I've just come back from the park, and I am lucky to have our 6 month old puppy still with us!

Quite unexpectedly (it's only September) in the middle of our walk, a firework display started up in the distance (maybe 2 miles away).

The other dogs in the park went beserk...some of them ran towards the display barking, others ran to their owners and cowered, but our puppy just RAN for his life.

Recall didn't work. He was in a blind state of panic. We couldn't keep up as he ran off towards the exit.

Thankfully, I've made a few friends in the park over the last few months, and people helped me search. One of our friends, Steve, found Paddy across the road from the park hiding in someone's garden, shaking.

Just as he managed to get Paddy back, another round of fireworks went off and Paddy struggled to run again. Lucky for us, Steve jumped on top of Paddy and kept him still.

We were relieved and grateful to see Paddy and Steve come back through the gates.

We immediately put the leash on Paddy and went back to the other dogs and people to "sit out" the display in a calm manner so that Paddy can learn not to be afraid.

But seriously, let our potentially fatal mishap help others here learn with their new dogs that you cannot predict when people will let fireworks off.

Now is the time to start de-sensitizing new dogs to the sound and sight of fireworks.

I plan to get Firework displays on YouTube and play them with a loud volume quite frequently over the next few days to get Paddy used to them, and then later this week I will start setting off small fireworks at the bottom of the garden.

I hope to teach Paddy to get used to the sounds and control his anxiety, or even "sit" at the sound of unexpected fireworks when we are out, so that I have time to get to him and attach the leash.

I never want him to run off in panic like that again!

Any tips from the more experienced owners would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Chris.

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Looking for puppy or dog training classes in the Liverpool area?

This is where I take Paddy - Kennel Club Good Citizen Awards, Puppy and Dog Training Classes Liverpool

To add to this (bloody fireworks are a pain in the arse at the best of times) Fireworks can contribute to a dog bloating due to stress!!!!

Fireworks should be banned. They serve no purpose whatsoever.

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Knacker Lacquer - Adds Luster To Your Cluster

Sorry if I sound joyless but I hate fireworks & think they should be banned, horrible noisy pointless things that any old idiots can get hold of

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TBH I work with my dogs a few weeks prior to the dreaded 5th and they are not too bad IAH!!! but yep! still think the damd things should be banned!

hi chris thanks for this, wouldnt think would have to think and start planning to get dogs used to fireworks in September,and i am soo glad that you got Paddy back and all is ok, well done for going back to listen to them in a safe way, this is a great way to get dogs used to them,

DT, thanks for the advice regarding bloat too.

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I can't stand fireworks. What's wrong with just lighting some sparklers? They look nice for a few seconds but I can think of others things to spend my money on! I think Blu will be terrified of them Cheeko isn't too bad but it's so hard to get him to do the toilet outside because everything he goes to.. bang. Sooner they ban them the better!

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Even some gun dog's are scared of firework's. Mine are fine Will have to wait and see about Badger though

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There was a case a while back when heather mills threw a massive birthday party and firework display for her five year old daughter!!! she never warned neighbours, their were horses that were spooked, and the next door neighbours WEIMARNAER ran off and they found him the next day in a hedge bottom! he had bloated and died!! OK we cannot blame HM for this!! but it is a well know fact that stree can cause bloat!
DT

You would laff at us if you saw what we did! and I ain't putting it on a public forum anyway!!! So don't bother with the bribes folks