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!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thank you.
For some reason people can't just blow off fireworks for the weekend. They seem to carry this out for another month.

Rescue Remedy: We have used Rescue Remedy. I still have a bottle in my drawer. I have given to the cats, dogs, and anything else that takes in air--yes, it works on humans also. But my feelings are it only lasts about a 1/2 hour.
You can buy it at most Natural Whole Foods and Health Stores for around $10.00.

Starlit--she is afraid of her own paw. We have worked and worked at socializing her. This weekend was the test. She went to a Boat Parade and Fireworks. NO PROBLEM! OMG! NO PROBLEM.

Today, the neighbor man came over and you would have thought someone was going to kill her. LOL

[Pat & "Tucker"]

Great- thanks for sharing!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

My schnoodle was terrified of fireworks...absolutely terrified. She would shake so hard i was afaid she would have a heart attack. Although she was completely and reliably housebroken, she refused to go near the outdoors and would inevitably have an accident which upset her even more. Since people around here celebrate for several days, it was always a horrible holiday for our family.
My vet at the time gave me doggy tranquilizers for her. I don't know if this has fallen out of favor in the 20-odd years since, but I never hear about dogs being given tranquilizers any more. Yet they really helped and didn't seem to cause any health problems.
Fortunately, Jackdoodle is not afraid of fireworks. We hope all of our DK friends, both two-legged and four, have a happy and non-fearful 4th of July!

[Tammy & Gracie]

Thanks Alyson. Gracie does have this fear. It really mainifested itself at the last romp woith the gunfire heard out there in the country. Tonight I am staying home and plan to be upstairs before dark with Gracie in front of a good (loud but no gunfire) movie. Unfortunately it's an old house and the upstairs is hot. Fortunately that means there is a window a/c unit to run for additional "white" noise. I have used rescue remedy in the past but I found another herbal that seems to calm better. I will have to remind myself to give her that at dinner. Everyone, have a great, fun and safe fourth!

[Zoe, Benny and Tyler]

Great, thanks for the link of the thundershirt. I will have a look.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

A thundershirt is supposed to calm anxiety - people swear by it, but I have not tried it (Peri doesn't really have anxiety about anything).
Here is the link: http://www.thundershirt.com/?gclid=CKi26e7cz6ICFQHGsgodLCVFxg

[Yvonne N]

Thanks! This is great. We just finished up with our annual parade and doodle is dog tired. Hugs.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Thanks Allyson. My Lucy hates fireworks, so I'm guessing they will be in our bed all week-end. As long as she can come curl up in our bed she is fine. Same with thunderstorms. We shall see.

[Zoe, Benny and Tyler]

Sounds like I am doing everything right already :)
What is a thundershirt?

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for the tips.