Dog is afraid of New Year's Eve? (7 tips that help)
- Claudia Weise
- Updated: 29 January, 2023
The turn of the year means pure fear and stress for many dogs: noise, flashes of light, smells... For anxious dogs, the night from December 31 to January 1 is a nightmare. We give you 7 helpful tips for a relaxed New Year's Eve with your furry nose.
The banging often begins one or two days before New Year's Eve and often continues for several days after the New Year. To be on the safe side, when walking, use a drag leash. This is true even if your dog responds excellently to recall in everyday life. Better safe than sorry.
Suddenly igniting rockets and firecrackers panic many a four-legged friend. This can lead to your pet breaking free from its collar or harness and running away. On New Year's Eve, the danger of escape is great.
Here helps a Safety harness. It has an additional strap and prevents breakout.
Be sure to let your dog chip and remember to use it afterwards at register. Should your four-legged friend escape despite all precautions, the microchip helps to find him again.
How you can tell your dog is scared?
Not sure if your dog will be scared of the loud noises, smells and light effects on New Year's Eve?
These signs will tell you that your pet is scared:
- These signs will tell you that your pet is scared:
- Your four-legged friend puts on his ears.
- His pupils are dilated.
- Your furry nose is panting.
- Your dog is shaking.
- He hides (in the closet, under the bed, under the table, in the basement, etc.).
- Your darling barks incessantly.
- Your four-legged friend pees in his basket.
- His posture is crouched, tail tucked.
New Year's Eve vacation with dog: Where little firecrackers
There are places where fireworks and firecrackers are banned on New Year's Eve because of the increased risk of fire, or at least where there is little banging.
Maybe a New Year's Eve vacation with your dog is an option for you.
German islands
How about a short vacation on a German island?
- Prohibited fireworks on the North Frisian island Amrum and the Hallig Oland.
- At Föhr firecrackers and rockets are only allowed on the Wyk harbor beach.
- Sylt only allows professional fireworks in selected locations (Hörnum).
So there it is relatively easy to escape the New Year's Eve hustle and bustle and noise.
Historic downtowns
Fireworks and firecrackers are generally prohibited in historic city centers. This serves the Protection of old, often lovingly restored half-timbered houses.
However, the ban usually applies only to selected areas of the city. An insider tip here is the Vacation with dog in Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Franconia.
National Parks
A national park like the Harz Mountains is also ideal for a relaxing vacation with your four-legged friend on New Year's Eve an. Fireworks are prohibited there. The beautiful landscape invites you to take long walks with your furry friend.
However, the ban does not apply in the surrounding towns. The closer to the forest your vacation accommodation is, the more likely it is that the burning of fireworks is prohibited.
National parks without fireworks:
- Bavarian Forest
- Hainich
- Resin
- Lüneburg Heath
- Müritz
- Lower Saxony Wadden Sea
- Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea
- Lower Oder Valley
7 tips for New Year's Eve
If - as in times like Corona - a vacation with your dog is out of the question, just make yourself comfortable at home. Good preparation will help you spend New Year's Eve relaxed.
Adjust 1. walk round
It's best to go for a long walk in the forest or in a field outside the city in the morning when it's still relatively quiet. You should also keep this in mind:
- To be on the safe side, keep your dog on a leash, even if he hears very well.
- If your dog gets scared because there is a bang somewhere, he may get scared and run away.
- Exercise dog on the drag line with games, such as fetch games
- In the late afternoon or early evening, when there is less banging in your area, take small walks.
- If possible, walk your dog again before the new year, but only if you do not have a lot of banging in that time.
will. - Alternatively, go out again at night with your furry nose.
Some dogs do not want to go out on New Year's Eve and prefer to "hold out" for a few hours longer. Do not force him to go out, but offer it to your darling. He should then decide for himself.
2. train sound sensitivity
It's best to start preparing for the turn of the year as early as possible: There are recordings on YouTube with typical New Year's Eve sounds and fireworks. The trade has various CDs with corresponding sounds ready.
- Play the New Year's Eve noise - at first at a reduced volume - while your dog is relaxed. This can happen while he is eating, playing or cuddling. In this way, you associate the sounds with positive experiences.
- Increase the volume continuously until you reach a realistic volume. Take your time with it! This can happen over weeks or months. Your dog should learn that these sounds are not threatening.
- It is important that you change rooms and times of day during this desensitization. For example, if you always play the sounds in the living room in the evening, your pet will associate them with that place and time. If they occur elsewhere or at other times, your furry friend may continue to react with fear.
- Play the sounds at least once a day. The goal is to integrate them into your everyday life.
Your dog gets used to the noise this way. But on New Year's Eve, there are additional smells and flashes of light. For this we have extra tips up our sleeves.
3. stay calm
Your dog is oriented to you. Convey to your four-legged friend that everything is okay. The best way to do that is to be calm and collected. If you behave as you always do, it will give your furry friend a feeling of security.
If you continuously comfort your darling ("Oh, poor you, that's bad too..."), you reinforce his fear.
When your dog seeks your proximity, feel free to let him snuggle up to you. That gives him security. But avoid confirming his fear, because this will make the situation worse for your darling.
4. offer possibility of retreat
Don't leave your four-legged friend home alone on New Year's Eve. Your presence gives your dog security. Offer him a Hiding place to which he can retreat. A dog crate with his favorite blanket is ideal.
- Shield your four-legged friend as much as possible from noise and visual impressions:
- Close the windows.
- Lower the shutters or draw the curtains in front of the windows.
- Familiar noises like the TV on normal volume show your furry nose that everything is as usual.
5. distract your furry nose
Keeping busy will take your dog's mind off things. Try intelligence toys or keep him busy with snack balls or finding treats.
You can also repeat familiar exercises with him and reward him when everything has gone well. Make sure that he concentrates fully on you.
6. dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies and medicines for relaxation.
Talk to your veterinarian or your animal health practitioner about what options are available specifically for your dog. Among other things there are Rescue drops, CBD oil and tablets with special amino acids, that can alleviate stress and calm your dog.
Alternatively, you can use fragrances. Pheromones are scents that puppies know from their mother. These scents are perceived by dogs as soothing. You can get them, among other things, in the form of vaporizers (Feliway, Adaptil) for the socket.
It is best to use them at least 14 days before New Year's Eve.
7. use relaxation music
Dogs relax to the sounds of quiet classical music. You can find suitable pieces, for example by Mozart, for free on YouTube.
Alternatively, there is in the trade the so-called "RelaxoPet' or 'RelaxoDog": The small device generates sound waves that can have a calming effect on the fur noses during thunderstorms, fireworks or while traveling.
Conclusion
There are many ways to help your furry friend celebrate the new year. The most effective way is to desensitize your dog and get him used to loud noises.
In the house, you can also do a few things to protect your dog from noise and light effects.
If all these measures have no effect, retreat with your four-legged friend over the turn of the year to a place where there is little banging. Rural areas, historic city centers or a short vacation on a German island are all possible options.
I am an editor at hundeo and when it comes to dogs, my heart beats faster. My goal is to publish the best dog guides on the web. There is a lot of passion in every article and I am happy about every feedback to constantly improve our content.
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