Dog owners-4th of July and noises

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Every 4th of July or big thunderstorm we go though a night of barking and whimpering. We have gone to the basement to get away from the noises, but still the barks continue. I have thought of trying ear plugs, but figured that wouldn’t work for the dog or for me.

Anyone with suggestions to calm down a dog?

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Go driving, turn the stereo up. This is the best thing we've found.

[Joe L Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Joe L]

I have heard of dog barking collars that are humane. A friend uses one and it works. Try Googling Dog Barking Collars.

[Elan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Elan]

Brandy in the water bowl???

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

ACE.

Mild tranq.

Not inhumane. Some dogs are just scared to death over fireworks. This is much kinder. REALLY.

Acepromazine

Ask your vet for it.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Our cairn Terrier Toto has been a barker - an a nervous wreck - since he was a pup if there is thunder or fireworks. He's 10 now and, unfortunately, his new "sister" of 3 thinks she has to join in even though she doesn't really seem to be bothered.

The best answer I've found - works about 90% of the time - is to get them into the family room, close all the shades/drapes, turn up the TV to ear splitting level and hope they don't hear it. The funny thing is if we're not home - or at least they don't think we're home - not a sound. Apparently they feel they are protecting us.

Our vet said there are doggy downers they can take but we don't like medicating for things unless absolutely necessary. We can live with a few barks vs drugging our buddies.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

ACE.

Mild tranq.

Not inhumane. Some dogs are just scared to death over fireworks. This is much kinder. REALLY.

Acepromazine

Ask your vet for it.

I'm going with this one. Even if the dog's hearing is blocked, either with earplugs or loud music, a dog can still feel the vibrations of fireworks. Our dog just hides under a chair, but I've heard that some dogs can't bear fireworks, period. A mild tranquilizer would really help. Your vet will probably tell you the same thing as Lawren. Good luck!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I'm going with this one. Even if the dog's hearing is blocked, either with earplugs or loud music, a dog can still feel the vibrations of fireworks. Our dog just hides under a chair, but I've heard that some dogs can't bear fireworks, period. A mild tranquilizer would really help. Your vet will probably tell you the same thing as Lawren. Good luck!

If you are very set against drugging there are things with Tryptophan you can give as well that may help.

John I have liked every Cairn I've ever met.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

One of my dogs is terrible during fireworks or thunder. He doesn't bark, but if he could climb into a box, he would..even tried to get into the fridge one time when we opened it.
We have hidden in closets, taken him to the basement, held him..etc, etc.
We now give him a low dose tranq, whch takes the edge off for him and he's fine and not as stressed. He will still sit next to you, but does claw to get into your skin.

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

We have a window air conditioner in our bedroom. We close the dogs into the bedroom and turn on the AC. The AC noise seems to drown out some of the fireworks noise.

Sue

[jjw Member Find all posts View Profile Close jjw]

Go for a long jog with the dogs and then turn up the TV.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

ACE.

Mild tranq.

Not inhumane. Some dogs are just scared to death over fireworks. This is much kinder. REALLY.

Acepromazine

Ask your vet for it.

I'm going with this one. Even if the dog's hearing is blocked, either with earplugs or loud music, a dog can still feel the vibrations of fireworks. Our dog just hides under a chair, but I've heard that some dogs can't bear fireworks, period. A mild tranquilizer would really help. Your vet will probably tell you the same thing as Lawren. Good luck!

This sounds like the best idea to me, as well. I have never done this, but might give it a try this 4th of July. My dog gets very frightened, and nothing we have ever tried in the past has really helped much.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

We have used a mild tranq in the past. We have found that we need to start with a half pill in the morning, another half with her dinner the day before the 'event' and then repeat the day of the event. That does help, but she has very good hearing and will bark when she hears a leaf blowing on the other side of the street. Fireworks on the 4-th are awful.

Thunderstorms are another problem. We can't tranq her over two days like the fireworks, so there is a lot of 'hush' or sometimes it gets down to 'STEFFI....SHUT UP, I have to sleep'. Those nights we may go to the basement where the sound is much less.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

If you are very set against drugging there are things with Tryptophan you can give as well that may help.

John I have liked every Cairn I've ever met.

Lawren - Cairns are naturally friendly, loyal and extremely smart dogs. I have my (then) 7 year old daughter to thank as she refused to accept any dog for her birthday except "Toto" despite my best efforts to push her to a larger breed as I had as a kid. Now family life without our 17lb watch dog is unthinkable. In fact my sister in law liked T so much she adopted a near twin, Chelsea. Unfortunately she died shortly after and we ended up with a sister for Toto. It actually seemed to rejuvenate him to have a playmate and the two are inseperable now. We are also happy to have two other Cairns in the neighborhood and all of them can play up a storm in each others yards. I never thought I'd like a small dog but Toto proved me very wrong.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Okay timeos2, I took a cue from you, and had Paul do the research to find out about the Cairns. Not familiar with that breed, so did look into it.

We have Steffi, mini German Schnauzer, white (not common and often downgraded by other Schauzer owners). She is a big lover. It looks as though the Cairns are similar, but maybe a little more active. I can leave Steffi in the fenced in yard for 15 minutes and she will explore, chase bunnies (if one is in the yard when she is let out), chase bird, chase bugs, roll on the ground, chase the wind, roll some more and then just lay and watch the bird nest incase one of the babies moves in there.

Sounds like the Cairn is a little more high strung and work than Steffi, but similar in size and coat. I'll look into them a little more.