Many people worry about how their pets will react to the upcoming firework season. Although some dogs do not seem to be too bothered, others become more and more terrified by the noises and flashes each year. My Labrador was so afraid of fireworks that he refused to leave the house after dark fell for the entire winter. I will now tell you how we got him to be cured. This training relies on noise association. A CD of scary sounds and firework sounds will be needed. geluiden waar honden op reageren You can find these CDs at many online stores (e-bay, for example). There are many CDs available. Look for CDs with names such as "Sounds Scary", Fear of Fireworks or "CLIX Sounds & Sounds". I used the CD "Sounds Scary" and plugged it into a socket in my training area.
Although this takes some patience, it is very effective. You adjust the volume on the CD player to barely make the music audible. Dogs have a more sensitive hearing so they can still hear the music. The curtains can be closed so that the room is darker but not too dark. You can play your dog with the DAP on and the CD playing. Keep it happy and excited. Give your pet a treat when it plays back. This will reward it for not worrying and playing. You should do this about once a day for around half an hour.
You would increase the volume on your CD player to a higher level and then repeat the same play pattern. The volume can be reduced if you begin to feel afraid. You might fill Kong toys with Kong Paste, soft cheese, or other goodies and let them play. This will make it easy to connect the reward and the firework sound. You can see the direction we are heading with this. Continue to make louder and more louder sounds until you have reached half of the maximum level you can tolerate. You can keep the noise level constant, but turn the DAP off during the next session. It is unlikely that you will notice any change in your behavior now.
This is the perfect time to get noisier. The maximum noise level for the next session may be increased to around 70%. Play and reward your pet. Your training should be completed within a week. Now, you should have programmed your dog so that he associates the loud noises from the CD with having fun or being rewarded. vuurwerkgeluiden hond