Tips from Peri's Trainer to Keep your Doodle Calm this Weekend!!!!!!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

This is from Peri's trainer - I receive monthly newsletters from her and I thought of my DK friends - just some helpful tips.

HAPPY 4TH FROM LADY PERI AND TAQUITO =)

While we are on the subject of thunderstorms and fireworks, here are a few tips for you and your pooches for this upcoming 4th of July holiday.

1. Keep your pups inside during while fireworks are being set off in the vicinity. Every year dogs bolt from their fenced yards out of fear during the 4th of July holiday. Some are never recovered. Make sure your canine companion is safe from the beginning by keeping him or her inside.

2. Turn on music or the television to cover the sound of the fireworks.

3. Don't baby your dog when she appears nervous or frightened. Use a calm, confident, almost silly tone of voice that lets her know you aren't worried so she needn't be either.

4. Use a natural calming remedy like Quiet Moments or Rescue Remedy at least an hour before you expect fireworks to begin. Or dilute the Rescue Remedy in Fido's water bowl. These natural remedies can be really beneficial to some dogs (haven't heard of this before, have you Dkers?)

5. Use the Thundershirt (pretty cool, she sells them in her shop - )!

6. Create a safe haven for your pup that he knows he can go to when he feels nervous. Some dogs go into the bathtub. Some go in closets. Some go in hallways. Take your cue from your dog and set up his safe haven in the same area he normally goes to on his own.

7. If your pup will eat, try giving her pieces of some extra super special treat like roasted chicken or peanut butter licks from a spoon. This will hopefully help her to have a better association with the fireworks by using counter conditioning. Also, just in case she won't eat, make sure you have fed her long before any fireworks are scheduled to begin.

8. Remember, too, that a tired dog is a happy dog! So lots of physical and mental exercise (interactive toys, anyone?) early in the day can often drastically help ward off anxious behavior in the evening.

Be safe. Keep your houndies happy and cool. And enjoy your holiday!!

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

Allyson...ya can't buy funny! Ireland or Northern Ireland?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Love the bloody humor, Kevin! Off to Ireland in a week - know it's not England, but hey, hope I can get some of that funny humor =)

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

I wouldn't know, never been a mustard fan. But that's funny!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Kevin .... My DH got his first experience with British Mustard at a Guy Fawkes night when we were stationed in England ...... that was over 25 years ago and he still talks about British Mustard. (For those unfamiliar it is FULL of horseradish ...... will take the top of your head off). He used it just like our mustard, not knowing it was HOT!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Geesh Kevin, you need to come around more often. Your Bloody Humor kills me.

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

I'm a bit of a stick-in-the-mud when it comes to fireworks. I believe there should be pay-to-view organized fireworks displays in all areas, and none for sale to the general public. You get a much better show at the organized ones anyway. It happens just the same on and around 5h November in England. For those not in the know, that's known as Guy Fawkes night, bonfires and fireworks aplenty! Of course us Brits don't celebrate the 4th July because we got our a**** kicked!!!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I agree Kevin!!! This weekend and BE DONE WITH IT.

In our area they manufacture fireworks and firework shacks are set up all over the tri-county area.

Yes, it is illegal to set them off in Ohio so the purchaser must sign a paper stating they are taking them out of state. Yeah right.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Indeed! Good to see you around again!

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

My issue with fireworks is people setting them off days before and days after the 4th. How can you keep a nervous dog sane? Penny was just 3 months old last 4th July, and we kept her inside as much as possible, but we always acted calm around her, and she only jumped a couple of times. It must have worked, because last night we stood on our back deck last night and she sat next to us watching the rockets go up. The big bangs never even made her jump, she reacted more to the high pitch screamers. Back indoors, around 11pm, she showed signs of having had enough. But we just told her to lie down and she did. Thank goodness we have a calm, no-nonsense dog!

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

Great tips thanks so much for sharing! I wanted to add that we visited friends with a very spooked yorkie last night, we took along a product given to me as a sample called storm stress ~ it said to give up to 4 doses every 15 minutes over an hour, we gave 2 and I am told he seemed significantly calmer than he normally is for fireworks. We have also used Azmiras Calm and Relax and Herbal Calm in a few instances with success. Each is unique and what may work for one dog or one situation may not work in the next but it is always nice to have options. I have to add just because sometimes interpretation is significantly altered from the message intended I am NOT advocating 'drugging' a dog, there are times when the risk needs to measured to the benefit and if it is an issue that is clearly causing a very stressful, inconsolable situation for the dog that too comes with risk.