth as I call them, they provide longer lasting fun as your dog tries to release treats.

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Kongs -  These are a great! Stuff them with what you like! These help with speedy eaters, separation anxiety, crate training and teething.

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Be inventive and play around, I can assure that adding mental enrichment to your daily routine will help keep your dog happy!