Hope y'all had a better 1 August than we did...

Looking ahead to next year to avoid a repeat of this year's horrors, I need to find someplace where we can take the dogs to avoid the fireworks (and the idiots re-enacting Appocalypse Now).

The obvious choices - France or Germany - are out, as Hooligan cannot leave Switzerland. (Which is why we are still here...) So - do any of you have recommendations for a 'fireworks-free zone' somewhere, anywhere, either a hotel or private rental, in Switzerland?

(I sense a business opportunity for those of you lucky enough to own an Alpenhütte ...)

Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

Can`t be worse then all the gun fire in the US

MC, so sorry about your experience.

No, it's much worse than the gun fire.

So last night, i gave Lily her milltown (meprobate) and put her thundershirt on her. I was worried she'd be hot but i had the fan on full blast. After a while, we went into the keller and she fell asleep. We moved back into the bedroom around 11:30, and she fell asleep despite the booming. I had the fan on, and was listening to the TV, so maybe that created white noise. I didn't see fireworks litter this morning, so maybe the spontaneous erruptions were better controlled. There was a lot of noise and it all echoes. She seemed to be a lot better despite the noise after a while. I also left the terrace door open till it got dark. Not too many fireworks then, and if she wanted to run outside on the terrace and bark, i let her.

My keller is actually pretty good for such things, built into the hill, behind the apartment, it's very quiet.

Of course the little precious ones are setting off fireworks now, as i write this. Tho Lily is down for the count.

In addition to the random howitzer-like fireworks, the local shooting club had some kind of event going on, so it was gunfire all day long as well. A tad more orderly than the US perhaps, but reminiscent of a war zone nonetheless.

Another 1 August at the emergency vet.

What dat?

http://www.thundershirt.com

The gentle overall pressure helps many dogs calm down.

Cool

Ordering one for LiB so he stays calm and close

Oh, i'm so sorry. When we lived in Belp, we were close to a shooting club. Twice a week, total pain in the ass. Your neighbors are complete sh*ts, too.

Maybe a deserted area in Graubunden has a rental?

Attachment 66658

Lily in her thundershirt. Sort of a fleecy wrap with Velcro. I think you can get gray for LiB

Do they actually work? I was considering getting one for my dog.

My pup is massively reactive. We have seen improvement for storms, january 1 and aug 1. I also give her a tranquilizer when i know there will be fireworks, but she seems definitely better with it, she doesn't try to take it off and she seemed comfortable wearing it. I think the key is to get it on early.


I'm wondering how a thunderleash differs from a harness.

Some people living in our area couldn't even wait until yesterday, and started discharging fireworks on the 3lst. Rookie was trembling and crying with fear; I am somewhat concerned about this because up until now, he has not really reacted in such a way to this kind of noise. Thus, I wonder if age has anything to do with this somewhat "new" situation/reaction. Rookie will be 8 in January. So yesterday evening, we closed all the blinds, turned the TV volume to almost maximum, and hoped for the best. I'm so glad things are quieter today.

If your dog can manage them, I really recommend tranquilizers. For us, I think both the drugs and the shirt help. I do the drugs in the morning and evening, and put the shirt on in the evening.

Is this so you can just chill out and ignore the barking dogs?

I can only second what everyone else is saying here. Yesterday was a complete nightmare, Tyson ended up basically stuck inside our bathroom (that's his safe place, as it has no windows) most of the early evening and night whimpering and shivering.

Problem is that it basically just turns into a continuous flow of fireworks all day which peak between 9 and 12pm. For the life of me, I can not understand this obsession with fireworks. Funnily enough I also read that Switzerland has some of the highest pet ownership stats. For us, its really bad, as we live in Uitikon, which for some reason has no rules with regards to where people let off the fireworks. At one point I actually had visions of rockets coming through our bedroom window. Actually my ears are still ringing, and I can only imagine what was like for Tyson. If there is one referendum here in CH I would support it would be the banning of the public being allowed to use fireworks, and only allow specific official events for fireworks usage.

Anyone been to Paris on New Years, it fantastic! Without fireworks.

Btw, we also have the thundershirt and it works pretty well. We usually wet it a little in summer so it is nice and damp. Then he gets nicely cooled down.

__________________
Disturb the comfortable, comfort the disturbed

My cats handled the fireworks like a pair of furry little bosses...

However, they grew up in China where the Spring Festival fireworks make the Swiss celebrations (and most minor wars) pale in comparison. I suppose to them it was mildly nostalgic.

I've lost my immunity, and was kept awake by it all.

Our Gatsby used to be terrified of fireworks, shooting range noise, thunder ... now it is sad to see her getting old, but her recent deafness is a true blessing on days like yesterday!

In Neuchatel July 31 st is one of the three authorised dates for letting off fireworks. The other two are 1 st August and 31st December.
We know that there will be fireworks on these dates so can plan accordingly ( not much happens in December though tbh)

Our rabbit and guinea pigs who live outside didn't seem at all fazed by the nose and the cat who is usually pretty scared or loud noises didn't seem too bothered either thankfully.
Having said that our commune organise a big firework party on the 31 st and Neuchatel has one on the 1 st so we don't really get many random fireworks going off anyway.

Our guinea pigs didn't notice something was happening. But my poor dog...

We started by wondering where the heck she was. It took us a good 15 minutes to figure out that she was all the way under our sofa, INSIDE our bookcase... A little black dog shaking in her hiding place.

When the fireworks calmed down she decided to follow is everywhere in the place, bathroom included. Eventually we let her sleep on the floor next to our bed, something she doesn't normally does.

Luckily she's back to normal this morning.

My drugs are always in the morning. ;-p For the dog you need to dose 8-12 hours before and then right before. Happy, happy!