Hi pals, welcome to #LearnWithFlynn! Mum's aren't professionals so please seek advice from a prof if you need help with anything in this thread. Lots of us struggle with fireworks so let's talk about how to stay calm during skyboom season. 
Firstly, plan ahead. If you know there is a display near you, arrange for your humans to take you somewhere they can't be seen or heard. Join local community groups online, some people will put a warning out so pet owners can prepare. If at home, set the right environment...
Keeping lights on & curtains closed will help cover flashes. Make a safe place we can go where we won't be interfered with. Sometimes dogs want alone time, especially if scared. My safe place is my bed, which is a no-touch zone. Yours could be a crate covered in blankets, a comfy
Chair or any place you're happy. If you go to your safe place, humans can be on-hand to comfort you but shouldn't keep fussing, unless you show them that you want it. Music therapy is becoming a popular aid for stressed anipals, with shelters, vets and even K9 units using it!
Studies have shown classical music has a calming effect on both dogs and cats. If stressed or scared, put classical music on to help cover the bang sounds & calm you. Acupressure is also known to reduce stress & anxiety in dogs. Pressure wraps such as Thundershirts can be...
Bought from many pet shops or online. If you don't have a pressure wrap you can make 1 using a bandage or scarf. A dog's sense of smell is 40X stronger than humans, making aromatherapy an effective tool for canine care. Essential oils can be inhaled, applied topically or sprayed.
Mums use these in an oil burner. It contains relaxing smells, a few drops last ages and really calms me down.
Oils can be bought ready-made or diluted in a carrier oil (sweet almond, coconut, olive) before applying to ear flaps or under the chin. Dilution ratio depends on dog size & personal tolerance. Some are toxic to dogs & cats so always check & never apply neat or allow ingestion.
There are many sprays that can be used on beds, bandanas or direct to coat (if diluted). There are also plug-in diffusers that release aroma into the air at a steady rate. They can really help & smell lovely!
Post-stress, hormones can stay in the body for up to 72hrs so a dog may become trigger-stacked & react more readily. It's important to give us time without stressors so staying at home without a walk for 1 day could benefit us greatly. Try enrichment games for mental stimulation
We looked at enrichment in a previous thread which can be found using the LWF hashtag. A long-term way of dealing with stress & anxiety during skyboom season is desensitisation & counter conditioning. This takes a long time but teaches us fireworks aren't as scary as they seem
This involves playing firework sounds at a low volume whilst relaxed & SLOWLY increasing it, but never enough to get our attention. Once used to the noise, we get treats & toys! Over time we associate positive feelings with fireworks. Boom = ball, firework = food!
Finally, there are many products available to help us through firework season. Here are just a few. Thank you for listening, we really hope this helps. If you have any tips, please share with us using #LearnWithFlynn Stay safe, keep smiling, be kind pals 🐾🐾🐾
Resources & further reading:
battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog…
pethub.com/article/does-a….
dogsnaturallymagazine.com/essential-oils…
lifeforcepet.com/pages/carrier-…
whole-dog-journal.com/care/healing-o…
battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog…
pethub.com/article/does-a….
dogsnaturallymagazine.com/essential-oils…
lifeforcepet.com/pages/carrier-…
whole-dog-journal.com/care/healing-o…
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