hodge911 Posted November 6 Report Share Posted November 6 I'm fuming to say the least !! My little 15 month old cocker bitch was coming along nicely (not as fast as some people bring them on but due to being carer for my wife I haven't got the spare time I used to have) had her up to the clay ground twice a week with her in cage in boot while I sit and talk to her for a while before putting her on lead and walking her around car park while guns going off in distance and week by week working a little closer to the guns . She was doing great even taking her into the woods that border the car park and letting her work the rough again coming along fine . Until Sunday night gone , she wanted to go out for toilet and just as she squatted the rectum at the top of my garden set off one the flipping loudest rockets exploding above our house and scaring the little girl to death . She ran indoors tail tucked VERY TIGHTLY and would not settle for rest of the night . Panting like she'd just ran a marathon trying to get into any small space ect and shaking like rampant rabbit . I covered her cage over put a couple of extra blankets in and tried to settle her in there but no avail. Has been the same ate every flipping firework or bang noise since. Last night it took 15mg of diazapam to calm her enough to stop pacing the floor. And the rectum has jus gone and set another 2 off . Now I'm a bit concerned it may have spoiled her. Any advice opinions moe than welcome 🙏 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted November 7 Report Share Posted November 7 Not the advice you are probably looking for but... Fire works are louder and more 'noisey' than gunshots as they also give off shrieks and squeals that we cannot hear but dogs and cats can and why they find them so off putting. Young dogs need to learn to ignore the increasing noise and bangs and best way, is to have them that interested in working/playing, so they think about nothing else. Perhaps being of a sensitive disposition she should have been introduced to loud unexpected noises from 3 months and guns shots from 6 months, i fear your are 9 months too late into getting her accustomed to loud and unexpected bangs. She should have been comfortable sitting directly behind clay stands at 9 months watching what was going on. If she is having panic attacks and you are giving her diazapam (vet prescribed i presume?) you are already defeated for close range but she may still work as a beating dog or picker up where there is some distance to the guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted November 7 Report Share Posted November 7 the sandwich thief panics and pants with fireworks yet fine when shooting no idea how she’d knows the difference would wait until your next outing at clay ground before worrying your pup might be the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted November 7 Report Share Posted November 7 I’ve got one that hates fireworks he’s also not very good with thunderstorms however on a shoot day totally different works picking up and beating stands on peg steady and keen to work so don’t be disheartened and please remember when you take pup to the clay ground next if you’re anxious pup will be so go expecting it to be normal just a walk in the park Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agriv8 Posted November 7 Report Share Posted November 7 Yep spanner spaniel are loons love mine to bits. see how she is next time you go to the clay ground lots of treats cuddles and encouragement if she retrieves play the game they love it. If not get them hunting the biscuits in the grass ! as above they pick up your mood ! Mines gone back to wanting to walk around in circles when she’s picked up a pheasant! have you tried treating her every time a fireworks goes off even if it a cuddle on your knee ? Agriv8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted November 7 Author Report Share Posted November 7 20 hours ago, Stonepark said: Not the advice you are probably looking for but... Fire works are louder and more 'noisey' than gunshots as they also give off shrieks and squeals that we cannot hear but dogs and cats can and why they find them so off putting. Young dogs need to learn to ignore the increasing noise and bangs and best way, is to have them that interested in working/playing, so they think about nothing else. Perhaps being of a sensitive disposition she should have been introduced to loud unexpected noises from 3 months and guns shots from 6 months, i fear your are 9 months too late into getting her accustomed to loud and unexpected bangs. She should have been comfortable sitting directly behind clay stands at 9 months watching what was going on. If she is having panic attacks and you are giving her diazapam (vet prescribed i presume?) you are already defeated for close range but she may still work as a beating dog or picker up where there is some distance to the guns. Sorry I didn't go into much depth while writing my o.p. probably because I was fuming 😤. I've been taking her to tbe clay ground since she was around 6 months old . I can sit with her about 12ft away from stands and she doesn't hopefully didn't flinch . And while having her in the woods it was as if the guns weren't there she was totally fixed on doing as I asked her to. It was just very unnerving seeing how scared she was of the bloody firework and how long it took to settle her 3 hours ago, Old farrier said: I’ve got one that hates fireworks he’s also not very good with thunderstorms however on a shoot day totally different works picking up and beating stands on peg steady and keen to work so don’t be disheartened and please remember when you take pup to the clay ground next if you’re anxious pup will be so go expecting it to be normal just a walk in the park 2 hours ago, Agriv8 said: Yep spanner spaniel are loons love mine to bits. see how she is next time you go to the clay ground lots of treats cuddles and encouragement if she retrieves play the game they love it. If not get them hunting the biscuits in the grass ! as above they pick up your mood ! Mines gone back to wanting to walk around in circles when she’s picked up a pheasant! have you tried treating her every time a fireworks goes off even if it a cuddle on your knee ? Agriv8 Thanks for taking time to reply .I'll update once I've had her back to clay grounds next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miserableolgit Posted November 7 Report Share Posted November 7 I have had more than one dog that took exception to the sound various fireworks make but were fine with the sound of gunfire as they had been carefully introduced to the latter under controlled conditions when young then exposed to them on a regular basis whereas fireworks tend to be random and therefore not easy to introduce. Years ago my approach was to use a fireworks sound effects recording played over and over at a very, very low volume while reassuring / occasional treat / playing with the dog at the same time. Short periods at first but gradually building up so that it becomes just a normal background noise. Gradually increase the volume very slowly as the days pass. Acclimatisation, praise, reassurance, distraction etc. Take it slow, very slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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