Our dog Caillou has had a difficult time this week. Normally he's a laid back dog that is polite and well
behaved. In fact when people come up in the yard, for the first time since I can remember, they can get all the way to our door without getting barked up by a yard full of dogs.
His main vice is that he likes for people to be together. Whenever we have kids or other company visiting, he likes for them to stay contained. When a kid begins to wander off, he springs into action and heads them back to the herd.
But on the night of Fourth of July when the fireworks began, Caillou was not happy. The booms from the fireworks was unsettling for him on a level that he'd never experienced. At one point when we missed him, I walked into my bathroom and he was curled up in my shower shivering.
I spent a lot of time consoling him but he did not do well. If the fireworks had stopped on Thursday, we could have dealt with that, but apparently the kids out here bought a LOT of firecrackers because we're still hearing them from time to time.
Last night Jilda and I were watching the weather before going to bed. As we sat on the leather loveseat in the TV/Laundry room, the explosions started again. Caillou came in nuzzled up close and then before either of us could react, he jumped onto the loveseat into our laps. He now tips the scales at 75 pounds and I can tell you he was a lap full.
We haven't heard any firecrackers tonight so hopefully they've shot them all. Caillou is resting at my feed as I write.
I'm calling the vet tomorrow to see if she will prescribe some doggy downers for next year.
His main vice is that he likes for people to be together. Whenever we have kids or other company visiting, he likes for them to stay contained. When a kid begins to wander off, he springs into action and heads them back to the herd.
But on the night of Fourth of July when the fireworks began, Caillou was not happy. The booms from the fireworks was unsettling for him on a level that he'd never experienced. At one point when we missed him, I walked into my bathroom and he was curled up in my shower shivering.
I spent a lot of time consoling him but he did not do well. If the fireworks had stopped on Thursday, we could have dealt with that, but apparently the kids out here bought a LOT of firecrackers because we're still hearing them from time to time.
Last night Jilda and I were watching the weather before going to bed. As we sat on the leather loveseat in the TV/Laundry room, the explosions started again. Caillou came in nuzzled up close and then before either of us could react, he jumped onto the loveseat into our laps. He now tips the scales at 75 pounds and I can tell you he was a lap full.
We haven't heard any firecrackers tonight so hopefully they've shot them all. Caillou is resting at my feed as I write.
I'm calling the vet tomorrow to see if she will prescribe some doggy downers for next year.
Poor Caillou, I hope he feels better soon Rick...
ReplyDeleteThe Fourth can be so hard on animals!!
ReplyDeleteI had to do the same with my shepherd, because being a shepherd, she's rather nutty. What I don't get is why people, especially out here in the desert where it's dry and hot, shoot fireworks at all. They're actually illegal here, but that doesn't seem to stop all the morons who continue to shoot them way past the 4th. I asked my vet for Acepromazine, it's a tranquilizer for dogs and it works rather well, if you use it in time. Sorry, this was a long comment, I just get so bent out of shape when my dogs get hurt. :)
ReplyDeleteTry putting a tight Tshirt on the dog - seriously! They sell these Thundershirts for dogs but they are expensive. So I just found an old Tshirt and I put it on our lab during storms and fireworks and for whatever reason it works.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that - I had an extremely noise phobic dog as well - she was bothered by the woodpecker and the pneumatic guns for re-roofing (which everyone in our neighbourhood seemed to do around the same time because all the houses were built around the same time.. anyway please be careful in how you console him because when you say 'it's okay" that can be interpreted as "it's okay to be scared". Try soothing music. Humming and singing happy or soothing songs can be very helpful. Try to act as if nothing's wrong, because your worry can stress him out some more. Also, you'd be surprises how well some yawning will do. Dogs are one of the few animals that find human yawns as contagious as we do - so yawn alot and see if he doesn't yawn and start to calm down. Wishing you all the luck it's a very difficult issue to deal with and you may be need to get help from a Certified Pet Dog Trainer as well (no, I'm not affiliated with any, I've just been through this before).. keep us posted on your success!
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad to see our animals shivering and scared, isn't it? I hope he is okay by the morning. xo Diana
ReplyDeletePoor baby. Luckily our little Clayton doesn't even flinch with the sound of pop-pop. I hope Caillou can get some peace.
ReplyDeletePoor little feller. My cat Ruby did not react to the fiereworks very well either. She hid under the bed for a day and a half!!
ReplyDeletePoor Caillou, getting old is hard on dogs just like us humans and all this noise and vibrations must be disturbing as they don't even know what is happening.
ReplyDeleteFireworks are beautiful to look at but deep in my mind I always wonder what chemical fall out they leave behind, years after years. They are usually lit up close to the water. So much money blown up in minutes somehow doesn't seem right when people are struggling for food, clothing or shelter and the power that be are always doing some cut back.
JB
Fireworks and animals do not mix at all!! What trauma for them! Poor Caillou - so want to give her great big hug!! Glad she's got you and lovely Jilda to protect her! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Poor fella. I've been hearing good things about the "Thundershirt". I'm thinking about getting one for my dog. It is distressing seeing our canine friends so afraid.
ReplyDeleteI always feel sorry for dogs around the 4th. Good he has you and Jilda to help him feel safe. What a beautiful dog he is!
ReplyDeleteEddy the boxer hates this time of year too..we live far enough out of town that the fireworks show can't be heard...except our new neighbors seem to think that anytime of night is OK for blasts...midnight on the 4th about had me hiding in the shower! So Eddy heads to his haven in the basement...he does the same thing when he hears a gunshot. Hope Caillou is doing better...he's a beauty!
ReplyDeleteOh I can imagine firecrackers being hard on the ears.
ReplyDeleteMy dogs always bark at any noise. It's annoying but I figure if people know there are dogs here they will know better than to try to break in specially when you are home. Those are the worst kind of break ins.
I never had any dogs that barked but I didn't raise this one. It was my oldest sons and he took charge and then moved and left the dog.
I was unable to break him of the barking habit.
Awww, so very sad. Our two Labs do OK with the booms on the Fourth of July. We do stay home so they don't have to deal with the different sounds without humans here making noise with TV, etc., to drown out the noise outside. Years ago, though, we weren't so lucky. We had a German Shepherd who was so afraid of the fireworks that she would go through glass windows to get out, then not know where to go once she got out there so would just run until she was completely lost. Fireworks are terrifying for many dogs.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago we lived next door to a family with an Irish Setter. At one point the dog had gotten out and spent the night in the pound, which at that time was located near the shooting range used by the police. One day in the spring the elementary school at the end of our street was holding a field day and using blanks in a gun to start races. The poor dog next door chewed through a brand new wood privacy fence and banged against our door to be allowed inside. It was so afraid of the noise it was sad.
ReplyDeleteSince then, I have noted that very few animals appreciate the sound of fireworks or thunder. I had a little luck with our last dog by spritzing lavender water on her fur, but it wasn't really a cure, just a little aid in helping her to calm a bit.
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