Dog...Fireworks...Accidents in House

Jood10

Hi everyone!

Hope someone might be able to help me. So as we approach Halloween the bangers are getting more frequent. They started in our area about 3 weeks ago.

My girl is absolutely terrified but we seem to have made her more comfortable with some suggestions from our Vet....box behind the couch to hide in, feeding her earlier in the evening etc.

The problem now is she is too terrified to go out to pee and twice this week we've gotten up to a pee in the kitchen in the morning. This morning there was also a poo. This has NEVER happened before. She's not sick, is eating normally and seems her normal self during the day before the bangers start.

Any suggestions as to what we could do. There is no way she'll put her nose out the door after 6pm. I dont want to put down pee pads as I dont want this to become a habit!

I'm stumped....any suggestions welcome

the beer revolu

I thought this thread was going to be about accidentally blowing up pets with fireworks!

Glad to see it's not.
Sorry OP, I've nothing constructive to add.

smunchkins

I had a similar problem OP, but with mine she is not a big fan of rain.
I would suggest taking her out on her lead to do the business last thing at night. Even for 2 minutes. It sounds like you have a secure garden, but adding the lead, and walking round it with her gives the extra level of assurance and security she won't be left alone with nasty loud bangs (plus you can make sure to time it at a quieter time)
Lots of pats and lots of praise when she has gone, then immediately in to some warmth and comfort to reinforce it as a reward for being a good girl and going outside.

irishlady29

Definitely bring her out the back on the lead and when she goes give her a high value treat straight away. Have them in your pocket and be ready to reward her when she has gone.
It's an awful stressful time of year for pets and pet owners. Maybe introduce a crate to her...slowly...and when she's comfortable with it put her in it a night. That might not be a goer for this time round but might work in the future.

Bells21

I would definitely bring her out on a lead, have a listen out in the few mins before you go out to try to ensure that you're not going out in the middle of a flurry of them(obviously you can't guarantee that they're won't be any when you're out there).
Practice scattering bits of food (something smelly like bits of hotdog) in the grass and allowing her to search and sniff for them. Do this during the day when she's more comfortable and then begin coaxing her out with the promise of this game at night. It might distract her enough and encourage sniffing so she may well find the perfect spot to go in.
It's a horrible time of the year and people don't seem to realise the stress it causes animals and others.

Jood10

Thanks for the replies, bribed her to go out last night, I went with her, I think the problem might be that the bulb is gone in our back yard light so I shined the light off my phone and she was fine. Also no accidents this morning, along with fireworks I think she's afraid of the dark

Thanks for all your suggestions!