Fireworks

[Millie12]

Don't know about you but we have fireworks going off around our area already, i took Millie for her 15 minute walk around quart to 7 we heard a couple go off on the way home, she seemed to jump a little at first but i said Good girl come on nothing to worry about and kept talking to her positively and she seemed to carry on fine having a sniff and what not, she has been so good learning to walk on the lead bless her  my little munchkin!
I will walk her through the day as its the weekend and again Monday but i was just wondering what do you do if you can only get out after dark around bonfire night? Have you walked after dark tonight? do you think its good to get them used to it or better not to chance them being to upset or scared? Just a topic i was thinking about so thought i would post on here, sorry if i start a debate or something ha 
Lots of love Lauren & Millie x

[polarbear]

I have the TV on loud so Cooper (4 months) has missed most of the bangs.  There was one extra loud one which he heard but I just ignored his 'alert stance' and he settled back down again.

One went off last night while he was out in the garden having a wee (well, while he was sniffing round for ages trying to find the right spot!) and he bolted back into the house.  Like you, I said brightly, 'come on, nothing to worry about' and he went back out.

At our puppy training class, the teacher advised us to ignore any frightened behaviour as reassurance just makes dogs think they are acting in the correct way.  However, if she said the puppies did not appear to be frightened then it was best to take them out into the garden on the lead and show them what was making all the noise (part of their socialisation).

But like you, we're sticking to daytime walking especially during this week - it's just easier.

[Linz13]

Touch wood we haven't had any here so far.

Murphy is totally relaxed, and after the initial bang, he just goes back to normal pootering.

Maddi has taken longer to come round, she would go shake in the corner, we made the decision to behave as if everything was normal and she was fine after the second year. We live a stones throw from the field that the displays are held in. We can all stand in the garden and watch them. Dogs included.

[jessika]

Ozzie is fine so far but where we live there is a large scale of land where people shoot and he's fine with the bangs from guns and the fireworks he has heard so far he hasn't even flinched, he's only scared of hoovers and Gerbils

[Millie12]

Aww it is lovely that you can all watch them together  i think Millie will be fine as she hasnt bothered too much and like i said we heard them out on the walk and i just acted as if everything was normal. id love to be able to read those doggy minds  x

[Jimyg]

Hugo has been good to, he was fine with thunder as well. Did a lot of barking till I picked him up and watched them go off over the fence, he seemed quite happy watching them with his tail tapping away!

[Linz13]

Looks like next door is setting up a mini display in the back garden as we speak.

Just wish they had the courtesy to chap the door and say they were doing it.

[jonnytrabant]

Walking back from the pub last night, it was like Armageddon round ours and Harry didn't even flinch, mind you he'd had 4 pints of Directors Bitter.