Many dogs are very anxious about the New Year and its gunpowder and bullets. This means that New Year's Eve can be quite an ordeal for the dog owner to get through.
Here you will get behaviorist Merethe Børgart Olesen's best advice on what you can do to reduce the discomfort for the dog, and try to get through the New Year in the best possible way.
If you have a dog who is very afraid of fireworks, it is a really good idea to consult your veterinarian about something relaxing.
Just remember it should be relaxing for both the muscles and the head.
It's not enough, it's just the body that's paralyzed, but the senses are fully functioning, then it gets even worse. To experience the dangerous, but be unable to move. It requires that you as a dog owner, prepare thoroughly BEFORE the evening starts, and make sure that the dog is walked and has been allowed to become mentally tired - but different activities BEFORE it gets something calming to relax on.
Remember, of course, that this must be given BEFORE the dog starts to become restless and anxious – i.e. before the tag falls on and the first gunpowder is fired.
Another option is of course to rent a summer house far away from others and spend New Year's Eve in peace and quiet.
The scared dog
If the dog is really scared, it is best to provide good mental activation so that there is a certain amount of fatigue, and then otherwise find a room where it is dark and the sound does not come directly in. Some dogs prefer to have company - without being petted - others are fine in their own company as long as they can hear you are nearby. It depends on the individual dog, but think about it, it is about reducing the light impression and reducing the sound of cannon fire and the hissing sound that rockets can make.
DO NOT go out.
It's a really bad idea to take the dog outside so it can see what's happening - they can't understand it, and even though it may seem like they can handle it, my experience is that it gets 100 times worse the following year - SO DON'T... leave the dog inside.
And of course, NEVER leave your dog home alone for New Year's!!!!!!
Unsafe dog
If the dog is only a little insecure and still approachable, it can be beneficial to help it through the New Year with a little "support wheel" so that it is not experienced too badly, and there is still the possibility of making it a good experience.
At the same time, you make sure the dog is mentally active - as this also tires him out and means that his attention is not 100% on the sound.
Support wheels
There are different things on the market, and it's a good idea to try them before New Year's Eve itself, so you know how the dog reacts and whether it has any effect at all.
Zylkene
Is a colostrum protein that is anxiety and stress-relieving. The product is 100% natural, and is sold over the counter at the pharmacy, some online stores and at the vet, and must be dosed at 15 mg per kg of body weight. The effect varies greatly, so start and test before New Year's Eve.
Bach flower remedies “rescue”
Is a natural medicine made from flower extracts that also reduces anxiety and stress. They can be bought in Matas and health food stores, and several places online. Here, the usual dose is four drops four times a day, but up to and on New Year's Eve, more is needed. Here, you can give four drops at five-minute intervals if necessary. They cannot be overdosed, in the worst case, they are simply ineffective.
Serene UM
Is relaxing and anxiety and stress-relieving, and made from herbs. Can be purchased through various dog stores and some veterinarians. Here you have to start first in December to get an effect by New Year. The dose here also depends on how much the dog weighs.
NeVet
Has the same effect as the above, and is also started before New Year's Eve itself. It is a combination of different herbs that reduce anxiety. So it also depends a bit on how troubled the dog is on New Year's Eve. They are sold in various online stores, and dog stores that have Gourmix food. They are produced by Vetcur.dk. The dose is weight-dependent, and is dosed with a certain number of ml, as it is an oil mixture.
Thundershirt
Is relatively new here. It is like a kind of dog coat that fits tightly in elastic fabric. It comes from the USA and has a calming and anxiety-relieving effect on dogs. It is made in different sizes, so that it fits in a certain way, and thus hits the points that are stress-relieving and give the dog security. They are sold through various dog stores and online.
DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone)
Is a comforting and calming pheromone. The bitch produces it when the puppies suckle, and that is the idea behind it. It is available as a spray, collar and for the socket. I have the best recommendations with a collar, since it is always close to the dog. These are sold through the vet and various online stores.
You can easily combine the different things, so a little time to try it out will be nice. Although the Thundershirt has good feedback, there may be dogs that don't like to be put on something, and then the effect disappears. It can be the same with a collar...
So choose according to your own gut feeling and look at your dog and see what he can enjoy the most.
My own best experiences are partly with Bach's flower remedies - I was able to reverse New Year's anxiety in my first Dalmatian, Nevil - it took a couple of New Year's Eves with four drops every 5 minutes - at the same time as INTENSIVE activation.
The best feedback from dog owners I advise is about Zylkéne – and some actually also choose to use regular infant formula – but the hit rate is clearly the best and highest…
Remember that dogs generally also react to flashes of light, so it might be a good idea to draw the curtains and have music on to muffle the sound.
Fortunately, the fireworks law has now been tightened, so fireworks can only be purchased from December 27th – this provides a little more peace in December than before – but of course it is difficult to completely avoid the New Year's noise.
But with good preparations from the dog owner, much can be done to get our furry friends into the new year in the best possible way.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
When the dog is terrified of New Year's
Many dogs are very anxious about the New Year and its gunpowder and bullets. This means that New Year's Eve can be quite an ordeal for the dog owner to get through.
Here you will get behaviorist Merethe Børgart Olesen's best advice on what you can do to reduce the discomfort for the dog, and try to get through the New Year in the best possible way.
If you have a dog who is very afraid of fireworks, it is a really good idea to consult your veterinarian about something relaxing.
Just remember it should be relaxing for both the muscles and the head.
It's not enough, it's just the body that's paralyzed, but the senses are fully functioning, then it gets even worse. To experience the dangerous, but be unable to move. It requires that you as a dog owner, prepare thoroughly BEFORE the evening starts, and make sure that the dog is walked and has been allowed to become mentally tired - but different activities BEFORE it gets something calming to relax on.
Remember, of course, that this must be given BEFORE the dog starts to become restless and anxious – i.e. before the tag falls on and the first gunpowder is fired.
Another option is of course to rent a summer house far away from others and spend New Year's Eve in peace and quiet.
The scared dog
If the dog is really scared, it is best to provide good mental activation so that there is a certain amount of fatigue, and then otherwise find a room where it is dark and the sound does not come directly in. Some dogs prefer to have company - without being petted - others are fine in their own company as long as they can hear you are nearby. It depends on the individual dog, but think about it, it is about reducing the light impression and reducing the sound of cannon fire and the hissing sound that rockets can make.
DO NOT go out.
It's a really bad idea to take the dog outside so it can see what's happening - they can't understand it, and even though it may seem like they can handle it, my experience is that it gets 100 times worse the following year - SO DON'T... leave the dog inside.
And of course, NEVER leave your dog home alone for New Year's!!!!!!
Unsafe dog
If the dog is only a little insecure and still approachable, it can be beneficial to help it through the New Year with a little "support wheel" so that it is not experienced too badly, and there is still the possibility of making it a good experience.
At the same time, you make sure the dog is mentally active - as this also tires him out and means that his attention is not 100% on the sound.
Support wheels
There are different things on the market, and it's a good idea to try them before New Year's Eve itself, so you know how the dog reacts and whether it has any effect at all.
Zylkene
Is a colostrum protein that is anxiety and stress-relieving. The product is 100% natural, and is sold over the counter at the pharmacy, some online stores and at the vet, and must be dosed at 15 mg per kg of body weight. The effect varies greatly, so start and test before New Year's Eve.
Bach flower remedies “rescue”
Is a natural medicine made from flower extracts that also reduces anxiety and stress. They can be bought in Matas and health food stores, and several places online. Here, the usual dose is four drops four times a day, but up to and on New Year's Eve, more is needed. Here, you can give four drops at five-minute intervals if necessary. They cannot be overdosed, in the worst case, they are simply ineffective.
Serene UM
Is relaxing and anxiety and stress-relieving, and made from herbs. Can be purchased through various dog stores and some veterinarians. Here you have to start first in December to get an effect by New Year. The dose here also depends on how much the dog weighs.
NeVet
Has the same effect as the above, and is also started before New Year's Eve itself. It is a combination of different herbs that reduce anxiety. So it also depends a bit on how troubled the dog is on New Year's Eve. They are sold in various online stores, and dog stores that have Gourmix food. They are produced by Vetcur.dk. The dose is weight-dependent, and is dosed with a certain number of ml, as it is an oil mixture.
Thundershirt
Is relatively new here. It is like a kind of dog coat that fits tightly in elastic fabric. It comes from the USA and has a calming and anxiety-relieving effect on dogs. It is made in different sizes, so that it fits in a certain way, and thus hits the points that are stress-relieving and give the dog security. They are sold through various dog stores and online.
DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone)
Is a comforting and calming pheromone. The bitch produces it when the puppies suckle, and that is the idea behind it. It is available as a spray, collar and for the socket. I have the best recommendations with a collar, since it is always close to the dog. These are sold through the vet and various online stores.
You can easily combine the different things, so a little time to try it out will be nice. Although the Thundershirt has good feedback, there may be dogs that don't like to be put on something, and then the effect disappears. It can be the same with a collar...
So choose according to your own gut feeling and look at your dog and see what he can enjoy the most.
My own best experiences are partly with Bach's flower remedies - I was able to reverse New Year's anxiety in my first Dalmatian, Nevil - it took a couple of New Year's Eves with four drops every 5 minutes - at the same time as INTENSIVE activation.
The best feedback from dog owners I advise is about Zylkéne – and some actually also choose to use regular infant formula – but the hit rate is clearly the best and highest…
Remember that dogs generally also react to flashes of light, so it might be a good idea to draw the curtains and have music on to muffle the sound.
Fortunately, the fireworks law has now been tightened, so fireworks can only be purchased from December 27th – this provides a little more peace in December than before – but of course it is difficult to completely avoid the New Year's noise.
But with good preparations from the dog owner, much can be done to get our furry friends into the new year in the best possible way.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!