This month’s blog is all about the up-and-coming firework season! The nights become darker and longer so we Brits light up the sky with massive loud bangs and fizzy whizzy lights. Who knows maybe we will appreciate the moment of firework light to be able to see in our homes if the supposed electricity cuts are happening this winter?
As fireworks and how they affect our dogs or any pets for that matter is a bit of a heated subject for some, I thought I’d start off to remind ourselves why we set them off throughout the winter period.
Diwali Diwali is an Indian festival that usually occurs between October and November depending on the position of the new moon. It is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika. This year the festival will take place from Sunday 23rd October to Thursday 27th October. The most important day of the festival falls on Monday 24th October. The lighting of fireworks is interpreted to ward off all evil spirits. The ritual may also be linked to the tradition of paying respect to ancestors. Diwali night’s lights and fireworks represent a celebratory and symbolic farewell to the departed ancestral souls.
Halloween This holiday although not as big as the USA, seems to be increasing in popularity with us in the UK. There is an ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain on November 1st (but celebrations would start off the evening before - the 31st of October) which is an important precursor to our Halloween as it is today. Samhain, meaning ‘end of summer’ was a pivotal time of year when the seasons changed but more importantly, observers believed the boundary between the living and the dead became rather thin, enabling them to contact the dead. Throughout the century All Hallows Eve as it was known was when pagan rituals of sacrifice and superstitious matchmaking opportunities were popular. But now a somewhat light-hearted take has been adopted for all to enjoy without any bloodshed or open portals to another world. Although fireworks are not historically known to be used as a celebration tool for this holiday, I think as it is so close to Fireworks Night, and they usually sit within the same school holiday period most people think ‘well why not.
Guys Fawkes Night I’ll admit we Brits are a little bit weird when it comes to Bonfire Night (I mean for a start we have 3 ways of saying the day). We essentially commemorate a failed assassination attempt from over 400 years ago. In 1605 on November 5th a man named Guy Fawkes and a group of radical English Catholics tried to kill King James I by blowing up Parliament’s House of Lords. Let’s be honest this plan seems rather tempting right now with our political situation hey?! It didn’t go to plan and all the conspirators were executed. So now we celebrate that those men were executed and that our King survived by burning effigies, lighting bonfires, and setting off fireworks. We also have a rhyme for it too. Remember remember the 5th of November, The Gunpowder Treason and Plot. See it's just weird when you try to explain it.
New Year’s Eve The earliest recorded festivities in honour of a new year’s arrival date back to ancient Babylon over 4,000 years ago. Since then, many civilisations have created sophisticated calendars where the new year coincided with an agricultural or astronomical event. The Romans came along with their 10-month calendar but found it fell out of sync with the sun. Julius Caesar consulted mathematicians and astronomers of his time to create the Julian calendar which closely resembles the modern Gregorian calendar we use today. In medieval Europe, Pope Gregory XIII re-established January 1st as New Year’s Day in 1582. Traditions all over the world to celebrate were mostly related to food, eating pork as pigs represent prosperity and progress, or ring-shaped cakes as a symbol that the year has come full circle. More common ways to celebrate now are with fireworks and singing ‘Auld Lang Syne.
When you break it down, all of these occasions deserve to be acknowledged or celebrated. However, you prepare your pets for that guaranteed night of unsettledness. But you get some people who set one off on a random Thursday in December at 5 pm. You can’t control that. What if your dog was doing his business at that precise moment in your garden? That might end up with them being anxious about relieving themselves for a few weeks/months. It's that aspect of fireworks that annoys me.
So below are some helpful tips to help relieve some anxiety in your dog over the next 4 months…..
· To start with if your pet becomes extremely stressed around loud noises or fireworks, speak to your vet. They may be able to prescribe some medication and/or recommend a pheromone diffuser to help.
· Walk your dogs earlier in the day. If they are used to an evening walk, it would be beneficial to head out early to avoid being outside when the fireworks start. Look into a dog walker if working hours depict your walk time.
· Play fireworks noises. If you’ve got a new puppy and are unsure how they will react get Alexa or YouTube to play some firework display noises in the evenings leading up to the events. This will help desensitise your puppy from the noise. This may help older dogs too but always keep an eye on their behaviour, and any signs of stress, reduce the volume or stop altogether.
· Create a den. Somewhere in the house where you can put some blankets, their favourite toys, food and water bowls but also allow them to exit the area freely. Their crate is always a good one, maybe move this into the lounge in the evening so your pet can sense you are near. Covering the crate in a blanket gives the dog that extra sense of protection. If you don’t use a crate then a corner of a room, under a chair, behind the sofa, under a desk or bed if space is appropriate.
· Close windows, blinds and curtains. This helps to muffle the sounds of fireworks. If you use a cat/dog flap – lock it so they can’t get out when in their fright mode.
· Turn up the volume of your tv or radio. This can cover the sound and create a distraction from fireworks but also the regularity of your programmes can reassure the dog that everything is ok. Playing classical music has been known to help calm pets as well.
· Stay home. If you know of local shows going on around your area, try to stay home whilst these are on. It's another way of reassuring your pet that everything is ok. Some extra cuddles and new treats will also keep them distracted. If you do go out during the nights of these events, you could come home to the destruction of items or defecation in areas. See if your local dog walker/sitter can be with your dog for the evening if needed.
· Stay calm. Dogs have a great way of sensing our emotions and atmospheres in different environments. Although you may know that the fireworks are going to happen, try not to let it show and portray a regular relaxing evening ahead.
I hope these tips help!
Lydia x
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