Is your dog or cat afraid of fireworks? We are here to help you and give you and your four-legged friend a better New year’s eve! Not only with our Prins Resist food, but also with tips and tricks. In this article we discuss fireworktraining and medication.

CD with sounds

To get your animal used to the sound of fireworks, you can train with special CD’s that contain the sound of fireworks. However, this training requires a very careful construction and can be different for every animal in the family! So don't turn the volume up too fast! In addition, practical situations with fireworks, with flashes of light, air pressure and the smell of gunpowder, can hardly be imitated.

Be careful with medication

It seems so easy: just put a pill in your dog or cat against his fear of fireworks, but be very careful with medication and always consult a veterinarian. You don't want your animal to turn into a limp doll that can't physically react anymore, but still is terrified.

The danger of group training

Some dog schools offer fireworktraining. The disadvantage of these training is often that they are given collectively, while (preventing) noise anxiety requires a very individual approach and customization, preferably one-on-one with a trainer/coach. It’s possible that your dog will react much faster than another dogs in the group. Once a dog in a group gets scared, that fear can easily be passed on to the other dogs. In addition, some breeds are (much) more sound sensitive than others. They benefit from a separate guidance anyway.

Tips from dog behaviorist Arvid van Putten

Dog coach Arvid van Putten treats more than a hundred problem dogs every year and gives workshops all over the country. On his website he gives advice about training your dog for loud sounds. There are also many people who have good experiences with the Thundershirt, a kind of dog or cat shirt that supports the nervous system with a soft, constant pressure, which calms down the animal. According to the manufacturer, the Thundershirt works in 85 percent of the cases and there is a money back guarantee.

Don't forget the cat!

Cats may not show it so clearly, but they too can be afraid of (the sound of) fireworks. Keep that in mind when training with your dog! Is your cat extremely scared and do you think your cat could use some help? Call in a cat behavioral expert in time for tailored advice.

Feliway: a safe smell for your cat

The world of the cat consists mainly of smells, and you can use that if you want to calm your cat down. A good way to give your cat a soothing scent message is the Feliway vaporizer. This contains a synthetic variant of the cat's facial pheromones (smell hormones). By hanging a Feliway vaporizer in your home, you give your cat the message 'It's safe here'. A vaporizer should be plugged in at least two weeks in advance, until one week after New Year’s Eve. The vaporizer is available in pet stores and at some veterinarians.

Share your experiences

We are looking forward to hear about your experiences. Do you have any tips or tricks that can help others? Share it with us! Do you have other questions about the nutrition, care or upbringing of your dog or cat? Please contact the Prins CareTeam.

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Annerike from the CareTeam

Questions about your pet's behaviour? The CareTeam loves to help you with free advice!