November The Fifth - Lhasa & Firework's

[Keris]

November the 5th affects our Lhasa apso's every year.

Thousands of other canines suffer all over the United Kingdom,
as a result of this supposedly one evening in the year,
when fireworks are being let off.

Wish I could say this was true,
but unfortunately,
fireworks start a lot earlier than November 5th,
and last quite a while afterwards.

Surveys show that more owners are resulting to administering medication,
which they have been prescribed by there own vets,
or herbal, homeopathic & holistic remedies
just to be able to deal with such stressful times.

During this period of time,
many dogs will have run away,
or got confused and lose there way home.

As we all know Lhasas have very acute hearing,
the loud bands, whistles etc. can actually cause
unnecessary pain & suffering for them in their ears.

Lhasaworld has a produced the following guide lines:-

OBVIOUS STRESS SYMPTOMS:
Shaking
Hiding
Panting
Attention Seeking constantly from you

MORE STRESS SYMPTOMS
Extremely Restless
Quite
Whining and or Growling
Ears held back
Excessive Drooling

STRESS APPEARANCE
Dilated Pupils
Glazed Expression

Stressful Behaviour
Aggressive
Destructive
Non Stop Barking

How to prepare for the approaching evenings:-

Exercise before dark,
giving ample opportunity for them to empty their bowels & bladder

Do not take them out or allow them in the garden,
once the fireworks have started,
unless absolutely necessary and then do not leave them on their own.
A good idea would be to put them on a lead

In order to prepare for such evenings,
it would be a good idea,
to adjust their feeding times,
as once the stress and fear starts they wont eat.

You will need to provide them with a safety area / zone / haven
if they do not already have one.

This can be a favourite place where they like hide,
there den for instance,
there crate if you use one,
but just cover the crate over

Please make sure that they are used to this area before hand,
as you do not want to stress them out more,
by them thinking they have been reprimanded or punished.

Ensure that their safety area / zone / haven
is comfortable with their usual bedding and toys.

Make sure that your provide fresh drinking water.

Do not force them into the safety area / zone / haven,
but let them choose if they want to stay with you or not.

Please also have your t.v. or music up louder than you normally do,
in order to drown out the firework sounds.

If your apso is behaving in an unusual manner,
please do not scold them,
as they do not know why they are scared nor understand.

Please do not go over board with fussing, cuddling etc,
as you are just enforcing their rights to be scared.

All you need to do is to reassure them in a calm and soothing manner,
without enforcing the fear / stress

I hope that this has been of some help.
Have a safe November 5th 2008

[Coco-Ben]

This is one night or should I say week, that I'm not looking forward to. The first year with Benji he was still very young and it really scared him, he was hiding under the coffee table and shaking. The following year he wasn't as bad, instead of hiding and shaking he jumped up on the settee and cuddled up to me but wasn't shaking, maybe he felt reassured.
This will be Coco's first year of it and as she relies quite a lot on Benji I'm hoping that she'll be ok but I'll be bringing her pillow in the living room just in case she does get scared.

Unfortunately there are quite a few not so nice older children living in the area and last year a few fireworks were sent into the gardens in my small street. I found 2 in my garden and noticed a couple in next door too. So both pooches will be staying inside and I'll just have to clean up any mess. It's not worth taking the risk.
________
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[Wayakinwolf]

This is one night or should I say week, that I'm not looking forward to. The first year with Benji he was still very young and it really scared him, he was hiding under the coffee table and shaking. The following year he wasn't as bad, instead of hiding and shaking he jumped up on the settee and cuddled up to me but wasn't shaking, maybe he felt reassured.
This will be Coco's first year of it and as she relies quite a lot on Benji I'm hoping that she'll be ok but I'll be bringing her pillow in the living room just in case she does get scared.

Unfortunately there are quite a few not so nice older children living in the area and last year a few fireworks were sent into the gardens in my small street. I found 2 in my garden and noticed a couple in next door too. So both pooches will be staying inside and I'll just have to clean up any mess. It's not worth taking the risk.




I fully agree with you, & also find them in the garden etc, & as i`m also phobic about them myself, it`s usually both me & the dogs that are taking cover on the night, in fact it usually starts up around here from about the next week, & carries on till well after the event. Then, just to add insult to injury they start again for the New Year parties etc. I personally signed the petition to the government regarding the banning of fireworks except under a special licence for public displays only, which went round last year, but nothing much seemed to come of it.

[DAISYBELL]

I HATE FIREWORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and my lovley little Lulu is so afriad of them i wish them banned., only for organised displays, that's my opinion.xx

[anna]

I Quite Agree Will All Comments Re Fireworks.
I Too Signed The Petition To Allow Fireworks To Be Used Only For Organised, Licenced Events.
Furthermore, They Should Only Be Sold To Licenced People And Not To The General Public And Restricted To A Specific Time Period, Not All Year Round For The Slightest Excuse To Let Them Off.

If We All Lobby Our Indepenant M.p's Then They May Get The Message.
Anna.

[DAISYBELL]

fire works starter here already.. grrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhh hatefull things!!!!!!!!!!

[Keris]

Remember Remember Your Apso's On The 5th Of November

I have recently been seeing
more and more products being advertised
to aid your apso's for fireworks Phobia,
the big bang's, bright lights etc.

I know through my own experience that
the Dorwest Scullcap & Valerian Tablets
and the Valerian Compound does actually work.

Please remember

DO NOT leave your apso's or other canine friends or animals alone in the house.
As they may panic and could injure themselves.

Please try to settle your apso before the fireworks start.
It is in your own apso's interest to be in familiar safe surroundings,
as this will help for them to cope with the noises.

Make sure that you walk or exercise your apso's before the fireworks begin.

You need to distract your apso whilst the fireworks, noise and bright lights are happening.
This can be quite easily achieved by playing with them.

Do not give rewards for you apso for reacting to the noise, bright lights etc.

By giving rewards you are re-enforcing there right to be afraid.

It would be better if you acted if there was nothing wrong or to worry about.

Provide your apso with a safe hiding place.
Turn up the tv and or radio to drown out the sound of the fireworks.
Close curtains to block out the bright lights.

If you are giving medication,
make sure that you administer this before the noise and bright lights start.

I hope that you have a safe bomb fire night

[tinkerbell1sfab]

Hi everyone. Nice to be back on the forum after weeks of having a broken computer. I too hate fireworks. There has been a lot being set off over the past week around my house but fortunately, Milly doesn't seem to bother much. My last dog was so traumatised by the noise of fireworks that I had to have tranquelisers prescribed by the vet. We did have a death in the family last week due to fireworks though. My little granddaughter's guinea pig died of a heart attack when some children set off fireworks in a field next to their home. Shops should not be allowed to sell them and I agree that they should only be used at organised displays.

[sarahcarr]

Living in Birmingham and having so many different ethnic groups all celebrating various holidays around this time of year, the fireworks canbe going for a month. Some nights it sounds like a bombing raid. I hate them and am planning to ban them when i am prime minister. Last year i was at the vets with my little lhasa having panic attacks over the noise. I have thought for some months now that she was going deaf. Its official, she is , as this year she isnt batting an eyelid at the noise. My boy however is barking his head off at them.

[dieselsmummy]

Well, last night we had an abundance of fireworks going off locally...

Diesel walked out and stood on the back doorstep - head and tail held high - watching them and looking well pleased like they had been laid on especially for him!

Gucci, on the other hand, was not so pleased. He growled and woofed and had a good old grumble...all from the safety zone of my lap.