Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
It is Colorado's Morning News. MartyLens Gina Condc. Good morning.'tis
the season for fireworks many pet owners, like myself, it's a dreaded time
of year. Yeah, those loudbooms and unexpected crackles carrying on throughout the
Fourth of July week even long beforethat can be no fun for the pups,
causing them anxiety and fear. Luckily, there are some things you can
(00:21):
do in order to help your pet. Joining us now on the Kawai Common
Spirit Health Hotline is animal behavioral expertand trainer. It's Heidi Harriet. Heidi,
thank you so much for your timethis morning. Yeah, thank you
for having me on. I appreciateit. Big topic today absolutely. Let
me just start by saying, thisis the time of the year that I'm
really happy that my cat is deafbecause she likes to just look at the
(00:42):
fireworks and treads to chase all theshadows around our apartment complex. But besides
the point, besides the point there, this is a time of the year
that can be very, very stressfulfor both pet owners and pets. So
tell us a little bit about whatare the best things to do if you
want to go out and enjoy theFourth of July. However, you're a
little concerned about what your pet mayreact by, sure, well, you
(01:03):
know it's interesting. Pets aren't newand fireworks aren't new. But what's really
different is we've become real emotional forour pets and with our training programs and
sometimes not training, and that's reallythe way forward. There's a lot of
things we could do, medications,the best, a headband, but I'm
going to challenge people to understand thattraining is the way out of this,
(01:26):
the way forward, and I'll giveyou some tips because of course we're right
up against it now and we're notgoing to we're not going to be able
to train by tomorrow or this evening, but it's really important that you'd be
very matter of fact for your dog. We're again, we get nervous for
them. I've had people already reachingout to me last week, what do
(01:47):
I do for the fourth of July. I could promise you if you're already
thinking about it, your dog isgoing to be nervous because they're very pure
about their energy. They just takethat and that's what they're looking at.
So if you can rope play alittle bit, we have YouTube. We
have those opportunities. Now put iton and keep your energy very neutral or
very upbeat, and put your dogon a leash. Big takeaway, don't
(02:09):
let them scamper through the house.You know, to roleplay this and have
them do some commands. Get intotheir brain because they can't. They're not
multi focused, so if you're doingsomething with them, they can't be worried
about something else. Have them sit, stay, do their commands, play
a little, fetch the toy puzzles. All of those things are great.
(02:30):
And if they're kennel they like theirkennels, which my animals always love their
kennels. That's a great place forthem to be comfortable. But again,
put it on a comedy while you'rewatching the fireworks, so that you're having
fun. You think service dog intraining. Those dogs look to their owner
to say, how should I feelabout this? What should I do?
(02:51):
We may not get there with ourpersonal pets, but boy, when you
if you shoot for the moon,you're going to land among the stars.
You're going to have a well trainedpet. And the reason to do that
is because you're securing that pet's welfarefor life by having a well trade pet
and it's not just fireworks, it'sstorms, the loud garbage truck, there's
all noises. If they're afraid ofthis, they're probably afraid of other things
(03:14):
that. If they're only afraid offireworks, then that's something you're really giving
them the indicator to do right withyour energy. So really think about what
you're giving to the animal. That'sgoing to be the key. Well,
you mentioned storms, heiding, becausemy dog is kind of afraid of storms,
and I'm I'm thinking out loud becauseI think early on, or at
least I did, and because I'venever really had pets before. To my
(03:36):
wife, i'd always think, well, do you isolate the dog, put
it in a quiet room, dosomething like that. I don't worry about
my cat that catches scurries away.But you're saying, actually, no,
be with your pet. Being thepresence of your pet, your dog that
way. That way they feel whatevercomfort or feel whatever you are, and
as long as you're calm, youdon't isolate the pet, thinking well,
if I hide it away and avoidfor a couple hours, the dog will
(03:57):
be okay. That may be worse. Yeah, and I've heard horror stories
about the dogs nails. You know, clawing so much your house and it's
nails, but yeah, keep itwith you. Think small child. This
is an analogy I find clients arehelpful with. If you have a small
child they're nervous about something. You'renot gonna let them go run under the
bed and you're gonna probably look atthem and not say it's okay. You're
(04:19):
gonna say, hey, we're good, look at me, we got this.
You know, we're fine. I'mnot gonna let anything happen. That's
what we need to do for ourpets. And we've kind of gotten away
from that. So really, youknow, I would encourage people. I
challenge you to think about this.I have a podcast with much more in
depth on this at heidiharriot dot comas well. But really think about from
(04:40):
this day forward and a big takeawayover fifty percent increase in lost pets this
week. So please, please,you know, consider when you're letting your
pet out, get exercise during theday, get some mental stimulation, and
then if they usually go out inthe yard at night, be with them,
wait till after the fireworks, bringin your out side animals just to
(05:01):
make them more comfortable. And wedon't want to lose any animals. Make
sure they're chipped and tagged really important. And Heidi, I know you said
training is really the best way forward. However, if it is a last
case scenario, would you recommend anyof those medications, CBDs, the storm
vests, things like those that canhelp your pets. I think the humans
should take the medication and the petwill respond. But yes, by all
(05:28):
means, if you need help thisyear, you try this, undervest all
that. But just to understand thosethey are just symptoms of a bigger problem.
So yes, whatever you need todo to get through this year,
and all of those things, youknow have some type of assistance for you
animal. So I hope that helps. It does animal behavioral expert and trainer,
it's Heidi Harriet. Thank you,Heidi, thank you. You mentioned
(05:50):
that you know my catches screws awayobviously, And maybe I say this,
maybe dogs are a little higher functioningthan cats because they just figured it out
on their own. Dogs need alittle more love. But we used to
have one of those best you knowit's supposed to give you. I always
think of Temple Grandon when she gotsqueezed in those machines for no for comfort.
You know, having the pressure,But I don't think that helped our
(06:11):
dog at all. Yeah, alittle bit, and he would hide his
head in the bed or find Mywife is the alpha, so you know,
kind of find her and lay byher to calm down. But it
is right. The dog picks upon the signals from you, and so
if you feel anxiety, nerve,anger, whatever else. The doc totally
does play off that. I didn'teven think about how the training is probably
the best part, which is reallyfunny to like role play fireworks inside of
your house in order to try tosee how your dog reacts. But like
(06:34):
I said, my cat she lovesit because she doesn't hear them. It
loves to see them. And probablythe little kid analogy is actually good when
we have a tendency think. Butthose pets may be you know, young
like that. Course, then I'mthinking of my six foot two hundred and
ninety pound kid. You're trying toget under the bed if he's afraid ofly
sixteen now, but climbing under thebed because he's afraid of fireworks. Anyways,
(06:54):
It's Colorado's Morning News.
It is Colorado's Morning News. MartyLens Gina Condc. Good morning.'tis
the season for fireworks many pet owners, like myself, it's a dreaded time
of year. Yeah, those loudbooms and unexpected crackles carrying on throughout the
Fourth of July week even long beforethat can be no fun for the pups,
causing them anxiety and fear. Luckily, there are some things you can
(00:21):
do in order to help your pet. Joining us now on the Kawai Common
Spirit Health Hotline is animal behavioral expertand trainer. It's Heidi Harriet. Heidi,
thank you so much for your timethis morning. Yeah, thank you
for having me on. I appreciateit. Big topic today absolutely. Let
me just start by saying, thisis the time of the year that I'm
really happy that my cat is deafbecause she likes to just look at the
(00:42):
fireworks and treads to chase all theshadows around our apartment complex. But besides
the point, besides the point there, this is a time of the year
that can be very, very stressfulfor both pet owners and pets. So
tell us a little bit about whatare the best things to do if you
want to go out and enjoy theFourth of July. However, you're a
little concerned about what your pet mayreact by, sure, well, you
(01:03):
know it's interesting. Pets aren't newand fireworks aren't new. But what's really
different is we've become real emotional forour pets and with our training programs and
sometimes not training, and that's reallythe way forward. There's a lot of
things we could do, medications,the best, a headband, but I'm
going to challenge people to understand thattraining is the way out of this,
(01:26):
the way forward, and I'll giveyou some tips because of course we're right
up against it now and we're notgoing to we're not going to be able
to train by tomorrow or this evening, but it's really important that you'd be
very matter of fact for your dog. We're again, we get nervous for
them. I've had people already reachingout to me last week, what do
(01:47):
I do for the fourth of July. I could promise you if you're already
thinking about it, your dog isgoing to be nervous because they're very pure
about their energy. They just takethat and that's what they're looking at.
So if you can rope play alittle bit, we have YouTube. We
have those opportunities. Now put iton and keep your energy very neutral or
very upbeat, and put your dogon a leash. Big takeaway, don't
(02:09):
let them scamper through the house.You know, to roleplay this and have
them do some commands. Get intotheir brain because they can't. They're not
multi focused, so if you're doingsomething with them, they can't be worried
about something else. Have them sit, stay, do their commands, play
a little, fetch the toy puzzles. All of those things are great.
(02:30):
And if they're kennel they like theirkennels, which my animals always love their
kennels. That's a great place forthem to be comfortable. But again,
put it on a comedy while you'rewatching the fireworks, so that you're having
fun. You think service dog intraining. Those dogs look to their owner
to say, how should I feelabout this? What should I do?
(02:51):
We may not get there with ourpersonal pets, but boy, when you
if you shoot for the moon,you're going to land among the stars.
You're going to have a well trainedpet. And the reason to do that
is because you're securing that pet's welfarefor life by having a well trade pet
and it's not just fireworks, it'sstorms, the loud garbage truck, there's
all noises. If they're afraid ofthis, they're probably afraid of other things
(03:14):
that. If they're only afraid offireworks, then that's something you're really giving
them the indicator to do right withyour energy. So really think about what
you're giving to the animal. That'sgoing to be the key. Well,
you mentioned storms, heiding, becausemy dog is kind of afraid of storms,
and I'm I'm thinking out loud becauseI think early on, or at
least I did, and because I'venever really had pets before. To my
(03:36):
wife, i'd always think, well, do you isolate the dog, put
it in a quiet room, dosomething like that. I don't worry about
my cat that catches scurries away.But you're saying, actually, no,
be with your pet. Being thepresence of your pet, your dog that
way. That way they feel whatevercomfort or feel whatever you are, and
as long as you're calm, youdon't isolate the pet, thinking well,
if I hide it away and avoidfor a couple hours, the dog will
(03:57):
be okay. That may be worse. Yeah, and I've heard horror stories
about the dogs nails. You know, clawing so much your house and it's
nails, but yeah, keep itwith you. Think small child. This
is an analogy I find clients arehelpful with. If you have a small
child they're nervous about something. You'renot gonna let them go run under the
bed and you're gonna probably look atthem and not say it's okay. You're
(04:19):
gonna say, hey, we're good, look at me, we got this.
You know, we're fine. I'mnot gonna let anything happen. That's
what we need to do for ourpets. And we've kind of gotten away
from that. So really, youknow, I would encourage people. I
challenge you to think about this.I have a podcast with much more in
depth on this at heidiharriot dot comas well. But really think about from
(04:40):
this day forward and a big takeawayover fifty percent increase in lost pets this
week. So please, please,you know, consider when you're letting your
pet out, get exercise during theday, get some mental stimulation, and
then if they usually go out inthe yard at night, be with them,
wait till after the fireworks, bringin your out side animals just to
(05:01):
make them more comfortable. And wedon't want to lose any animals. Make
sure they're chipped and tagged really important. And Heidi, I know you said
training is really the best way forward. However, if it is a last
case scenario, would you recommend anyof those medications, CBDs, the storm
vests, things like those that canhelp your pets. I think the humans
should take the medication and the petwill respond. But yes, by all
(05:28):
means, if you need help thisyear, you try this, undervest all
that. But just to understand thosethey are just symptoms of a bigger problem.
So yes, whatever you need todo to get through this year,
and all of those things, youknow have some type of assistance for you
animal. So I hope that helps. It does animal behavioral expert and trainer,
it's Heidi Harriet. Thank you,Heidi, thank you. You mentioned
(05:50):
that you know my catches screws awayobviously, And maybe I say this,
maybe dogs are a little higher functioningthan cats because they just figured it out
on their own. Dogs need alittle more love. But we used to
have one of those best you knowit's supposed to give you. I always
think of Temple Grandon when she gotsqueezed in those machines for no for comfort.
You know, having the pressure,But I don't think that helped our
(06:11):
dog at all. Yeah, alittle bit, and he would hide his
head in the bed or find Mywife is the alpha, so you know,
kind of find her and lay byher to calm down. But it
is right. The dog picks upon the signals from you, and so
if you feel anxiety, nerve,anger, whatever else. The doc totally
does play off that. I didn'teven think about how the training is probably
the best part, which is reallyfunny to like role play fireworks inside of
your house in order to try tosee how your dog reacts. But like
(06:34):
I said, my cat she lovesit because she doesn't hear them. It
loves to see them. And probablythe little kid analogy is actually good when
we have a tendency think. Butthose pets may be you know, young
like that. Course, then I'mthinking of my six foot two hundred and
ninety pound kid. You're trying toget under the bed if he's afraid ofly
sixteen now, but climbing under thebed because he's afraid of fireworks. Anyways,
(06:54):
It's Colorado's Morning News.
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