Fourth of July here in the US. It rained most of the day here, but let up after dinner. Now that it's legal in this state for individuals to have fireworks, one of the neighbors has given his own little show the past couple of years. Taenzer's fine with it--she barks, but she's fine--and I always thought Timber was, too, but last night he kept running into the living room, pausing in the door looking at me and panting, and then going back to the bedroom.
It finally dawned on me that the fireworks were upsetting him (my poor dogs, I'm so slow), so I went back to the bedroom and turned on both fans and the radio, and then sat on the bed and sang to him and played with his wubba and big shaky toy for about an hour.
I didn't have a thing to give him. Next year I'll have to try to remember to be stocked up on Rescue Remedy and melatonin. What I've read is that these kinds of phobias typically get worse as the dog ages, so while he was pretty much okay once I provided some cover and distraction this year, it's possible he'll be more upset and will need more help next year.
I think I'll have to get some different weights of bubble wrap, too, cause it's great for desensitization. If you take a length of the kind with the smallest bubbles and wring it like a washcloth, it sounds a lot like firecrackers, and the bigger bubbles and air packs--or even blowing up and popping a bag--sounds like cherry bombs and things. So it's something you can control and pair with great treats and games. I haven't had any bubble wrap lately--not having ordered anything but dog food for a long time--so we haven't done any "practicing." I didn't think we needed to. Poor Mr. T.
The nice thing about the rain was that it gave me an excuse to watch my new Doctor Who DVD (thanks to my brothers for the gift certificates) and knit. I did almost the whole leg of Nancy Bush's Elegant Socks (from the March/April 2002 issue; she used quiviut, I'm using AlpacaSox), which is a longer-than-normal (for me) 8 inches. With luck, I can turn the heel today and take it out to the van for van-knitting.
Will Taenzer and Timber make the Transformation
from hooligans to angelic Canine Good Citizens and Hall-of-Famers? Check on their progress here:
The Ts with part of the stash
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2 comments:
Poor Mr. T! Sam was afraid of any kind of popping sound. This year they had fireworks for the last whole week, yesterday was the worst. The air stank of burned fire works. I was thinking of Sam, that now he doesn't have to fear them anymore. Biko doesn't care whatsoever. But show her a sizzling skilett or the lawn mower and she's gone.
Poor Sam! You're right; now he's where he doesn't have to be afraid any more.
I don't blame Biko about the lawn mower--smart girl!--but that's funny about the skillet. :) Doesn't she know bacon comes out of sizzling skillets?
Someone let off 45 minutes worth of fireworks that boomed instead of popped last night, so we did a replay of the fans-loud radio-singing mom-favorite toys thing. Every time I thought it was safe to stop, they'd let off another batch. He'd cock an ear and the whites of his eyes would show, and I'd launch into another verse of "Little Puppy" (to the tune of "Rubber Ducky") or "I Love You a Bushel and a Peck." We got through it.
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