How to prepare your pet for Guy Fawkes

Guy Fawkes is a time of high stress for many pets (and their humans too). Guy Fawkes is just around the corner, which means fireworks, sparklers... and a whole lot of stressed-out pets. If your cat usually disappears under the bed or your dog spends the night glued to your side, experts say now's the time to start prepping. From creating a safe space to making sure their microchip details are up to date, here's how to help your pet survive fireworks season with less fear and more treats. 🐱🐶✨ Hit up our show sponsor - Animates for everything you need to relieve stress and anxiety in your pet. Noise phobias are among the most common behavioural issues I see. Typically, pets become phobic of things they weren’t exposed to positively during their formative period (around 8-16 weeks for dogs and 3-9 weeks for cats). Because fireworks are a rare event, many pets don’t get early exposure to these sounds, and when they do it’s not in the best way. As a result, it’s terrifying. This is also a time of increased risk to your pet. Dogs and cats can easily become lost or injured if they flee during a fireworks display. Head of animal management for Auckland Council, Elly Waitoa says, “We typically see extra dogs coming into our shelters around his time of year, with some escaping their properties when they become scared. Even dogs that usually stay close to home can bolt when startled.” Here’s what you can do over the next few days to prepare to support your pet. And join me in the comments with your questions about Guy Fawkes and vote in our poll. Sound desensitisation This is useful for preventing a phobia and for treating mild to moderate cases. Over the next few days, help your pet get used to the whizzes, bangs and pops. Search YouTube or Spotify for fireworks noises, and play them very quietly as you reward your pet with their absolute favourite treats. Gradually increase the volume over several sessions: if your pet is eating, they are coping. If they stop eating and are visibly stressed, go back a step or two. You want to work at a level where they notice the noise, but don’t react too seriously. Here’s what you can do over the next few days to prepare to support your pet. And join me in the comments with your questions about Guy Fawkes and vote in our poll. Make your pet findable Terrified pets are prone to bolting, and can easily become lost and confused. Of course the goal is to keep them safely contained in your home on Guy Fawkes night, but as back-up, ensure you can find them if they manage to escape (some pets will go to extreme lengths to do so). Ensure dogs are registered with the council and all pets’ microchip details are up to date; include your phone number on their collar; and consider a tracking device on the collar. Find your pet a confident friend If your dog has a close doggy pal that is unfazed by fireworks noise, bring that dog over to hang out on the night. The other dog’s confident attitude can support your dog to feel more at ease, and it’s a good distraction. Supervise the dogs, as fear can create unpredictable reactions. Source calming aids Certain products can work for some pets, such as pheromone diffusers (like Feliway and Adaptil), snug-fitting garments designed to reduce anxiety (like a ThunderShirt) or homeopathic remedies for mild cases. How to support your pet on Guy Fawkes night Safety first Bring dogs and cats inside in the afternoon, ensure doors and cat flaps are locked and every member of the household is careful not to let them out. Secure exterior gates too. Tire them out Take active dogs for a big walk early in the day and give cats an energetic play session. Offer brain work in the afternoon (puzzle feeders, a training session, scent games) as this is tiring and calming, and can help them relax come evening. Settle them in the safe zone and provide distractions As detailed above, set them up in their quiet room with curtains closed, a covered crate, familiar background noise and comforting scents. Offer plenty of distractions – favourite toys, chewy treats and play time with you. Don’t worry if they’re not interested or prefer to hide, that’s a natural reaction. Be a calm presence Stay home with anxious pets, keep your own energy relaxed and confident (they will take cues from you) and offer calm reassurance without overly fussing. Communicate with your body language and tone of voice that everything is okay, no big deal here. Never tell off or punish fearful pets and don’t drag them out of safe hiding places. For young pets For puppies and kittens, this is your chance to make their first exposure to fireworks a positive one (ideally they’ll have had some practice exposure through sound recordings beforehand). Pups under 4 months and kittens under 2 months are in a critical development period and are uniquely able to adjust to new experiences. Stay physically close to them on Guy Fawkes night, distract them with play, and keep up a steady stream of their favourite treats. Make fireworks a predictor of good stuff, not terror. This valuable lesson should be followed by controlled training sessions to consolidate their learning. Small pets like rabbits, guinea pigs and birds can also be brought inside to a quiet room or garage for the night, or have their hutch partially covered and extra bedding added for them to burrow into. I also recommend finding a safe and sheltered spot for big pets like horses, cows and sheep. Monitor horses and/or stable them if possible, as panic can send them into or over fences. Some preparatory training and management on the night can be the difference between trauma and tolerance for your pet. Best of luck! xx

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Article first published by NZ Herald and written by Mark Vette - an animal behaviourist, zoologist, trainer and founder of Dog Zen Virtual Training Schools. Republished here with permission + edits.

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