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Firework Fright – Creating a Safe Place to Hide

At times of high anxiety and fear the urge is strong to find somewhere to hide away; for cats it’s somewhere up high, like the tops of wardrobes or kitchen cupboards, but for dogs it’s in small dark places, like behind the sofa, under a table or squeezed into that impossible place under the chest of drawers (how do they make themselves so small?).

Our job is to make this job a little easier for them and this week I’d like you to think about where their safe place or den might be, and to make it a reality for them. The considerations are these –

* Away from the main footfall in the house (avoid corridors, doorways, children’s toyboxes, etc) so a little used corner can be good

* Somewhere easy to cover up – I use a crate, but a table can be utilised, or behind a sofa;

* Away from a window to help minimise the amount of sound and the flashing reaching your dog;

* Away from the temptation of householders to peek into the den and check on the dog (especially children) – eye-contact and the importance of avoiding it at times of stress is covered in a later post.

*Somewhere that your dog is able to snuggle their back into at least two sides; this reduces their sense of vulnerability.

 

Once you have your location identified, it’s time to turn it into their safe and comfortable place.

*Place something soft on the ground (we have an old sofa cushion – the one which survived a naughty lurcher).

*Roll up an old blanket to create a nesting area; some dogs like it partially rolled and partially flat so that they can dig it into the shape they prefer.

*Find an old duvet – larger the better – and cover the whole area; if it’s a crate, ensure that it drapes over all of the sides and over the front too. No gaps, except at the entrance which you can find a way of propping it open, then when they are in residence you can quietly drop it down to give them a safe enclosure, but you also need to ensure that they can breathe. When it’s time for them to come out they will just push the duvet with their nose and come out (remember to prop it open again once they are out so they can return as and when necessary).

The duvet serves a multiple purpose – it muffles any sound; it blocks out the flashes (which is why it’s important to check it’s completely covered); it creates warmth – the body temperature can drop with fear; it prevents any other stimuli which could be disturbing – like eye-contact or visual cues from the handler.

*Some dogs are able to chew when they are coming down from a period of anxiety, and it can help them calm, so consider getting a Kong, smearing something like peanut butter or Primula cheese (any squeezy cheese is good) on the inside, and popping it into the den when the fireworks are due to start. This should be the only visit you make to the den when your dog is in there.

If you are using a crate for their den, it’s important to leave the door open to ensure the dog is able to move around and find another safe place if this one feels unsafe in any way. If they feel trapped it will increase their anxiety levels to unacceptable levels. Let them move around unencumbered and without eye-contact. If they move somewhere else, so long as it’s safe for them to stay there, leave them there (Meg used to disappear behind the TV and was in danger of pulling the set down on her once so we had to encourage her to move somewhere else – a challenging task when she transformed into a snarling mass of teeth and fur).

HOUSE RULES WHEN YOUR DOG IS IN THE DEN

1. DO NOT DISTURB THEM.

 

Happy den hunting.

Rachael

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Meg has something on her mind

Meg just loves getting her feet wet :-b

Meg just loves getting her feet wet :-b

Rachael’s post about Meg on Facebook recently:

Watching my beloved Meg get older (13 in November) is one of the tougher things I have to do. At the same point in my other animal’s lives I have established their ‘signal’ for when they are ready to leave and yesterday I asked her The Question.

Meg’s answer was simple; she just wants me there by her side.

Her mobility has been much improved since having McTimoney chiropractic but she’s clearly been bothered by something else. During our communication yesterday she went into a very deep sleep once she’d told me what was on her mind and has been much more her old self since.

What was bothering her? The thought of being left behind during holidays. She wants to come too.

The sense of relief for both of us is huge. Knowing the one you love is happy has more value than value itself.

I love you Meg. You are such a special being in my life; I hope we can make the most if the time we have, whether it’s long or short.

As a sort of bystander, watching Rach and Meg interact is pretty amazing on a number of levels.

For a start, I feel very privileged to have been ‘let in’ because their relationship is so obviously close and longstanding but mainly they do really communicate in a way I am not familiar with.

OK, I talk to Meg (everybody talks to their dog don’t they?) and occasionally I can sort of guess what’s she is willing or not so willing to do but Rachael clearly communicates with Meg, sometimes by herself and sometimes with the assistance of others. Her insights are … err … well, insightful! Not just like you may expect a dog to sometimes gives a different and surprising perspective of what is going on from 18 inches above the ground.

Sometimes I could say it is in a childlike way but that doesn’t demean the validity of her perception because by childlike I mean simple, uncomplicated and sometimes uncomfortably direct! You know, just like on the bus when your kid says, “Look at that fat woman’s funny hat!”

The other thing obvious about their relationship that has elevated me into my own higher level of thinking, is their honesty. Rachael’s post on her FB account shows exactly the sort of honesty I mean – it is open, truthful, necessary and above all else kind.

Her words created an interesting amount of thinking and contributions from some of her friends and even allowed some to also look at their animal relationships in a more open way, especially about, ‘The Question’.

Speaking honestly here … I not quite ready for that Question yet but I know I have people-people and doggy-people around me that will offer me help when I become more ready. At the moment I’m at the stage where I can take pictures that sometimes capture some precious moments, but I do find it difficult to look at them.

I have a lovely family.

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Meg’s gone camping!

"How does one get some food around here?"

“I say, how does one get some grub around here?”

Ever patient, our Meg is making it obvious that she’s next in line for the distribution of any leftovers.

She has always been an outside dog but ever since moving to Leeds opportunities for a bit of free roaming are few and far between … there are just too many potentially dangerous distractions and places to get stuck or lost which is a problem with all suburban living.

Here natural state though is as, I suppose, the natural state of all dogs since they first domesticated us humans and got us to feed and tend to them in exchange for a few scraps and the occasional woof at a passing stranger.

Meg’s favourite quote is, “woof”!

For those that don’t know, our Meggie is a springer collie cross (a sprollie) and is the ‘Me’ of Mekuti. She is also the reason why this all started … err … she has ‘issues’! More of that another time.

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The Mekuti Calming Band

Mekuti-Calming-Band-on-Mutley01

The  Calming Band is for outdoor and indoor use but is particularly useful on holiday when we are in strange and unfamiliar surroundings.

With our Mutley, it helps to reduce excessive barking and stress by making gentle contact around the muzzle without actually restricting any movement, which means he is still able to drink, eat and pant.

It has a noticeable calming effect and is perfect for journeys, on walks or just sitting outside a pub especially when other dogs are around.

It’s most noticeable and really useful effect is stopping him from going ‘into the zone’ where nothing at all gets in and we can’t get his attention.

We also use it with Meg when we get visitors to the house, again it helps her to avoid getting into the zone and helps her calm down much easier with a lot less barking on the way.

Got to be honest, it’s not their most favourite thing in the world and they sometimes try and rub it off so sometimes loosening it a slight amount, a few warm encouraging words and a gentle stroke helps.

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The Mekuti Balance Harness

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Mekuti Balance Harness

The Mekuti Balance Harness with double-ended lead gently and effectively helps your dog to stop pulling so you can enjoy your walks!

The harness is suitable for all breeds and fully adjustable, ensuring a comfortable fit.

You use the lead to alternate and release any tension between the side and back of the harness adjusting the dog’s balance so there is nothing to pull against and the ‘opposition reflex’ is not triggered.

These two points of connection allow effective influence, communication and control of your dog without pressure on the neck, the face or the spine.