Dogs & Fireworks?

[QSnMe]

First trip to FTW next month. Traveling in a motorhome with a Golden Retriever that almost never barks. However he does have "thunder trauma" and associates fireworks with that. How loud are the nightly fireworks? Would I be better taking him off-site and is Downtown Disney far enough away?
Any info would be appreciated!

 

[stillh2o]

We have been to FW many if times with our Dogs and have never had a problem with them. FW is about 2 miles from MK fire works so the sound is not that loud. You can do want we do leave the TV or Radio on that should drowned out any of the Firework Noise. We leave a radio on all day to keep the dogs from barking at any of the campground noise. Hope this helps

 

[KristinU]

Has your dog ever been exposed to fireworks before? I'm guessing so because you mentioned that he associates them with thunder, but I thought I'd ask because we have a yellow lab who also is afraid of thunder (shakes pathetically and curls up in the tiniest ball in a corner of the basement way before a storm even hits us) but she has no problem at all with fireworks. She even stands on the patio every 4th while DH lights off some legal ones (I know, smaller than regular fireworks...)

We haven't stayed at FW before (hopefully we will next year!) so I'm no help with how close the MK fireworks are, but I'm guessing not too close.

DTD might be as close to some of the other parks' fireworks as FW is to MK.

Good luck!

 

[campingcorgi]

You can hear the fireworks throughout FW. but they sound more like distant thunder. Our camping corgi doesn't mind the fireworks (but he isn't so keen on some of these central Florida thunderstorms!!). I'd suggest leaving on a radio or tv and I bet your dog will be fine.

 

[QSnMe]

thanks for the suggestions - the radio might work, on July 4th, we had to go for a car ride since fireworks were 2 houses away, and the city display was a mile away (as the crow flys)! Last nite, Simba spent the nite in the shower - he likes to be in enclosed spaces, and I don't have a crate. He's gotten so destructive - digging and chewing - that you have to stay with him until he calms down. The things we do for our "kids".

 

[poohbearwithme]

Hi QSnMe,
I not trying to tell you how to keep your dog but this is just advice from experience...You really might consider getting a kennel (or putting him at the Disney kennels while you and your family are at the parks) for the motorhome. A destructive - digging and chewing dog can get pretty board during the day and take it out on your Moho. Not to mention the late afternoon Florida thunderstorms that can spring up anytime. Granted I don't know your dog so this is just an opinion only.

 

[FloridaTeacher]

We take both of our pups (bassett hound and yorkie) with us to Fort Wilderness. We actually upgraded from our 30 ft. fifth wheel to a 37 ft. motorhome so our bassett hound (who is getting up in years - he's about 9 and has back problems) would be more comfortable when we travel! Yep, we bought our dog a motorhome.

Anyway, Toby (the bassett hound) is terrified of thunder or bad weather of any kind. We too, leave the t.v. or radio on when we leave - it seems to pacify them. But the fireworks (he would also relate them to thunder) have never bothered him. We've stayed in loops 200, 400, 700, and 800. Loops 200, 400, and 700 are pretty close to the Settlement and Bay Lake; but the fireworks are so far away that there is very litte sound from them.

As far as the dogs destroying your motor home. No doubt some dogs will, we have been blessed with dogs who are not destructive. We leave out their toys and some food and they are very happy. Of course, most folks will already know if their dog is gonna destroy the place.

Our biggest problem is that they will whine and bark for about 15 minutes after we leave (we've actually timed it). After about 15 minutes they seem to figure out that we are actually not coming back and they quit. We do have to deal with doggie nose prints on the windshield as they like to hop up on the dash and look out - they even stick their heads through the curtain to look out.

They are spoiled completely rotten, just like our human kids!!

Back at the Fort October 7, 2006

 

[QSnMe]

Thanks for the help & suggestions! I swear the dog can hear thunder in Toledo (200 miles away!!). I've asked for loop 700, but won't know til we get there. I think I've got a "critter sitter" to cover the daytime t-storms, but I will also look at the Fort kennel if things don't work out. As long as the fireworks don't keep me (too) up at nite... - all that fresh air & sunshine will wipe me out! Looks like daily scattered showers are called for right now. Hoping for some fun in the sun!

QS (***********), me, DH, and Simba

 

[Charlotte&Carolina]

Just make sure your pet is inside during the fireworks with some background noise. I can hear the fireworks in loop 1600 - I know pets can hear better than me....but it is not as loud as being in the park or stay at the Contemporary.

To make a long story short we had 2 different "lost" dogs our last trip - both during the fireworks. The second one was obviously outside on a leash of some type and chewed through it. Not really sure if that was an all-day "I'm bored" thing or the little guy was frightened during the fireworks. I hated that both got loose at night because I worry about the traffic there and someone not seeing them. We had to call the 1-800 number on one tag, get that info, call the front desk, explain what happened, then they let me know the site the person was at.

I understand, believe me. I have a huge beautiful husky that is absolutely petrified of thunderstorms and fireworks. We've quit going out of town on July 4 and New Years just to keep her in the sunroom with the a/c on. She sleeps like a baby. (for those curious we have cats inside. She wants to eat them. Therefore she is limited to the sunroom!)

Take your baby. Just make sure she is occupied and has some id on her. We checked out the kennels just in case and the staff there was wonderful. You may look into that as well or we have a "pet sitter" that comes to our home while we are gone. No kennel, no travel stress. It has worked out great for us but the downside is I miss their companionship while I am gone and on the drive home can't wait to get here!

 

[disney's daughter]

I suppose many of you will disagree with me on this...but, we have three dogs...One German Short Hair Pointer (a hunting dog who lives in the house) and two schnauzers. We take our dogs every weekend in the spring and summer to our cottage...For three weeks in July...somebody is lighting off fire works...My dogs...and yes..even the hunting dog..(go figure) go absolutely nuts when the fireworks go off...I had tried everything...radio...putting them in their kennel..and even putting the kennels in a closet....I tried holding them..the whole entire time....the German Short Hair actually jumped on my lap and I even let her...Nothing worked....One of the dogs was panting so hard..I thought she would have a stroke....I felt awful for them...I asked the Vet for tranquilizers....I just couldn't take their stress any more....So...for three weekends straight...I give them a tranquilizer in the evening...It doesn't knock them completely out...just enough to take off the "edge"...and they are perfectly fine the next day...

 

[musicmama]

Our Bella (teacup chihuahua) has thunder trauma but does not associate this with fireworks. Good thing because from Memorial day to July 4th there are lots of firework displays in our neighborhood (I wouldn't call them public or legal, if you know what I mean). While we have to sedate her for storms, she is OK for fireworks. She came with us to Ft. W last Christmas and we kept the tv on for her while we were out. She never even noticed the firework noise, even on New Year's Eve (we stayed in to avoid crowds but DD and I went to MK the night before and DH said she still didn't notice then).

So, as several others have said, if you give your retriever some distractable noise such as radio or tv, he might not notice what's going on. (Fingers crossed for you!)