Alix, you're actually dealing with a couple of problems here that are inter-related in terms of provoking fear and anxiety. The traumatic event of falling down the stairs has already placed your pup into an anxious state. If that was all that was going on, then after a few days of going about life as if nothing had happened, it probably would have passed. But now the anxiety is being reinforced by the constant noise from the street, along with totally random firecrackers and other loud startling noises. Unfortunately, given how long Carnival lasts, your pup could end up in a non-stop state of fear and anxiety for the next week. Not good.
After the first traumatic event of falling down the stairs, your dog's body produced glucocorticoids, which are like stress hormones. They place the dog into a heightened state of alert, and stay in the body for the next few days before gradually tapering off and going back to normal levels, assuming nothing else happens to scare the dog. It is a survival mechanism that all animals and humans have. But if there's another frightening incident soon after the first, then the levels are actually bumped up even higher. The dog becomes even jumpier, and may react to things that didn't bother him before. The "clock" is reset, and it takes an even longer period of subsequent peace and quiet for the hormones to go back to normal levels. After Carnival is over, it will take at least a week of quiet time for the hormone levels to settle down.
Excercise is one way of helping a dog reduce stress. I don't mean training, because in such a state of heightened alertness and fear, most dogs can't learn or even really focus. Would it be possible for you to take a break and drive out of the city for the dogs to enjoy a romp in the woods? Somewhere quiet and peaceful, where the dogs might be able to relax a bit? A really long, tiring walk is a great stress buster, assuming nothing happens during the walk to raise anxiety levels.
Another thing that might help is calling your vet and asking for D.A.P. which stands for
Dog Appeasing Pheromones. It comes in a spray, and can sometimes help calm an anxious puppy by mimicking the pheromone that the mother dog produces to calm and reassure her puppies. If your vet doesn't carry it, then he may have
Bach Blüten which is a homeopathic flower remedy. My vet carries it, so you should find it easily.
Watch and find out where in the house your dog seems most comfortable. Is it under the bed? Then leave the bedroom door open. Is it behind or under the sofa? Maybe move his crate right next to the sofa. What you want to try and do is create or provide a "safe place" where your dog might be able to feel a little more secure. Whatever you do, don't shut the dog into a crate, because that will create a negative association with the crate which is the last thing you want. Some dogs will keep moving from place to place when they are nervous, others will find a corner and curl up and just shiver. Let your dog express his fear freely, and as long as he isn't howling and upsetting the neighbours, or damaging objects around the house, then just ignore him.
It is very important that you show through your body language that everything is fine, normal, that there's nothing to worry about. That means no excessive cuddling or petting. If your dog is actively showing fear then the best thing you can do to reassure him is to simply go about your daily routine as normally as possible. Put his dog dish back where it was. When he's hungry enough, he'll go back to it. Missing a meal or two won't hurt him, and hunger can be a major motivator in combatting fear. Obviously keep an eye on his food intake, and if it lasts for too long where the health of the puppy is questioned then do something. Maybe get your husband to hand feed the pup a few meals.
Best case scenario is that after seeing you act all normal over the next few days, the dog will start to learn and accept that nothing bad is happening and that he can ignore the strange noises coming from outside. For longer-term desensitizing, you can get audio CDs of fireworks and loud noises to begin the process. You start by playing the CDs very quietly, at a low enough threshold that the dog isn't bothered. Then over a long period of time you slowly and gradually increase the volume so the dog gets used to it. Definitely something I would recommend to get the dog prepared for next year's Carnival, or even for Silvester.
Most importantly, YOU have to relax! The dog will look for cues from your body language. Make sure you're giving him the right message. :dogsmile:
Cheers!
