Am I being unreasonable to feel a bit cross that my neighbours suddenly let off a load of fireworks in their garden yesterday evening, whilst Truffle and I were out there for a wee?! She coped ok with the Roman Candle, but the crackly silver rain made her ears go flat and she had a gallop round me before I could treat her and whisk her inside. They were about 5 metres away from us, fairly visible through the fence! Very glad we've been practicing our Dogs Trust fireworks noises, I feel it stood us in good stead, and we'd got it up to fairly loud yesterday morning. I just feel that they could have warned me (they have met the puppy, and it's a week before I would expect them). Rant over!
Yes I do feel that's unreasonable not to have let you know but thanks to your ground work with fireworks Truffle coped so well done. Keep going with the noises as they will ramp up the fireworks in the next week. I have never had an issue with my dogs and fireworks, they watch them from the windows when and never make a sound, I never react to anything just stay quiet and it's done the trick. I do however know dogs that are nervous wrecks including a working Collie in our village that destroyed his outside kennell to escape as he was terrified, he ran away due to fireworks, thankfully he was found but quite a way from home in the dark, poor boy horses have been injured here too. I dislike them and think they should just be used at organised displays.
I personally love fireworks.... but they can cause a lot of stress and upset. At least dogs can be safe and sound indoors, but when we had horses it was a big worry. We'll keep going with the noises this week, then any more surprises shouldn't be too bad. Couldn't be worse than having one let off practically next to your puppy anyway!
I'm like @Trufflepup I personally like fireworks, but I know the upset and worry they can cause. I've been playing the firework desensitizing noises to Bailey for a couple of months now and he really doesn't pay any attention to them at all. Last night while out in the garden with the OH a couple of fireworks went over the house (from somewhere across the road) and he sat watching them - apparently very unimpressed. OH just ignored them but didn't stay outside long once the fireworks started (they usually horse around together when they are out there) Bailey seemed fine with them. This is the dog, however, that has burst balloons since tiny and the only thing that makes him unsettled has been the first time our gas fire was lit - and he's settling down with that now (although still sits gazing at it when its lit). Can't say I'd be impressed if my neighbours had a firework party without warning though, especially as they know you have a new pup...hope Truffle is OK now.
On a serious note, I'd say be very careful with balloons. I've heard of horrific stories of babies biting them, the balloon popping and the baby inhaling the rubber, which then suffocates them, as it forms a valve in their throats. It may be apocryphal but it scares me nonetheless!
I always equate clocks going back with the start of fireworks season. I'd be a bit annoyed with neighbours setting them off without checking first even if we didn't have a puppy, but then our gardens are quite small. There were some fireworks at the weekend, not that close though, and Scully didn't bat an eyelash. She's sat through plenty of Xbox shooting so she probably thinks it's just a game. At the vet's puppy party they did suggest it was a good age for them to be first exposed to fireworks noises.
We have always watched him very carefully and still do with balloons - however he has a method that is now more popping them with his paws rather than his mouth - his last balloon he somehow carries very gently in his mouth by the tie and then throws it in the air and leaps on it.
I live in suburban London and the houses are very close together - my closest neighbours will usually tell me if they are planning a big, late, party or something (and often invite us, which is nice), but that's about it. I don't expect everyone on the street I live in (and the street behind my house with gardens backing onto mine) to tell me if they are going to let off fireworks. My garden is surrounded on all sides by other gardens, and I think if people told me when they were having fireworks, I'd just get piles of notes through my door. I suppose that's London for you.... Next-door set off fireworks last night. Betsy jumped at the first massively loud bang, and ran and sat in the log store. Both Charlie and I looked at her in very genuine surprise (since she had done her full programme before she was 4 months old of noise CD, party poppers, balloons, starting pistol, dummy launcher and shot guns plus already watched a full firework display in Cornwall last summer), and she came back looking a bit embarrassed and then that was that, she was fine and ignored the rest of the fireworks. She does that when she sees a fox too. Obviously doesn't like unexpected stuff in her garden, doesn't Betsy.
Your neighbours, most likely, just didn't think. I'd go over and ask politely, that they let you know if they are going to set off fireworks, and explain your dogs reaction.
I agree. It probably didn't cross their minds, so having a quiet word to ask if they can give you some prior warning next time is probably the way to go. I'm sure they don't want your pup to be scared.
I'm sure they just didn't remember about puppy and fireworks in the midst of their party. To be fair, my children were hanging off the trampoline watching and screaming with delight, and the neighbours behind us had a big bonfire going, so it was a fairly raucous party night all round. Truffle coped, so that's the main thing, and she'll probably end up being bombproof at this rate She loved answering the door to all the dressed- up children last night, never batted an eyelid at the masks
Hopefully she will not be too bad as she is only little, we are the same with Rolo he doesn't seem TOO phased yet however I expect the intensity to ramp up this week now Halloween is over. Rolo came trick or treating with me and my little brother. He loved nocking at houses and getting attention!
